Make your own free website on Tripod.com
Home | Canoe Sailing | 10 Inch F6 Split Ring | 3 Inch Dobsonian | Travel Scope

Tom's Amateur Telescope Making Page

14inchdobjpg

This three-tube Dobsonian is my largest scope. It has a 14.25 inch BVC mirror supported by a 9 point flotation cell. The short main tube is cardboard reinforced with a layer of fiberglass. The truss tubes are 1.75" ID. aluminum.

p1010538.jpg
14 inch F5

mirrorcell.jpg
Parts for Mirror Cell

p1010535.jpg
14 inch F5

14mirrorcell2.jpg
Exploded view of mirror cell

shroud3.jpg

14packed.jpg
Ready to Travel

14mirrorcell.jpg
14 inch mirror cell

Adding a shroud to a scope that has only three tubes can be a challenge. With a telescope that has eight tubes in a typical Surrier type arrangement the truss tubes form a nice frame that holds the shroud and keeps it out of the light path.

shroud8.jpg
With shroud in place

This shroud is made from two collapsible containers with a small strip of nylon filling the gap. These are sold as containers for yard waste, coolers, hampers, etc.

Other Scopes

3inchdob5.jpg
3 inch F6

foggenerator3.jpg
Barn Door Tracker

p7180089.jpg
10 inch F6 split ring

Canoe Sailing

p9220100.jpg

send noise to Tom Spano