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Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2016 11:52:37 GMT -8
My factory made base for the Lightbridge which was made out of particle board, has finally started to come apart. Only took 6 years. Ha!, mirror coating lasted 3! My problem is finding the famed "Ebony Star" or equivalent laminate to rebuild with. Where do you get and what do you guys use for this? I only need a half sheet, but if i have to buy a full one well,OK. MMc
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Post by Deleted on Oct 5, 2016 7:59:48 GMT -8
Hey Mark,
I've got my leftover pieces you can have. One strip 4 inches by 5 feet of the real thing (Stardust -- a bit finer pebbling than Ebony Star?) and another 2 feet by almost 4 feet of something else with a only a matte finish. If you're shopping for formica be sure it's not just the common finish on the surface but the actual bumpy finish for the ebony star and stardust colours.
If you're re doing the side bearings be sure to make them Large! The greater the travel over the Teflon the better the control. So many commercial scopes have too small side bearings that then require counter weights for heavier eyepieces. This is fixed with bigger bearings.
I've been using Teflon sheeting over inner tube rubber for the last 10 years. The sheeting has less short term memory of the bumps on the formica than solid Teflon pads. Full contact is vital, so sandpaper taped sand side out over the formica bearing surface and sanding the surface of the Teflon pad or the support base for the rubber and sheeting makes sure of that.
Kriege said 15 lbs per square inch of pad (pages 71 and 269) but later tests recommended more like 8 lbs. I changed mine over to 8 and found an improvement.
Happy rebuilding and optimizing.
DSD.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 5, 2016 11:39:40 GMT -8
DSD, thanks for the offer. I need a piece 22" across for the bottom bearing. I am using the felt for the altitude bearing, just like it came with. I have tracked down a whole sheet of Formica 909-42 that I need to test with a piece of teflon to see how it slides. Not sure if the Matte finish is slick enough. Thanks for the input. MMc
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Post by Deleted on Oct 5, 2016 13:46:24 GMT -8
Rough is better than slick. We used to try WD40 as a lube, Jack probably remembers, oooh it was really smoooth, but it always ran away and we couldn't get it to star hop under any power other than low. You always over shot. (like Derrik's)
DSD.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 5, 2016 17:27:08 GMT -8
Thanks Darrell, I PM ed you. M.
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Post by craig on Oct 8, 2016 11:22:27 GMT -8
if you need a hand let me know i don't mind helping out
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Post by Deleted on Oct 8, 2016 12:43:13 GMT -8
Thanks for the offer, Craig. Not only are you my personal safety guy at the track, but now you want to help me do this. I am still rounding up all the stuff i need. I'll let you know more at the next meeting. MMc
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Post by craig on Oct 8, 2016 14:36:06 GMT -8
when is next meeting
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Post by Deleted on Oct 8, 2016 20:16:26 GMT -8
Craig, this Wednesday evening. (second Wed of the month)
Mark, I'll bring the two pieces of Formica.
DSD.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2016 11:40:08 GMT -8
Thanks,DSD, I can't wait to try out the stickshun test... MMc
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