Bruce's 10" F6 Continues.....

The "mirror board", with the Discovery mirror cell and mirror
affixed is completed. With a little cleaning, the primary is
all clean and ready!! Nice.....

Chris' 29" Telescope in Ontario, California....

Here's Chris and Glenn's 29" telescope based on a Coulter Optical
primary. I built a 17.5" for Chris -- but this outdoes that by a mile!!

The truss-tubes are 1.5" in diameter. Perfect for this telescope.

Three Projects for 2018 . . .

I have a very nice 10" F3.9 mirror  and telescope
under construction. The focuser is a Kinoptics
helical. This telescope will be a bit different with
a 6-strut round tube assembly. Keep an eye here.

This telescope is for sale!!

Under construction is a 10"  "string-strut" for Bruce. This is
a remake from an older, much heavier, F6 Discovery. The
optics are beautiful.  This will be the ETT design.

A 12" kit is completed for Patrick in Philadelphia. This was a
"partial kit" as well as a "second". But, it's all complete and ready
to go. Some of the parts are from different telescopes, but it
complete and will make a great strut-telescope!!

John nice 8" F4 OTA is completed. Note the Telrad mount, Moonlite focuser
and Moonlite 4-filter slide. The OTA is 30" tall and weighs just 22#. 

A Losmandy dovetail plate will fit on any compatible mount.

A single 12Vdc fan will help cool the nearly full thickness primary.

The two-speed 2" Moonlite focuser is a beauty.

The "standard straight-vane" spider is spring loaded for easy collimatin.

John's 8' F4 Close to Completion...

Just about completed is John's 8" F4 OTA. The OTA stands
29.75" tall. A Losmandy dovetail plate will be installed next.

John's 8" F4 Ready for Testing ...

Now the length of the OTA is calculated, it
just needs to be "tested"under the stars. Note
the "adjustable" struts in case minor adjustments
need to be made. The mirror cover is installed.

Without the mirror cover, but with the
Moonlite focuser and filter slide ready
for testing tonight. the OTA is a mere 30" long.

John's 8" F4 Continues . . .

The Upper Tube Assembly for John's 8" F4. Here the Moonlite
2-speed focuser and filter slide is installed.

(note the 1-foot ruler for scale)

The filter slide "clamps" to the draw tube. Easy to install
and easy to remove if necessary.

John R's 8 Inch F4 . . .

Under construction is an OTA for John's 8" F4 short-focus
primary. The OTA will sport a Losmandy dovetail plate for
mounting on a couple of different platforms.

John lives in Richmond, Virginia

John's OTA will be "similiar" to this 12" F4 made last year.

Howard N. and his 16" Kit . . .

Howard N. and his 16" kit is coming together
just perfectly. I like the selection of color.
Howard lives in  Salem, Oregon.

And Another 10" For Sale ....

Here's another offering, a 10" F5 with Nova Optical Systems certified primary mirror. This telescope is a beauty with its excellent optics, curved vane spider, single-speed 2" focuser with 1.25" adapter and fed-dot finder.

Price?? Just $1195 with a $65 flat rating shipping anywhere in the CONUS.

Call us at 650-315-6578
Email: densteele@dobstuff.com

Rancho Mirage Library and its Observatory . . .

Rancho Mirage Library is building a beautiful dual-dome observatory adjacent to its main building. The big dome will house a 28" research grade telescope. I stopped by this morning to snap a photo.The new construction looks wonderful. What a great resource for the community. It's due to open early in 2018.

10" F4.7 For Sale ...

fff

S-O-L-D

This is a 10" F4.7 strut telescope with Easy Transport Telescope option. Other features include:

1) Curved vane spider.
2) Red Dot finder.
3) Single speed 2" crayford focuser.
4) Beautiful Zhumell (GSO) primary and mirror cell.
5) Custom mirror cover.
6) Ball bearing AZ axis with adjustable break for friction control.
7) sliding counterweight as needed.
8) The OTA is 29#  without mirror cover.
9) The rocker box weighs 1
10) $999 complete plus shipping.


I've used and star-tested this telescope. The star images are beautiful pin-points with an airy disk inside and outside of focus.

Contact Dennis at 650-315-6578 or email densteele@dobstuff.com

A 10" F4.8 For Sale . . .

Now under construction and available in a short couple of week sis a
10" F4.8-9 for Easy transport Option. This photo is an "example"
of the telescopes' appearance. Some very slight variations may
apply. But, I hope you get the idea. Price: $999 plus shipping.

Already completed are the OTA rings. Note the mirror
board with an all aluminum mirror cell. Features include
3-vane curved-vane spider and all aluminum 2" one-speed
crayford focuser with 2" to 1.25" adapter.

16" altitude bearings and rocker box sides are
underway. The balance will be perfect with these sizes.

Thanks for the Email Dave . . .

Dave and his 8" telescope on a dobstuff rocker box
He lives in Avon Park, Florida.

Dennis:

I have had two good nights on the Scope and Rocker Box and tonight I took the scope to Kristian Nader’s and let him push it around. He was amazed how well the box worked and how easy and smooth it moved. He has a Meade 12 inch DOB that he was going to get converted but finances have hit him hard. I hope he ends up getting a kit made but I can say this I love it and it has proven that it is much better than what comes stock with Meade DOB’s I saw the Double Cluster and also Andromeda tonight very nicely and last night it was Saturn and a few other things. All in all a very nice piece of work.

Dave.

Andy Picks Up his Telescope ...

Andy, from Sonora, California stopped by for his 12.5"
string-strut telescope. It was a great visit.
Thanks for coming by, Andy....

His entire scope fits onto the backseat of his Hyundai
4-door hatchback. A steatbelt holds the ota in place.

Add the rocker box and top ring and it's all loaded.

Andy's 12" is Completed . . .

A Destiny Observatory Grade curved-vane spider, "violet" Moonlite focuser
and filter slide. A Telrad is attached to the top strut.

The Easy Transport Telescope option and intermediate ring.
Note the "strings". The mirror is a Zambuto F5.

All construction is with furniture grade Baltic birch. You can just
make out the "strings". A custom mirror cover is included with all my telescopes.

Note the 12Vdc  "fan" assembly.

The detail of the Telrad, filter slide and "violet" focuser.

A Couple of Projects . . .

Andy's 12" F5 Zamboto assembled with Telrad, strings
and filter slide. Close to completion.

Keith's rocker box upgrade for his "original"  13.1" Coulter.

And Keith's rocker box sides.

12" F5 for Andy "Almost" Completed...

Just a couple more "items" to complete for Andy's 12" F5 Zambuto.
Note the filter-slide. Nice!!

Joe and his 16.25" Telescope ...

Joe, from Palos Verdes, stopped by to pick up his 16.25" F3.7 with Nova
optics. It was good to visit and see him again. This is the 3rd telescope
I've built for Joe. I think he has good taste in vendors!!

Andy's 12" Fan ...

A 70mm fan assembly will help "cool" Andy's telescope as
an observing session gets underway. 

A 16" Lightbridge Rocker Box for Charles A.....

Completed and ready for packing is a 16" Lightbriddge Rocker box
for Charles A. in Kearney, Nebraska. The construction is all
furniture grade Baltic birch. An altitude axis "break" is included.

Andy's 12.5" F5 .... On the Final Stretch...

Andy's rocker box is taking shape. Once I get to this point
I'm about 2 weeks from completing the telescope!!