'Been making a telescope...

Thought I'd share some photos of the telescope I am nearing completion of. I'm working on the tube now.

The mount is dark-stained cherry veneer over baltic birch plywood. Six coats clear polyurethane (to keep the grain clear and better see imperfections during the sanding phase), and final coat in satin to better withstand inevitable brushes with shrubbery and vehicle upholstery ;^).

The young man is my enthusiastic woodworker son Joseph, just turned 14 years old.

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The mount is doweled together, but I used these antiqued "table leg" braces to clamp it as the finish is thick and a little soft still. I thought they looked nice--they match the dark wood theme.

Even though it has been over 2 weeks since I sprayed the last finish coat, wood clamps would leave marks behind unless I waited another couple weeks or so, thus the braces.

By the way, this is an 8" f/6. The mirror is one of the few loose Carl Zambutos floating around out there. The rocker sides are 1-3/8" thick--two laminated sheets of Baltic birch. With the bracing, the rocker sides hardly flex at all and should (will ;^) provide rock solid views.

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That is a beautiful mount, like fine furniture.