The K-20 Project

The K-20 Project

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6/10/2007 - Mirror Box is Finished and "Fitted Out"

A lot has been going on this week.  I sanded, sealed and added 4 coats of poly-urethane to the outside of the mirror box and applied 2 coats of a heavy flat black enamel to the inside.  Fitting out involved installing the giant 26 inch altitude bearings, tailgate and 18 point flotation cell.  The only items left for installation on the mirror box are the split blocks for the truss poles during the scope's final assembly in about 2 weeks when I return from Niagara Falls.

ENTRY PICTURES


4 coats of poly and a flat black interior.	My brother and I installing the altitude bearings with stainless steel hardware.

Mirror box with altitude bearings	Mirror box with tailgate and mirror cell installed, also with stainless steel hardware. Note how OPEN the tailgate is. This allows for a decrease in weight but more importantly AIR CIRCULATION and the ability to clean the mirror IN the mirror box....once installed in the cell, the mirror should really never leave this nice, safe home.