Session 1: A New Class
This is our ninth annual mirror class and the seventh we have run in the bunkhouse.
It also marks Jay Drew's first mirror class as class leader. |
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One Dozen 8" Kits |
Jay Drew, Class Leader |
The Attentive Class |
Beveling the Mirror Edge
Beveling the edge helps to prevent chips and cracks.
We use a carborundum stone and water bucket for this task. |
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Don & Steve |
Samantha bevels her 4" blank |
Joe Bevels in the Bunkhouse |
Plenty of Activity Outside
While it was cooler than many first class sessions, the sun was out
and it was warm enough for many students to want to work outside. |
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Most Grinders work Outside |
Steve, Janet and Anne at work |
Isaac grinding away on a bench |
George working outside |
Rick and George |
Samantha and her 4" |
Tool Making
A couple of students made tools on the first day, using dental stone, tiles and epoxy. |
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Randall & Wayne |
Bubbles Be Gone! |
George makes a Tile Tool |
Checking Sagitta
We urge students to check their depth of curve often.
Here we see several students using our bar spherometer to check their progress. |
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Samantha & Dave |
Isaac & Junie |
George checks his sagitta |
Testing for Full Contact
Once the proper depth of curve is achieved, making sure you are ground out to
the edge of the mirror is next. For this check, the pencil or "Sharpie" test is used,
drawing a grid on the mirror and checking for even wear. |
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The "Sharpie" Test |
Good Contact! |
Brad & Isaac |
Polishing, Testing & Figuring
Most of our returning students are polishing or figuring, and there was much work at
the McGregor Observatory in this area. Dave Siegrist (ATMoB) brought an interesting,
original testing aid: A really thin mask or a really hefty pin stick! |
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Eileen's New Lap |
Eileen & Joyce |
Scott Polishes |
Two Twelve’s |
Three Daves |
A Great New Idea! |
A 35" x 6" Cervit Blank!
What's in the heavy crate? A 35"x6" Cervit blank, which was damaged a had the cracked part
cut off! We want to slice it into three 2" slabs, and cut three 25" mirror blanks out of it.
This side project was to unload and store the blank while Wayne builds a wire saw. |
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Dave S & Wayne |
Dave P gets ready... |
Rick keeps it lined up |
Gravity did it's Work |
Now that's a piece of Glass! |
There they go! |
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