Mirror re-coatingPosted By John Biretta |
Opinions on enhanced coatings are mixed. They usually
cost 3x more than standard coating. Some argue that
they scatter more light and hence a poorer for planets
(which are bright anyway). Glass-pushers argue they
damage the figure unless carefully done.
I think (personally) that it generally makes sense
to buy a diagonal with an enhanced coating, but
cost of enhanced-coating a big primary is probably
not worth it.
The scuttle-butt is that most outfits that do
enhanced coatings won't bother with amateurs any more,
or if they do, the turnaround times are very
unpredictable. The guys with the equipment aren't
making money off odd amateur mirrors -- they just do it
to be nice. I've sometimes waited 3+ months
on an enhanced coating (after promise of 30 days).
I'm sure if you wanted to pay full-up industrial
prices they'd be more than happy to do it tomorrow
and Fed-X it back. But if you have to ask what it
costs ....
Relevant coating companies these days seem to be
http://www.majestic-coatings.com/ (Al)
http://www.clausing.com (Al, enhanced, etc)
http://home.covad.net/~alcoat/ (Al)
http://members.aol.com/lenses/ (Al, enhanced)
cost 3x more than standard coating. Some argue that
they scatter more light and hence a poorer for planets
(which are bright anyway). Glass-pushers argue they
damage the figure unless carefully done.
I think (personally) that it generally makes sense
to buy a diagonal with an enhanced coating, but
cost of enhanced-coating a big primary is probably
not worth it.
The scuttle-butt is that most outfits that do
enhanced coatings won't bother with amateurs any more,
or if they do, the turnaround times are very
unpredictable. The guys with the equipment aren't
making money off odd amateur mirrors -- they just do it
to be nice. I've sometimes waited 3+ months
on an enhanced coating (after promise of 30 days).
I'm sure if you wanted to pay full-up industrial
prices they'd be more than happy to do it tomorrow
and Fed-X it back. But if you have to ask what it
costs ....
Relevant coating companies these days seem to be
http://www.majestic-coatings.com/ (Al)
http://www.clausing.com (Al, enhanced, etc)
http://home.covad.net/~alcoat/ (Al)
http://members.aol.com/lenses/ (Al, enhanced)