Tony's 6" Kit -- Close to Completion . . .

Tony's 6" rocker box. The fit, for the OTA, is just right.

A Note from Kristian and his 13.1" Telescope...

Dennis,

I got the scope together and its very nice.  Thank you I am very pleased with the motions and quality of the wood working.  It was raining all day but I got some clear weather so I actually used it last night and it was very nice to operate  Unfortunately, I sold my coma corrector the same day and I am waiting for a new paracorr2 to come that I ordered.  So their is a lot of coma.   I actually really like the counterweight and how you designed it.  Works like a charm to slide down the pole when changing from a heavy to light eyepiece.  Anyway,  everything seemed to go together perfectly.  The only issue I had is with the secondary mirror.  I was wondering if you knew the distance it should be from the spider vane or if there is an offset that I have to worry about?   I have a collimation cap and chesire on the way as well so for now I am just eye balling it all.  I'll send you some pictures when I get around to it, I am working today.  Thanks again.  Everything arrived in great condition and packaging.

First Light -- Kristian's 13.1: F4.5...

cheers, Kristian...

More: Two 6" Telescopes . . .

The two 6" telescopes -- one kit -- is coming along and nearing. The
"kit" components are nearing completion. Then to assemble the telescope.

Even Santa Likes Telescopes . . .

I don't know how it did it, but Santa got this custom
10" F4 down the Chimney for Gil's daughter Zoey.

Gil's daughter Zoey and her new telescope.

Thanks Santa

Spendin' the Holiday Cuttin' Wood . . .

OTA rings for Tony and Rodger's 6" telescopes.

Rocker boxes and altitude bearings. The "kit" is on the right.

Two 6" Telescopes . . .

A 6" "kit" for Tony in Rochester, New York and a 6" telescope
for Rodger in Renton, Washington. OTA rings are nearly complete.

A Note from Phil and his 12" Lightbridge Rocker Box . . .

Hi Dennis,

The rocker box arrived safely on Friday and looks great! So much lighter, smoother and prettier than the original. I had the scope out last night for a couple of hours and it was a joy to use either the new rocker box. I especially like the much improved friction brake.

Pic attached. Your product certainly lives up to your stellar reputation!

Thank you and happy holidays!

Kristian's 13.1" F4.5 Completed . . .

Moonlite 2-speed focuser, dew shield, 3-vane, curved-vane
spider and 6-point mirror cell. 

Note the secondary dew solution. The spider is "spring loaded" for
easy collimation and holds collimation well.

A custom fitted mirror cover protects the primary.

Large collimation knobs make adjustment easy. The 6-point mirror
cell is all aluminum.

A Bit Off Topic . . . But!!

A lot of us, in this great hobby of ours, are into ham radio. I have been for the last 67 years!! And enjoy CW the most. One of my favorite activities is to collect the old "boat anchor" radios -- those radios from the 40's, 50's and 60's -- that were "real radios"!! Here's a bit of my collection.

If you're into ham radio, let me know..

Dennis K6KRV

Kristian's 13.1" Getting Close . . .

Getting close to completion -- Nice!!

David and his 8" Telescope . . .

Clifford in Florida and his 8" telescope. David now owns the telescope
and mounted it  on a custom rocker box we built for him in August 2017

. -- Lookin' good....

A 10" F4 For Sale . . .

FOR SALE is a 10" F4 with an excellent set of Orion Astrograph optics. Unlike most of my telescopes, this one is smaller and "does not" disassemble. The focuser is a Kinoptic helical low-profile unit along with a standard straight-vane spider -- which has, itself, been modified so that the secondary is "spring loaded" for easy collimation. Not visible, but included is a focuser-baffle, sliding counterweight and a red-dot finder. The rocker box has been drilled and is ready for a Sky Commander if you choose to install one.

 $995 plus shipping.

Contact me any time:
email: densteele@dobstuff.com
 tel: 650-315-6578

The OTA weighs 32#. The rocker box weighs 22#.

More Progress on Kristian's 13.1" F4.5 . . .

22" altitude bearings and  mirror "box".

The rocker box is just right!!

Future of Yerkes Observatory . . .

Future of Yerkes Observatory -- Click these link.

Kristian's 13.1" OTA .. .dThe

The early stages of construction. I'll double-
check the strut length tonight and determine
the balance point -- Note that the top-
ring of the "mirror bos" has yet to be varnished.

A 12" Lightbridge Rocker Box for Phillip . . .

All Baltic birch construction. Note the "break" on the altitude bearing side.

More on Kristian's 13.1" Telescope . . .

The "mirror board" with 6-point mirror cell and primary in place.

Custom Mirror Cover.

A really beautiful 13.1" F4.5 mirror center marked for easy collimation.

The "top ring" includes a 2-speed Moonlite focuser and 3-vane
curved-vane spider by Destiny. Note the secondary "dew" solution.

And, The Moon this Evening . . .

This photo, taken with my phone's camera, this evening.
Kinda neat I think.....

(who says one needs a telescope??)

More on Kristian's 13.1" F4.5 Strut Telescope . . .

Kristian's rocker box and altitude bearings coming together. Looking great!

And, his OTA rings..

A 12" and 13" Underway . . .

The 12" Lightbridge rocker box -- looking good!!

Underway is a 12" Lightbridge rocker box for Phillip in Apex, North Carolina

And, a 13.1" F4.5 for Kristian in Lake Placid, Florida.

Some Packing and Shipping . . .

The 10" F8.9 for Sheldon is packaged and ready to go!!

And, a 12.5" rocker box kit for John in Madoc, Canada.

A 12" Rocker Box for John C. . .

John's beautiful 12" telescope, below, will have the
flexibility of a rocker box or EQ mount as he sees fit!!

Nice!!

A "really beautiful" telescope!!

10" F8.9 for Sheldon -- 99.9% Complete . . .

Sheldon's 10" f8.9 is virtually complete. Another tiny task and we're
done!! Packing and shipping will come next.

His beautiful mirror sits on a 6-point mirror cell
designed and optimized with Plop.

A Sky Commander system and full 24" primary mirror dew shield.

The focuser is a 2-speed GSO, 3-vane, curved-vane spider
and focuser baffle in place. The 8-tube truss is perfect for this long focus telescope.

"Close to Completion" -- Sheldon's 10" F8.9 . . .

An F8.9 (89") focal length makes for an imposing long focus
telescope. Here's Sheldon's telescope is nearing completion.

I'll add a complete Sky Commander digital setting circle to Sheldon's telescope.
A focuser baffle and primary dew shield need to be completed.