8) I read a few threads concerning Woden Optics and I want to set the record straight from my perspective...
1) June 9th, 2006, I sent in 3 mirrors for FREE TESTING (two 8", f/5.0, and a 10", f/3.5)
2) Woden Just moved from one shop to another and the partnership had also gone through some sort of dissassembly/ reformulation routine. Regardless, FREE TESTING is FREE and so what can we expect from that?
2) Everyone wants timely results and good communication. So what is timely for FREE TESTING? I will admit, that my expedited UPS shipment to Woden and $60 cash enclosed for shipping back to me was a hint for expedited service. I think I set a poor expectation up for myself to begin with. Again, I would ask: what should we expect? My first reply of one of three mirrors came in at June 23rd, 2006.
3) Cary, seems to be the sole worker at times, and,... it's none of my business who is operating what or why. And certainly Cary has very reputible credentials. FREE TESTING did not have a clause that said we will expedite your testing and in retrospect, I believe it was my error for thinking that I could get anything much more quickly than I did. Yes, the communication was patchy, but when it was made, he was very clear. I think Cary is probably busy as heck and doing a lot more than FREE TESTING.
4) June 24th, 2006. I got a preliminary report on all 3 mirrors after a whopping 2 weeks. I was very excited to get the news. And, I asked for a refigure of the 10" f/3.5 mirror based on his feedback.
5) Was I frustrated with the span of time between the test results and the refiguring? Honestly, yes a bit... But I'd also admit that in today's world everyone wants it "right now". And that's how we engineer things and set expectations. Yes, it's a cell phone world... Unfortunately, a craftsman doesn't spit out 7-11/ Burger-King mirrors at strehls approaching 1.0 do they?
6) September 14th, 2006. The end of the road is near. I just got the results of the re-figuring of the fast primary (Strehl of 0.970 and P/V at 1/8.92). For an f/3.5 mirror how could I expect much finer work in the realm of $300. This was an outstanding result! And I had spoken with Cary about the Woden setup for the refiguring and testing. They have an excellent setup to achieve excellent results. This is craftsmanship. Now the mirror is going to get enhanced coatings and ship back to me. Oh, and by the way, the set of 8" mirrors finally came back last week after many months.
>> If you have read this far then you will certaily see my point. Woden optics had the mirrors for less than a month and gave me the results of the FREE TESTING. What better service should I expect when it would cost $75 + shipping from anywhere else, for each mirror?!! And 3 months to correct the figure of a fast 10" f/3.5 mirror to 0.972 Strehl... Well, I think it all speaks for itself. Pending the very negative comments I saw previously on the Astromart threads, I was very lured in to the sympathy trip. And I would emphasize to the hilt that we seem to have the "want it now" issue obscuring the fine work that a true craftsman produces in the time it realistically takes to accomplish many of the same. He wasn't working on just my mirror all of that time, but many mirrors, many telescopes, and many other projects.
I was frustrated at times, but that was my problem... and now I'm quite content... Life is good and I don't even have the mirror back yet.
Figure that?
Thanks Cary,
Hope this changes some minds and creates some business.
Bill
1) June 9th, 2006, I sent in 3 mirrors for FREE TESTING (two 8", f/5.0, and a 10", f/3.5)
2) Woden Just moved from one shop to another and the partnership had also gone through some sort of dissassembly/ reformulation routine. Regardless, FREE TESTING is FREE and so what can we expect from that?
2) Everyone wants timely results and good communication. So what is timely for FREE TESTING? I will admit, that my expedited UPS shipment to Woden and $60 cash enclosed for shipping back to me was a hint for expedited service. I think I set a poor expectation up for myself to begin with. Again, I would ask: what should we expect? My first reply of one of three mirrors came in at June 23rd, 2006.
3) Cary, seems to be the sole worker at times, and,... it's none of my business who is operating what or why. And certainly Cary has very reputible credentials. FREE TESTING did not have a clause that said we will expedite your testing and in retrospect, I believe it was my error for thinking that I could get anything much more quickly than I did. Yes, the communication was patchy, but when it was made, he was very clear. I think Cary is probably busy as heck and doing a lot more than FREE TESTING.
4) June 24th, 2006. I got a preliminary report on all 3 mirrors after a whopping 2 weeks. I was very excited to get the news. And, I asked for a refigure of the 10" f/3.5 mirror based on his feedback.
5) Was I frustrated with the span of time between the test results and the refiguring? Honestly, yes a bit... But I'd also admit that in today's world everyone wants it "right now". And that's how we engineer things and set expectations. Yes, it's a cell phone world... Unfortunately, a craftsman doesn't spit out 7-11/ Burger-King mirrors at strehls approaching 1.0 do they?
6) September 14th, 2006. The end of the road is near. I just got the results of the re-figuring of the fast primary (Strehl of 0.970 and P/V at 1/8.92). For an f/3.5 mirror how could I expect much finer work in the realm of $300. This was an outstanding result! And I had spoken with Cary about the Woden setup for the refiguring and testing. They have an excellent setup to achieve excellent results. This is craftsmanship. Now the mirror is going to get enhanced coatings and ship back to me. Oh, and by the way, the set of 8" mirrors finally came back last week after many months.
>> If you have read this far then you will certaily see my point. Woden optics had the mirrors for less than a month and gave me the results of the FREE TESTING. What better service should I expect when it would cost $75 + shipping from anywhere else, for each mirror?!! And 3 months to correct the figure of a fast 10" f/3.5 mirror to 0.972 Strehl... Well, I think it all speaks for itself. Pending the very negative comments I saw previously on the Astromart threads, I was very lured in to the sympathy trip. And I would emphasize to the hilt that we seem to have the "want it now" issue obscuring the fine work that a true craftsman produces in the time it realistically takes to accomplish many of the same. He wasn't working on just my mirror all of that time, but many mirrors, many telescopes, and many other projects.
I was frustrated at times, but that was my problem... and now I'm quite content... Life is good and I don't even have the mirror back yet.
Figure that?
Thanks Cary,
Hope this changes some minds and creates some business.
Bill
