XT10 Collimation ?

I just purchased a used XT10 (already had the XT6 but wanted a step up in size). Neither telescope has ever been collimated and I'm trying to figure out how to do this. From the Orion Catalog they seem to recommend the cheshire type lense for scopes slower than f/5..but the XT10 is actually a f/5 scope. Orion recommends the laser collimator lense for fast scopes...but reading online I see that the laser collimation is flawed process if the secondary mirror isn't exactly lined up. I don't want to have to by both laser and cheshire collimators (shouldn't have to should I??).

Also, from discussions online it seems that I really need to mark the center of the lense somehow (maybe with felt-tip pen or something?)...but if that is true...why doesn't the XT10 & XT6 scopes come with the center already marked? Also, to mark the lense it seems I have to remove it from the tube (a scary thought) and either use a template or some other process to figure out where the center of the lense is. What works best/easiest?

Other Information:

From what I can tell the secondary is lined up okay (I can see the primary reflected in the center of the mirror)
I've never done a star test.....but think that the XT10 might be off a little bit. It does not look as clear as the pictures I've seen online about how to do a star test.
I do have a barlow lense...but it's not clear if that along with a laser collimator perform are as precise as the cheshire is said to be.
Any suggestions for me?

Also, I found this page from Tom Hole:
http://home.earthlink.net/~tomhole/Barlowed%20Laser.htm

Would like some advice on this before my first attemp at collimating the scope.


- Thanks, Kenneth

The XT scopes are center-marked on the primary mirror - they have a small circular decal.

I wouldn't spend too much time debating the merits of various methods of collimating - any method is vastly better than NOT collimating. The XT6 is more forgiving of poor collimation, but the XT10 (which is F4.7, I think?) will certainly benefit greatly.

I recommend 2 pages on collimation, Nils Olof Carlin's page is the standard reference, he is the one who invented the "Barlowed Laser" Technique. THere is quite a bit of technical information but he also has simplified explanations on just how to do it. There was also a Sky and Telescope Article several months ago that was written by Nils I believe and includes some nice pictures of the collimation process.

http://zebu.uoregon.edu/~mbartels/kolli/kolli.html

In my view, Nils is the Man.

The other page is Larry Gilstrap's, No Tools Collimation page.

http://gilstrap.home.texas.net/collimat/NoTools.html

jon