mustgobigger
Post Laureate
Reged: 06/12/07
Loc: Clinton Township Mi.
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DUDE, you owe me big time preston...
a little dust but its same size and new old stock
Edited by mustgobigger (09/03/10 12:49 AM)
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Preston Smith
The Travel Scope Guy
Reged: 04/24/05
Loc: Eureka, Pa
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Quote:
DUDE, you owe me big time preston...
a little dust but its same size and new old stock
I sure do!
YOU DA MAN! 
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seryddwr
Innocent Bystander
Reged: 02/19/10
Loc: I don't know, you tell me.
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Quote:
Can a Refractor Dude save this Criterion RV6?
I got in late on this one. I was going to say "No, best send it to me!". 
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Preston Smith
The Travel Scope Guy
Reged: 04/24/05
Loc: Eureka, Pa
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Hi Greg!
No can do. 
You have to finish that 6" SS Astrograph-Thingy and the 20" first. 
Besides, I already have made a huge investment in this scope - I just bought the can of Bondo!
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seryddwr
Innocent Bystander
Reged: 02/19/10
Loc: I don't know, you tell me.
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True, true. 
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Preston Smith
The Travel Scope Guy
Reged: 04/24/05
Loc: Eureka, Pa
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In preparation for applying the Bondo, I decided to use some "Hardware Cloth" which is 1/2" mesh of 19 Gauge wire.
I first used a "Ziptool" to make the fractured edge of the tube fresh and parallel with the tube. Then I drilled small holes so I could push the mesh into them and epoxy the mesh in place. This way I would not have a fragile, "frangible" area were the the bondo and tube wall met.
The Epoxy should harden in a few hours.
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mayidunk
Don't Ask...
Reged: 02/17/10
Loc: Betwixt & Between...
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Unbelievable how completely that primary cleaned up, and just how nice that coating appears to be! Nice job on the restoration.
These scopes use to be made in my home town of Hartford, CT! How I wish Criterion was still there!
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Datapanic
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 10/17/09
Loc: Tucson, Arizona
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You're doing a great job and the restore is looking nice! I would call you a Reflector Dude as well.
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Preston Smith
The Travel Scope Guy
Reged: 04/24/05
Loc: Eureka, Pa
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Quote:
You're doing a great job and the restore is looking nice! I would call you a Reflector Dude as well.
Thanks Dan! But this ain't nuthin compared to that amazing restoration you're doing on that big ol' Cave.
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deSitter
Postmaster
Reged: 12/09/04
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That's a completely original RV-6 - I well remember. - other than the inner part of the draw tube. That looks like a sink part - but the spider, mirror cell, and tube are all original. The optics are probably excellent. I would recoat them with standard SiO2 over Al coatings from Spectrum. It's funny, a coating of dust can act as a protective layer, which happened here with the primary.
-drl
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deSitter
Postmaster
Reged: 12/09/04
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It looks like you have the original 2-part draw tube with a third extra part inserted, maybe because the inner drawtube is stuck in the outer part (with the rack grooves). There should be an inner brass tube that fits into the outer part by friction - and it looks like it's there, just pressed all the way into the outer tube. That sink-looking thing had been added later.
You can get the inner part unstuck by heating the brass, then cooling it rapidly, throw in some WD-40 when it's hot, etc. It comes right out once you break the stiction. I remember mine getting stuck once or twice, it's a bear to get it free.
-drl
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deSitter
Postmaster
Reged: 12/09/04
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BTw you will find that the tube is very easy to sand to a very smooth surface, making whole atmospheres of dust. Don't breathe that stuff in! It should take a very high gloss paint when properly sanded, although that's not really how they appeared from the factory. The fit and finish were OK but no Unitrons. But boy, mine was extremely good optically. I saw the occultation of epsilon Geminorum by Mars in 1976 with mine. Mars was only 6" in size.
-drl
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albert1
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/01/07
Loc: Southern New Jersey
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Quote:
Never owned a reflector.
Never had much desire to own one.
After you look through it Preston I have a feeling that may change.
The mirror cleaned up nicely. Looks like you even have the original finder.
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Preston Smith
The Travel Scope Guy
Reged: 04/24/05
Loc: Eureka, Pa
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Thanks Danny!
Both you and DavidG must be correct about the additional piece in the focuser. It is really stuck in there but I haven't tried any "methods" yet to remove it but I'll give your recommendation a try - probably later today.
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Preston Smith
The Travel Scope Guy
Reged: 04/24/05
Loc: Eureka, Pa
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OK, Here's some more pictures of how I set the tube up for the Bondo.
I inserted the mirror frame to support a thin piece of aluminum with wax paper over the top of it (DavidG's recommendation) and covered the frame with painters tape to protect it from any dripping Bondo.
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Preston Smith
The Travel Scope Guy
Reged: 04/24/05
Loc: Eureka, Pa
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Here's an inside picture showing the piece of aluminum being supported by the mirror frame.
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Preston Smith
The Travel Scope Guy
Reged: 04/24/05
Loc: Eureka, Pa
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Well the Bondo has been applied! 
I'm letting it dry so pictures will be posted later after I'm done sanding.
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Preston Smith
The Travel Scope Guy
Reged: 04/24/05
Loc: Eureka, Pa
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All done with the Bondo!
Now I'm off to fill and sand the rest of the tube!
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actionhac
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 08/09/08
Loc: WA
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Very nice job! I'm going to remember your technique.
Robert
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deSitter
Postmaster
Reged: 12/09/04
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That is excellent work on the tube repair!
RE the drawtube - I seem to recall having to tap out the inner drawtube using a paint stirring stick once. It really gets stuck! You can't tug on the edge without damaging the metal, and in any case, any distortion of it will further grip the inner walls of the outer tube. A wooden plug of just the right size could be used to push it out.
-drl
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