Posts Made By: Rod Kaufman

I decided to send another mirror for "free" testing at Woden Optics. Unfortunately, this has proved to be a nightmare, in contrast to my previous experience with this vendor.
I originally sent two mirrors for free testing at Woden Optics in the past and I was satisfied with the experience. At the time I sent these mirrors for testing, I did have to contact Woden because I hadn't heard from him but eventually I did receive a copy of the computer-generated report of the P-V and strehl ratio of my mirrors. I also received them back in a reasonable amount of time since I had enclosed a check for return shipping and insurance as well as a "handling charge" that Woden requires in order for the mirrors to be tested. (At the time, Woden explained the delay in sending results because of "sickness." His website states a optic sent to him will be "in house for one week".)
This time, I sent a 10" mirror for testing along with a check for return shipping and insurance and Woden's charge for "handling" the optic while at his shop.
After my mirror was at his shop for a week, I e-mailed Woden and asked for results. Instead of the comupter generated report, I got the P-V and strehl ratio results simply stated in a return e-mail. I didn't have a problem with the manner the results appeared in but I would have preferred to see the computer generated attachment that I had received with my first two mirrors that had been sent in 2005. I e-mailed Woden and asked for my mirror to be returned to me and I received an e-mail two days later stating, "no problem."
I expected my mirror to be shipped back to me promptly after that e-mail (as was the case with my first two mirrors) but after 15 days I've received nothing even though both Woden and myself reside in the same state. I've called and requested a tracking number for my mirror via e-mail and I left a voice mail on Woden's answering machine but without any response. I called Woden several times on Monday April 3 and I got a message that the phone number was "NO LONGER IN SERVICE." I then e-mailed Woden again since his website is still active and notified him about his phone number being out of service and again demanded a tracking number for my mirror. I stated I would be posting my experience with him on the AM as well as on another website and it would be a step that I would prefer not to take and again asked for a tracking number so I could have some assurance that my mirror is being returned to me. Again, I received no response.
As of today, Woden's phone number is working again as I got the same answering machine message that I know only too well.
If any of you have any recommendations on how I might be able to get my mirror back from Woden Optics, I would be appreciative of your comments. I am considering contacting the better business bureau and/or local law enforcement agencies to learn what options may exist in getting Woden to return my property to me.

What or should I say who is mirroroptics?
After receiving my 10" stock hardin mirror back from a vendor, I decided to have it professionally refigured. I wanted to try my own hand at refiguring it( I've previously made two mirrors) but a delay in receiving it from the vendor put the kabosh on that idea.
I did some searching on the web and happened upon a website that appeared to be a smaller version of the astromart, replete with forums, ads and so forth. I found an ad offering some very attractive rates on mirror refiguring so I decided to contact the vendor. It surprised me to find that the ad was placed by the highly regarded optician, Alan Raycraft. Some of you may recall Raycraft did the mirrors for the 7" starmasters when that model was in production.
He offered to test, refigure, recoat and re-ship my mirror to me for a very reasonable $285.00.
I was most impressed with him from the start as he responded very promptly to my initial e-mail and he wanted to know if my mirror had any chips or scratches because he didn't want anyone to think he does sloppy work by producing an optic with these kinds of problems.
I sent my mirror to him and he e-mailed me as soon as it was received and he noted the boxes were in good shape which is something I had to inquire about with another vendor versus the other way around.
I received the report on my mirror a few days later with a wavefront analysis showing the stock hardin mirror was undercorrected and it was a bit shy of the 1/4 wave raleigh limit at 1/3.85. I should note that I have another 10" mirror of the same manufacture(GSO) as the stock hardin mirror which tested at 1/6 wave and the latter held up better under high magnification on the planets after repeated testing in the field.
At any rate, Raycraft proceeded to refigure my mirror and after less than two weeks, I received an e-mail report with a wavefront profile and a millies-lacroix plot which are some of the types of data that Zambuto reportedly supplied with his mirrors.
My 10" mirror now sports 1/11.69 wavefront which correlates to a 1/22 wave surface.
Instead of utilizing the standard beral coat offered with the refiguring of the mirror, I opted to use the enhanced coating supplied my Nova Optical Systems which had recently did an excellent job of recoating my 16" mirror and secondary. The enhanced coating cost me an additional $65.00 but I feel it's worth it.
My mirror is presently headed for coating at Nova and I anticipate having it back in a week or so after it arrives.
It's been a pleasure dealing with Alan Raycraft. I feel he's a true craftsman who's proud of his work and he doesn't charge an arm and a leg to do it. He communicated with me every step of the way and provided his test results to backup the quality of his work. I think he's the best kept secret out there.
I look forward to using the mirror under the stars in the near future...

It may not be the spider/secondary. If the laser doesn't match, which isn't uncommon, it may be the laser is wobbling a bit in the focuser. Grip the laser at its top while its in the focuser and see if the laser dot moves alot on the primary. If it does, and it probably will, you'll will likely duplicate your problem.
Leave the spider alone...

Well, I finally got an e-mail reply from UPS to my query on their insurance policy regarding scopes, mirrors and lenses.
While they didn't specifically comment on scopes, lenses and mirrors, they did state the following:
If you purchase insurance for an amount exceeding $1000.00 and you use an internet-obtained UPS shipping label, the declared value must be stated on the UPS receipt and it must be signed by a UPS driver or by a representative at a UPS company processing center. A UPS authorized facility such as a mail/ UPS/ Fed Ex drop-off site is NOT acceptable. It is also your responsibilty to obtain a copy of the signed receipt and to pack accordingly to meet UPS specs.
That's the latest information I've been able to obtain from UPS.

I've read Sky and Telescopes review of the Meade lightbridge dobsonians.
The review is an essentially glowing report of the scopes. Optics are four star rated and except for some relatively minor (and correctable) issues with the collimation and flocking of stray light, you've got one heck of a deal on these scopes.
Perhaps. But I would have been more impressed if these scopes were not supplied directly from Meade but purchased, instead, as off-the-shelf randomly sampled scopes, obtained in the same manner as an amateur would buy them from a vendor. It appears from the article that Meade supplied no less than two scopes when one was requested for testing.
I would have been further impressed if the optics were tested both quantitatively and qualitatively, ie PV wave rated and an assessment of the smoothness of the optics as seen under a foucalt tester. A ronchi test was reportedly done with no reported problems.
I would have liked to see a reported limitation of the inability to attach DSCs to these scopes due to the size and configuration of the flange on the altitude bearing. Perhaps this will be addressed by an enterprising vendor but it remains a significant limitation in my opinion.

FYI:
Hardware kits for meade lightbridge truss dobs appear to fit GSO/Hardin dobs.
Scopestuff sells replacement collimation knobs,similar to Bobs knobs along with replacement springs and collimation knobs for the mirror cell of the 12" meade lightbridge. The pictures on the scopestuff website looked similar to the spider and mirror cell of my 10" hardin knob so I took a chance and ordered them. They fit my 10" hardin dob, made by GSO, like a glove. It's possible they may not fit early model 10" hardin/GSO dobs since the spiders and cells were modified in the later models like mine. Mine is a few years old.
More presumptive evidence of what we already suspected: the meade lightbridge appears to be manufactured by GSO.

I had to replace the secondary in my 10" hardin dob when it loosened from the support and bounced off my primary, chipping an edge of my primary and destroying the secondary. The secondary appeared to be secured at the factory by a half of drop of elmer's glue-all or equivalent.
At any rate, I ordered a replacement from Scopetronix a couple of weeks ago, despite some reports of it's demise, and I received it today, well-packaged and ready for installation in my dob.
I also had received an automated acknowledgement of my order a few days after I place it.
I was a bit apprehensive after reading the posts in this forum but I didn't experience any particular problem with my order.

Ed,
You may also try Nova Optical, an astromart sponsor. I suspect Nova gets them from Discovery which is the same maker for Astrosystems(at least they were several years ago when I bought mine). Nova has the best price on them and they state they test each one. There's another optical company, (American Optical?), that also makes OEM flats and other optics and might be a supplier to some of these vendors.
If I recall correctly, the main aberration introduced by a poor quality flat is astigmastism, so if it's not present, your present flat is probably ok...

My local Costco store is selling Meade 102 mm achromatic refractors on a goto mount with controller for $199.00. This appears to be Meade's version of the Celestron goto refractor that sells for $479.00. The latter received a good review awhile back in one of the astronomy magazines.
Has anyone seen a review of the Meade unit or does anyone own one who can comment on it's quality?

Floyd,
Nice write-up on the focuser!
I'm curious to know the weight of the unit, I didn't see that in the review.