2014-15 Stellafane Mirror Class
Session 5 held on 2014-Dec-13

At the Fletcher House

Cold, Ice and Snow outside, Warm and Energetic inside!

2014-15 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 5 held on 2014-Dec-13 At the Fletcher House Fletcher House decked out for the winter holidays.

2014-15 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 5 held on 2014-Dec-13 At the Fletcher House Snow with an Ice Cap forms the perfect curve (That must be a very heavy ladder; it takes 9 hooks to hold it up !)

2014-15 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 5 held on 2014-Dec-13 At the Fletcher House The main work room in the Fletcher House, buzzing with mirror making energy!

Fine Grinding

Fine grinders do fine grinding in the fine mirror class. Corollary: Everything is fine, fine grind more, worry less.

2014-15 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 5 held on 2014-Dec-13 Fine Grinding Antoine busy grinding on his 8-inch.	2014-15 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 5 held on 2014-Dec-13 Fine Grinding Andy looks up for a photo between wets.	2014-15 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 5 held on 2014-Dec-13 Fine Grinding Katie looks away for this photo.
2014-15 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 5 held on 2014-Dec-13 Fine Grinding Kris has an existing tube, and is grinding to a very precise focal length.	2014-15 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 5 held on 2014-Dec-13 Fine Grinding Rick & Glen examine Glen's 14-inch in the sunlight.	2014-15 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 5 held on 2014-Dec-13 Fine Grinding Rick is grinding a refractor doublet.

Polishing, Figuring & Test

These folks are on the home stretch, getting close to have a nice new mirror.

2014-15 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 5 held on 2014-Dec-13 Polishing, Figuring & Test Danny polishes while Mario looks at the camera, with Dan in the background.	2014-15 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 5 held on 2014-Dec-13 Polishing, Figuring & Test Dan polishing on his 8-inch mirror.	2014-15 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 5 held on 2014-Dec-13 Polishing, Figuring & Test Doug is polishing a mirror for a new observatory in New Hampshire.
2014-15 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 5 held on 2014-Dec-13 Polishing, Figuring & Test Kai needs a shorter barrel, but is working hard anyway.	2014-15 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 5 held on 2014-Dec-13 Polishing, Figuring & Test Keith is Figuring his 6-inch.	2014-15 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 5 held on 2014-Dec-13 Polishing, Figuring & Test Dave explains something about testing while Doug examines a mirror under test.

Laps

You can't polish or figure without a lap, and here are a few shots of laps, lap use and lap equipment.

2014-15 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 5 held on 2014-Dec-13 Laps Mario presses Danny's lap.

2014-15 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 5 held on 2014-Dec-13 Laps This well trimmed lap with orange Cerium Oxide stains is ready to use.

2014-15 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 5 held on 2014-Dec-13 Laps This dual heat lamp lap warmer is used before pressing. Poinsettia should be kept at a distance :-)

People & Things

A few things besides mirror making that went on at the Fletcher House.

2014-15 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 5 held on 2014-Dec-13 People & Things Dave and Mario chat at mirror class.

2014-15 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 5 held on 2014-Dec-13 People & Things Ray & Phil relax on the game room couch.

2014-15 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 5 held on 2014-Dec-13 People & Things Doug donated a box of glass tools - thank you!

A New Machine Shop

Since convention, we have been working on building a new room to hold our metal working equipment. As typical, the bulk of the work was done or supervised by site manager John Martin. While most folks were at mirror class, a few members worked to move the big machinery into the new room.

2014-15 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 5 held on 2014-Dec-13 A New Machine Shop It's been an early winter in Vermont, and we have already had quite a bit of snow and a white Thanksgiving.	2014-15 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 5 held on 2014-Dec-13 A New Machine Shop Dave Tabor and John Martin install chains on the tractor.	2014-15 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 5 held on 2014-Dec-13 A New Machine Shop John Martin designed the new room to have a removable north wall. This is the first time it has been removed.
2014-15 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 5 held on 2014-Dec-13 A New Machine Shop John Gallagher guides the Bridgeport vertical mill into the new shop.	2014-15 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 5 held on 2014-Dec-13 A New Machine Shop The South Bend lathe is moved in next, under the watchful eyes of Jeff Lowe and Dave Tabor.	2014-15 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 5 held on 2014-Dec-13 A New Machine Shop The wall has been replaced, and the big stuff is in. As of 12/20, the machines have been wired up and are operational. Tools, work tables and additional lighting will be added over the next weeks and months.