Advice on collimating refractors?

I need to collimate a 6" refractor which I have just built a new tube for and does not have an adjustable cell.

Please advise me if I'm wrong, but I think collimation will involve first being sure the focuser is square. Then once that is done, I would proceed to make sure the ojective is square.

I planned on using a laser collimater for this process. I would first square the focuser by using a paper template over the lens with a hole dead center. If the light passes through the hole, we are good.

Next to square the ojective I would use the collimator with the dew cap on and check the reflection. I would adjust the cell until there was only one centered beam.

Does this sound correct or have I not thoroughly thought the process through?
thank you, Bill

Bill,

Yes, you've basically got it. I've found a Cheshire Eyepiece
to be more helpful in collimating the objective. The laser
method for the objective works, but it is a little more fiddly
since the beam must hit the exact center of the lens.
The Cheshire does not have this delicacy.

A problem I have often had in collimating the focusser
with a laser, is that the weight of the laser makes
the beam tip up or down in the focusser. So I've switched
to doing this collimation with the scope pointing straight
down. That way there is no tendency to tip up/down.
I either do it with the scope on the mount, or with
the front end up on wood blocks so I can see what is happening.

Good luck. - John B.