[SJAAboard] tests of mirror for #8 (14" homebuilt)

[Rob Hawley]

You are mistaking the >>assembled<< weight versus the >>component<< weight.
The Zeider scope (39) is a good example of this.  Assembled it probably
weighs a hundred pounds.  The scope breaks into much lighter pieces.  For
example, Zeider specifically designed the mirror to be removed.  You then
end up with probably a 40 or 50 lbs of glass and mirror cell and 30 to 40
lbs of mirror box. Heavy yes, but one person can handle it.


Scope 8, in its current form, suffers from several problems. Please review 
http://www.sjaa.net/loaners/scope08/

The woodwork is in extremely poor condition.  Its mechanicals are not
suitable for a loaner program. For example, the bare 40 lb mirror needs to
be hooked into a sling at the bottom of a tall mirror box.  It is simply not
reasonable for a scope being loaned to intermediate-wantabees.  

It is also unlike anything that you would build or buy today. That in my
mind is the key flaw. Its flaws will get in the way of experiencing what
using a scope one could acquire today would be like. It is a potentially
"turnoff on the hobby" experience.

I would rather have a scope in the program that I knew was going to be used.
The person that requested it was not physically able to perform the
insertion.  Heck I am not willing to perform the insertion!

I could redo the woodwork and make something that, while on the heavy side,
was useable. I have no interest spending my time to do the major upgrades
needed to keep this scope in the program. In my mind a scope of this size
does have a hard limit for the component weight.





The problem with the 18" is the physical size of the parts.  We had to shop
around for a car big enough to transport it.  On a scope of that size weight
is not an issue. It is going to be heavy - get over it! That is why own a
15" instead of an 18".

Scope 8 is currently being stored in my garage.  It is welcome there until
the auction.  After that it will have another home.

Rob Hawley