Sorry school has been extremely intense these last couple of weeks and I have not had time to post on the blog. I have how ever been working on the telescope a bunch. I got my "strings" figured out and completed.(but wrong length). I also got my poles figured out as well.
For the strings I used 6 gauge wire and created eyes on each end just like rigging on a sailboat. I was hoping to use no stretch bowstring but there is no store in the Pacific Northwest that I could find that sold it. So as always I had to improvise.
For poles I have used 3/4" type L copper pipe with hard wood dowels in the middle. I have finally got 7/16 nuts attached to the bottom with gorilla glue. First I tried soldering them in, then two part epoxy but the gorilla glue seems to be holding so far.
The secondary is completed and has had a final sand and is has been treated with teak oil. My mom says it looks.......gorgeous. So that must be good.
I did a mock up of the strings and poles using real string and dowels.
I also finished my mirror cell
Everything so far except for the mirrors has been homemade versions that I have created in my head from looking at other peoples work and then going to the hardware store and spending hours looking for what I think may be a combination of things that may work.
But it all looks like it is coming together.
Take care and thanks for stopping bye,
Nate G
