I had someone reach out to the Club for help on dobsonian mirrors. He has 2 Coulter 13.1" dobsonian mirrors that need attention. He says he has a Foucault tester and is familiar with the theory behind testing the mirrors, but needs hands on help. He is looking for someone who could help with possibly refiguring the mirrors. This sounded more technical than typical Novice Night help, but I can ask him to bring them out on April 12th. Are there any Members that would be willing to reach out?
My name is Tony Gomez , and thank you for the invitation to join this discourse.
I own a red coulter/0dyssey 13.1 dobsonian painted black , - i bought several months back from an elderly gentleman near Newalla , Oklahoma and purchased a second mirror set from cloudynights , the second mirror set came with a secondary and it’s holder , and spider from a obsession telescope . My overly ambitious plans was to test and refigure the second 13.1 inch mirror and replace it in the sono tube , with a better mirror cell ( the original mirror cell is a mdf platter , where the primary mirror is attached using some form of caulk , and duct taped around the edge . )
I have bought and sold several telescopes , a couple of orange tube c8s , black c8 or two , William optics refractors , Celestron 6 inch “yard cannon” refractor , I had a 9.25 edge for a while . Quite a few dobs .well you get the idea . I have an ioptron star tracker - but find it’s a pain to drag out a computer to polar align -with its ipolar electronic polar scope which brings me back to my current state. I am capable of collimating an SCT , and a dob , and can do a fair star test . I own a university optics Foucault tester , but don’t really know how to use it , I am fairly educated , electronic tech and retired network engineer , and have literally watched every YouTube video that I could find on Foucault testing but it seems not one shows a complete beginning to end of the process , and have gained some practical knowledge , I did modify the Foucault tester to use a led smd that plugs into a usb power source - rather than an incandescent light bulb . I own all of the usual texts , The Dobsonian Telescope by Krueger and Berry , How to make a telescope by Texereau , All about telescopes by Sam Brown, and Understanding Focault by Harbor - I just lack the practical knowledge of Testing , and grinding a telescope from scratch.
Is there anyone in the Oklahoma City area that would be willing to help me test my mirrors and or how to use my Foucault tester or make suggestions to improve it. And if possible show me how to refigure it .
Welcome to the forum, Tony! Sorry, I do not have the knowledge to help you, but we’ve got a lot of really smart and experienced folks in the club and I’m hoping one of them will be able to assist you.
Many of our club members don’t check the forum very often, so would also recommend you come to a club meeting and talk to folks there about it.
