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Posts Made By: Charles Hakes

September 30, 2003 04:18 PM Forum: Telescope Making

Stripped threads - help

Posted By Charles Hakes
The aluminum block that mounts my ST 80 to the tripod has the 1/4-20 threads stripped just enough so I can't attach it any more. I have re-tapped the hole, but the threads just start too deep. Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Charlie

October 2, 2003 04:05 PM Forum: Telescope Making

thread fix

Posted By Charles Hakes
OK, so I didn't actually repair the thread that had started too deep. But I did add a zinc mending plate with a brand new 1/4-20 hole tapped in the zinc at an offset to the first one. This sets the mount back about 1-3/8" from the original hole. That makes it just about as far from the best ballance point as the first hole, just on the other side of it. Maybe I can say I am just getting ready for the mod to a 2" focuser so I can use that 31mm Nagler that I will buy some decade. But then I would probably have to move it another 3" back.

Total cost $0.10 Now if it will hold up during our vacations... What is the group's experience with tapping holes in zinc?

Thanks,
Charlie

October 23, 2003 02:25 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Augen Optics question

Posted By Charles Hakes
Has anyone used any eyepiece from this Pennsylvania company? How are they?

October 28, 2003 03:18 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

solar viewing and aluminized mylar

Posted By Charles Hakes
I don't want to re-visit the issue of whether or not aluminized mylar is safe or not. Some people will use it, some people won't...

My question is about the source of that product. I am sure all sources are not equal, but wouldn't "generic" mylar work if you did all the prudent inspections for thin spots and pin holes? Or even used multiple layers so the chances of aligning pin holes was that much smaller. Aren't all the protective qualities from the aluminum itself? Any comments on this?

Thanks,
Charlie

October 30, 2003 01:38 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Re: 8:42 PM, NORTHERN LIGHTS......NOW!!!!! (nm)

Posted By Charles Hakes
So where were you. Here is SW Colorado I was out trying to do some pier and wedge allignment, but we got smoked out. When Mars finally faded away we had to quit. sad((

Charlie

October 31, 2003 01:25 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Meade 5" refractor upgrade questions

Posted By Charles Hakes
A very generous donor gave the local college a couple of these scopes, so now we are enjoying the views along with a little (or maybe not so little) purple haze. I need some suggestions:

Minus Violet filter? (which one?)
Chromachor? (is it worth it?)
Which 2" diagonal? (I am guessing if we went the chromachor route we would want a high end dielectric...)

What would be our best price/performance upgrade?

And down the road - if we get an APO, will we still be happy with the LDX55 mount?

Thanks,
Charlie

November 1, 2003 02:50 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

masked reflector resolving power?

Posted By Charles Hakes
On the discussion of masked scopes with multiple holes in the mask to get rid of spider spikes...

Does the multiple hole mask give you the resolving power of the full width of the mirror? For example - do two 4" holes on opposite sides of a 10" mirror give you the resolving power of a 10" scope or is it that of a 4" scope, or something in between? I can almost convince myself either way...

And if theory says one thing, does practice say the same?

Thanks,
Charlie

November 5, 2003 01:09 AM Forum: Telescope Making

13"-14" mirror sizes?

Posted By Charles Hakes
The next telescope is just on paper now, but I did start browsing for mirrors. I see a bunch at 12.5", which is a little smaller than I was thinking about. There is another bunch at 14.5", which is a little bigger than I was thinking about. Does anyone make 13"-14" as a "standard" size? (I.e. not too expensive.) I have seen an occasional 13.1" or 13.5" here on Astromart, but I don't know where those would have come from. Whatever it is I was hoping for ~75" focal length. Does anyone make these?

Thanks,
Charlie

November 6, 2003 02:13 PM Forum: Telescope Making

morror box size?

Posted By Charles Hakes
How close to the edge of the mirror would you want to put the edge of the mirror box? I guess touching would be way too close. On the other hand, if I made it big enough to nest the secondary cage, it would be way more room than it needed optically.

What is the tightest fit anyone has tried?

Charlie

November 9, 2003 02:25 PM Forum: Home Observatories

Fort Lewis Observatory

Posted By Charles Hakes
We made lots of progress on getting the clamshell dome up yesterday. Finally got power run the last 1/4 mile a couple of weeks ago, but it is still not hooked up. There is a 16" LX200 sitting in a box waiting for a finished home.

Charlie

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