2008-2009 Stellafane Mirror Class
Session 4 held on 2009-Jan-25

The Weather Outside is Frightful!

its winter in New England, snow and ice everywhere. Can't get up to Stellafane,
so we held mirror class in the Fletcher House facility in Chester.

2008-2009 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 4 held on 2009-Jan-25 The Weather Outside is Frightful! Cold & Ice...	2008-2009 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 4 held on 2009-Jan-25 The Weather Outside is Frightful! ...Snowbound Cars...	2008-2009 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 4 held on 2009-Jan-25 The Weather Outside is Frightful! ...Fletcher House is Inviting...
2008-2009 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 4 held on 2009-Jan-25 The Weather Outside is Frightful! ...Grinding Benches Ready...	2008-2009 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 4 held on 2009-Jan-25 The Weather Outside is Frightful! ...Tester Ready...	2008-2009 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 4 held on 2009-Jan-25 The Weather Outside is Frightful! ...Lets Hold Mirror Class! (Hold it and they will come)

Three New Mirror Makers

We were pleased to welcome three new mirror makers to our class: Christy, Gary and Randy.

2008-2009 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 4 held on 2009-Jan-25 Three New Mirror Makers Wayne helps Christy with Beveling	2008-2009 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 4 held on 2009-Jan-25 Three New Mirror Makers Tom get Randy started with his first wet	2008-2009 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 4 held on 2009-Jan-25 Three New Mirror Makers Gary concentrates on hogging out his mirror
2008-2009 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 4 held on 2009-Jan-25 Three New Mirror Makers Ken explains grinding technique to Christy	2008-2009 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 4 held on 2009-Jan-25 Three New Mirror Makers Gary & Randy at work	2008-2009 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 4 held on 2009-Jan-25 Three New Mirror Makers Ken checks Christy's Sagitta

Old Hands at Grinding

Students who started earlier in the year continue grinding.
All are hogged out and are at various stages of fine grinding.

2008-2009 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 4 held on 2009-Jan-25 Old Hands at Grinding Rick, Anne & Dave Fine Grinding at Fletcher House	2008-2009 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 4 held on 2009-Jan-25 Old Hands at Grinding Rick prepares a wet He is using Aluminum Oxide for fine grinding	2008-2009 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 4 held on 2009-Jan-25 Old Hands at Grinding Rick Fine Grinding
2008-2009 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 4 held on 2009-Jan-25 Old Hands at Grinding Anne is Fine Grinding On a nice collapsible station	2008-2009 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 4 held on 2009-Jan-25 Old Hands at Grinding Kim prepares a wet	2008-2009 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 4 held on 2009-Jan-25 Old Hands at Grinding Happy to Move On Kim is all smiles as she cleans up and prepares for a smaller grits size.

Sleuthing for Pits

Before you change grits, you need to make sure you have no larger pits left.
Here 3 of our students check for pits before moving on.

2008-2009 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 4 held on 2009-Jan-25 Sleuthing for Pits CSI Stellafane Is that evidence of a larger grit? Who left that pit? Joyce helps Kim sleuth for pits.

2008-2009 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 4 held on 2009-Jan-25 Sleuthing for Pits Dave sleuths for pits He has a "thin" mirror (less than 6:1 diameter:thickness).

2008-2009 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 4 held on 2009-Jan-25 Sleuthing for Pits Wayne & Anne They are preparing to check the mirror surface in the bright sunlight.

Lapland

Well, it's not really that cold and icy in Vermont.
We have our own version of Lap Land, laps seem to be everywhere this weekend.

2008-2009 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 4 held on 2009-Jan-25 Lapland A pretty new Molded Lap	2008-2009 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 4 held on 2009-Jan-25 Lapland Samantha spreads CeO A nicely irregular 10-inch lap.	2008-2009 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 4 held on 2009-Jan-25 Lapland A 6-Inch Lap
2008-2009 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 4 held on 2009-Jan-25 Lapland Cold Pressing	2008-2009 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 4 held on 2009-Jan-25 Lapland Alex presses his 6" Lap The barbell weight is much bigger than the mirror!	2008-2009 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 4 held on 2009-Jan-25 Lapland A Light Press This 6" lap is being pressed with just the weight of the mirror.

Polishing & Figuring

All those laps were put to good use Polishing & Figuring a lot of mirrors.

2008-2009 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 4 held on 2009-Jan-25 Polishing & Figuring Ray talks with Dave taking a break during polishing	2008-2009 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 4 held on 2009-Jan-25 Polishing & Figuring Laying on of Hands No, this is not tandem polishing. Jay illustrates a point, but Dennis seems to be concentrating on his polishing instead.	2008-2009 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 4 held on 2009-Jan-25 Polishing & Figuring Fran Figuring His fast mirror takes a delicate touch.
2008-2009 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 4 held on 2009-Jan-25 Polishing & Figuring Massaging the Polisher Carl gives Samantha a shoulder massage as she polishes.	2008-2009 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 4 held on 2009-Jan-25 Polishing & Figuring Samantha Polishes its hard work pushing that big 10-incher over the lap.	2008-2009 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 4 held on 2009-Jan-25 Polishing & Figuring Alex Polishes It's hard to hold a 6-inch with big hands

Testing

We tried using an extension ladder for alignment, and worked out.
We need to stiffen the joint, but it definitely helped keep the optics in line.

2008-2009 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 4 held on 2009-Jan-25 Testing Jeff, Jeff & Dave Setting up to test Jeff's mirror.

2008-2009 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 4 held on 2009-Jan-25 Testing Dave adjusts his tester This is a good view of the perforated flat on the double-pass null tester.

2008-2009 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 4 held on 2009-Jan-25 Testing Tweak it more, Dave Dave adjusts the knife edge position on his tester.

Science & History

Young Alex did some experimental work in levitating a paper clip with magnets.
We also had a historic Unitron refractor at the class.

2008-2009 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 4 held on 2009-Jan-25 Science & History Alex and his experiment He has levitated a paper clip with some magnets.

2008-2009 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 4 held on 2009-Jan-25 Science & History Levitation Close-up of paper clip being levitated by magnets.

2008-2009 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 4 held on 2009-Jan-25 Science & History Classic Unitron Refractor Nice shot of the focuser and nameplate on a classic Unitron refractor.

Heading Home

At the end of class, it's time to clean up and pack up.
Transporting grinding benches is always a challenge.

2008-2009 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 4 held on 2009-Jan-25 Heading Home Dennis washes up

2008-2009 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 4 held on 2009-Jan-25 Heading Home Packing a small car full

2008-2009 Stellafane Mirror Class Session 4 held on 2009-Jan-25 Heading Home Bench on the Roof With 4 people to drive home, some things just won't fit inside.