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8 Inch Telescope

Project by JerryL posted 942 days ago 789 views 4 times favorited 9 comments Add to Favorites Watch

This one I completed a couple of years ago. This was my first telescope building project. Beacuse of all the cutouts and fancy finish it took me almost 5 months to complete. I have to credit my wife for encouraging me to build and put quality components in it. I had been doing a cost compairson between lots of cheap telescope mirrors and I was showing her the options one day when she said, “Why are you fooling around with this cheap stuff when you should just buy quality and get something you will be happy with.” What a woman!

The next day I ordered a premium mirror that cost more than most imported 8” scopes by itself. I have been happy with it from day one. I get lots of compliments on the wood working and almost just as many on the optics. Nothing stands out like quality.

The details of the construction can be found here: http://www.cloudynights.com/item.php?item_id=1096

Basically the wood is a combination of 3/4” Home Depot birtch ply and then a sheet of baltic birtch ply. Baltic birtch is the way to go, I will never use anything else. The tube is a 10” Sonatube from the local contractor’s supply. It’s wrapped in post-form Wilsonart. I must also add that the design was copied from someone online who was in business for a while building these guys. He was very helpful and gave me lots of ideas.

There are several issues that you can’t see in the pics. Mostly the finish I used is cracking :=(. I used a water based polly and put on too may coats. Next time it’s oil-based and I’ll probably spray it on before assembly. There are a few parts that are not 100% square but they don’t impact the movement or look of the scope, but I know they are there.

Thanks for looking.

-- Jerry L.


9 comments so far

View PanamaJack's profile

PanamaJack

4447 posts in 975 days


posted 942 days ago

This is a great job. Looked at the other pics on the website. Most impressive.

-- Carpe Lignum - Seize The Wood,

View CharlieM1958's profile

CharlieM1958

7666 posts in 1116 days


posted 942 days ago

What a fantastic idea! I didn’t even know you could build your own telescope, much less make it such a beautiful woodworking project.

-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"

View David's profile

David

1982 posts in 1036 days


posted 941 days ago

Very interesting project! Your wife is to be commended for support and “authorizing” quality parts!

-- http://foldingrule.blogspot.com

View Chip's profile

Chip

1058 posts in 990 days


posted 940 days ago

A piece of art Jerry. Beautifully executed. This is not something I would think of doing in wood. Outstanding piece and thanks for posting it.

-- Better to say nothing and be thought the fool... then to speak and erase all doubt.

View Tony's profile

Tony

813 posts in 927 days


posted 795 days ago

Impressive engineering – I enjoyed the accompanying article also – well done

-- Tony - All things are possible, just some things are more difficult than others! - SKYPE: Heron2005 (http://www.poydatjatuolit.fi)

View Harold's profile

Harold

312 posts in 745 days


posted 739 days ago

We have a fella down the street who is loves telescopes and grinds or shapes? his own mirrors. I would love to try something like this.

-- If knowledge is not shared, it is forgotten.

View Dick, & Barb Cain's profile

Dick, & Barb Cain

7043 posts in 1197 days


posted 739 days ago

A beautiful piece of craftsmanship.

It looks like your whole family enjoys it.

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

View mranum's profile

mranum

94 posts in 313 days


posted 312 days ago

I just stumbled across this. I guess maybe I’m not an oddball that built his own scope. lol

I built a 6” Newtonian on a Dob mount originally but last year converted it to a pipe Equatorial mount. Works great now.

Great job on the scopes BTW.

-- Just remember,it was a lone amatuer that built the ark, and a team of experts built the Titanic.

View Mark Shymanski's profile

Mark Shymanski

1555 posts in 610 days


posted 311 days ago

Beautiful job. Thanks for the link.

-- ...it's rennovation time!!!

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