[ATM] Fwd: Atm workshop

[Francis J. O'Reilly]

>To: atm at atmlist.com
>From: "Francis J. O'Reilly" <foreilly at bestweb.net>
>Date: Sat, 3 Feb 2007 22:00:59 EST
>>
>There is nothing like getting together with a dozen friends that you've
>just met and spending a Saturday morning working on optics.
>
>Such was the case this morning when I went to Dick Parker's telescope
>workshop which he holds in his basement under the auspices of the
>Astronomical Society of Greater Hartford. This morning I went with my
>twelve year old daughter, Elizabeth. Up and out of the house at about 6:45
>a.m., we stopped at the Blue Colony Diner at exit 10 off I-84 for a
>breakfast that was wonderful and arrived at about 9:10 at Dick's house off
>exit 67 just east of Hartford.
>
>Elizabeth began a telescope project. a 4.25" reflector with a blank and
>tool from Newport Glass. She started roughing out the blank with the aid
of
>#80 silicon carbide and the grandfatherly interest of a number of
gentlemen
>and one other young man, Carl, who was very tall and in 8th grade and was
>fine grinding his project as his father watched.
>
>I must digress at this point to say that one thing I noticed (particularly
>as I am a criminal defense attorney) was the very welcome tone and tenor
of
>my fellow telescope makers. What a group of polite, kind gentlemen! Never
>anything even close to an inappropriate thought, much less bad language,
>was in evidence. I was comfortable bringing my child with me.
>
>I began to polish my 8" f/6 mirror for which we had built a lap last week.
>Dick had taken the liberty of reviewing my work and trimmed the lap for me
>the prior night. He also diamond ground a bevel on my mirror, which was
>desperately needed.
>
>Within ten minutes of arrival, Elizabeth and I were rubbing glass. I
>normally put no pressure whatsoever on the back of the glass when I
polish.
>Dick suggested that I put my hands on the back and use a W stroke. I
>compromised and used a W stroke while pushing the glass with my fingers on
>the side. This continued until 10:00 a.m. until it was time for the
>mandatory class in optics. An analysis of wavelength criteria (Rayleigh
&c.
>)THe class was a dry run that Dick had taped for his Stellafane
>presentation last year. It was great.
>
>After the class I polished and Elizabeth ground. WE did this for quite a
>while with much verbal interaction with others (Although I have learned a
>long time ago that If you stop working to talk, nothing gets done, so we
>continued pushing) Around 11:20, Dick asked to look at my progress after I
>suggested that I thought it would take about twelve hours to polish it
out.
>I was reticent (maybe embarrassed) but I acceded to his suggestion. After
>washing the blank, we looked at it to find a pretty good faux polish with
>the center in pretty good shape and the glass getting progresively greyer
>to the edge. Dick suggested that I go tool on top. I will do that next
>week. 
>
>Elizabeth needs a .022 saggita for her 4.25" f/10 telescope. She was at
>.007. Dick showed her how to use a spherometer so she could read her
>progress.
>
>I was expecting my arms to be tired and my hands to hurt from pushing the
>glass. I was surprised when I found that it was my back that was getting
>sore from slightly bending over. The hands and arms are fine.
>
>Out of the three hours we were there today, I spent about 1:45 actually
>rubbing glass on the pitch lap. The rest of the time was in class or
>helping Elizabeth set up. I would say that it was a good day.
>
>Dick runs these workshops from January through March. I don't know if he
>will be holding one next year, but if he does and if you want to
experience
>a great mirror making group, I recommend contacting him through his
website
>www.mtbparker.com 
>
>Francis J. O'Reilly
>
>
>