From: "CSC" 
To: "Atm" 
Reply-To: "CSC" 


Kevin:

I assume that you only want to experiment with grinding glass.  The optical
results you would get by using plate glass for a single lens would be
disappointing.  Fun to try, though.

        Refractor lenses are multiple elements and use special (& costly)
glass.
The curves are precise, and not for a first time glass grinder.

        My first telescope was a scavenged eyeglass lens with a 30" focal
length,
masked down to 1" diameter and a small magnifier lens for an eyepiece.
Blurry and with color fringes, it did show moons of Jupiter and craters on
the moon, but a 7 x 35 binocular does a much better job.

        Best to buy a surplus achromatic lens from Surplus Shed (on the web)and
go
from there.

Colin

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-atm{at}shore.net [mailto:owner-atm{at}shore.net]On Behalf Of
kevinw99{at}ezwv.com
Sent: Monday, March 03, 2003 11:47 AM To: atm{at}shore.net
Subject: ATM refractor help



I have been given a few pieces of 1/4" and 3/8" plate glass and
was wanting to experiment with making spotter scopes with this glass

I was thinking of spotter scopes in the the 2-3" range

is there a web site, or can some some give rough guidelines on what size
refractor lens I can make with this glass?

how about a web site that has grinding directions?

any ideas would be appreciated

thanks
kevin

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