How do I build a dobsonian telescope?
Friday, July 8th, 2011I don’t really expect you people to give me step by step instructions, but a website that gives reliable information. I would prefer it if you have built one using instructions from this website, but I am not being too picky. Yeah, I need too do something fun this summer other than just slave over homework.
I have googled it, but I rather know someone who already built the telescope using this website so I am sure that it works. It would also be great if it the instructions call for cheaper materials, because I don’t want to mow my neighbors’ lawns for life.
One of the seminal books about building telescopes is Richard Berry’s "Build Your Own Telescope".
http://www.amazon.com/Build-Your-Telescope-Richard-Berry/dp/0943396697
Shop around on line and you should find a used copy fairly cheap.
The other thing is, how much of the scope do want to build yourself? Do you want to grind out your own mirror, or just the scope’s infrastructure? Grinding your own mirror might take the summer to do, but it does teach you a bunch about optics.
http://www.willbell.com/tm/index.htm
http://www.willbell.com/ATMSupplies/ATM_Supplies.htm
Another option is to find a used dob and rebuild it. Hunt down garage or estate sales and try find something that has a decent mirror (might need to be recoated), but is otherwise either worn out or otherwise unused. You still may need to build the scope up, but the key basic parts (the glass) is already made. If you come across an older scope with the name "Coulter" on it, it is worth getting, just for the glass alone. Coulter was one of the first commercial dobs on the market. Horrible design (took forever for the glass to cool off), some really good, well ground glass otherwise.
A hybrid approach might also be to buy a kit that you put together. Don’t know the lead times for orders, but this way, all the major wood cutting is done for you but you still need to build the critter.
http://www.astrosystems.biz/telekits.htm
Finally, there is the classic John Dobson design that started it all -
http://www.raycash.us/sfsidewalk/intro.htm
http://stellafane.org/tm/dob/index.html