12" LX200 primary scratched...HELP!

Well, I am not going to go into the idiotic reasons as to why my primary mirror is scratched. Suffice it to say, it was user error! To get it replaced by Meade, I have to buy both the primary and secondary at $1750. for that price, I'll dump the thing and buy a new 10" GPS. I love this scope and hate to part with it. Does anyone know if this mirror can be repaired? If so, by whom?
Thanks,
Don Spencer
member SDAA
www.sdaa.org

Just bringing it back on top so it doesn't get burried...

Can you better describe the size and depth of the scratches... that mighte help us advise. Also, I would agree that blackening out the scratches would do the trick if they are relatively small. Flaws should become essentially undetectable to the eye and camera I would think.

Don,
I put a nasty (2" long and 1/4" wide) scratch in the primary of my 10" LX200 when it was almost brand new. (I was comfortable enough to want to tweak it, but not comfortable enough to dismantle the OTA totally before flocking.) I feared the worst, but have been pleasantly surprised to find that the scope still is a decent performer both visually and in CCD work. As I understand it, scratches tend to reduce contrast... maybe it balances out for the contrast-enhancing effect of the black velvet flocking upgrade that led to the scratch!

I debated getting the optics replaced right after the mishap (Meade quoted me $550 including shipping), but haven't found it necessary-- even my Ronchi test results still look OK. Sure, the scope has lost a big chunk of its resale value-- but LX200 classics tanked in value when the GPS line came out anyway.

My advice is don't panic-- try the scope repeatedly before deciding to send it away or get the mirror refinished. It probably isn't worth it. I've been using my 'scope with its scratched primary for two years now, and unless I tell other observers, they even don't notice.

For my $.02 worth, you're better off saving your money and vowing never to put sharp implements in the vicinity of a primary again.

Jim

Don,
Forget about the scratch. Blacken it out and move on. It is not worth thinking about, much less spend money on. Consider the size of the secondary and how little that matters. I'm sure your scratch is much smaller.

A friend of mine dropped his 10" Dob with a Zambuto primary, and knocked out a chunk out of it about the size of a golf ball. We set it up next to a pristine scope and the images appear identical.

FIXING THE SCRATCH WILL NOT IMPROVE YOUR IMAGES - recorded or visual. Blacken it and forget about it.

Jerry