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Teeter's
Telescopes, LLC. - Serving the Amateur Astronomy Community
Since 2002! |
Frequently
Asked Questions (FAQ's)
Q:
Can Teeter's Telescopes build scopes faster than F/4?
A:
The movement toward faster and faster mirrors is
one that cannot be ignored, and for good reason
(who wouldn't love standing flat-footed on the ground
while using a 20"?). Waite Research, LLC.,
is our current mirror manufacturer offering mirrors
down to F/3.5 in 15", 16", 18", 20"
and 22" apertures, and guaranteed to at least
1/10 P-V surface quality. Please contact rob@teeterstelescopes.com
for more information.
Q:
Can Teeter's Telescopes build scopes larger than 20"
aperture?
A:
Certainly! Well, a 30" is going to be too large
for our current shop space but a 22" and possibly
a 24" are doable. Our only constraint is that
the components we currently employ limit us to scopes
with focal lengths shorter than 100". Therefore,
a 22" F/4.5 would certainly be a potential
project. Please contact rob@teeterstelescopes.com
for more information.
Q: Can I
get enhanced coatings on the primary mirror in my Teeter's
Telescope?
A:
Yes, this option is available on most of the primary
mirrors offered through Teeter's Telescopes. However,
before committing to this type of coating, we request
that customers do their due diligence in researching
the various mirror coating companies and their varying
coating techniques. Enhanced coatings have mixed
reviews and are not recommended by Teeter's Telescopes
at this time.
Q:
I have my own primary mirror, but I don't want to ship
it. Can you build a structure without having the mirror?
A:
We describe such projects as "Blind Builds"
where we craft the Teeter's Telescopes structure
around dimensions and specifications supplied by
the customer. We have taken on such projects, but
do have reservations about this type of build. Please
see our Guarantee page
for an explanation of limitations to this type of
project.
Q:
I have a primary mirror that I ground/polished myself,
can you build a structure for it?
A:
Assuming your mirror is between 8" and 22"
and has a focal length less than 100", then
we can consider such a project. At one time we did
request that all mirrors used in Teeter's Telescopes
be documented to at least 1/10 P-V surface quality.
While we've backed away from the requirement, it
is still nice to know what we're working with and
would recommend that you send your mirror to a third-party
for evaluation prior to committing to a Teeter's
Telescopes structure. For example, mirror manufacturers
like Waite Research, OMI-Torus and Optic Wave Laboratories
will test your mirror for a modest fee and provide
written documentation of their findings. With documentation
in hand, we'll then be happy to take on your project.
Q: Can I
purchase my Teeter's Telescope with a conical primary
mirror?
A:
Yes, we can come up with a custom design to allow
use of such primary mirrors in our Truss-Dobsonians.
Due to the nature of conical mirrors being less
massive than standard mirrors, either additional
weight is required in the mirrorbox or a taller
mirrorbox (essentially a taller balance point) must
be employed to allow the structure to balance properly.
R.F. Royce
would be our supplier of choice for 8" - 16"
conical primary mirrors, and for the components
necessary to craft a compatible mirror cell. Please
contact rob@teeterstelescopes.com
for more information.
Q:
I have my own mirror cell, spider, focuser and primary/secondary
mirrors - can I send those components and have Teeter's
Telescopes build a structure around them?
A:
Assuming these components match our design standards
for Teeter's Telescopes then we'll be happy to retrofit
them into our structure
*at no cost* to you. We understand
times are tough and if we can save you a few dollars
here and there to make the purchase of a Truss-Dobsonian
more practical, then we are all for it. That is
the beauty of our "A la Carte" pricing
on our Catalog page;
should you already have a primary mirror, secondary
mirror, primary mirror cell and spider, then you
can easily price out what the rest of the structure
and other major components will cost.
Q:
I have a 16.5"/17"/19" primary mirror,
can you build a structure around this non-standard mirror
aperture?
A:
Yes! Since each Teeter's Telescope is crafted one
at a time, we can build any size structure between
8" and 22" aperture. In addition, we won't
have to squeeze your non-standard aperture mirror
into a pre-made structure. Rather, the structure
will be made to the mirror, including the primary
mirror cell to ensure proper flotation support.
Q:
Can I have my focuser and finderscope installed on the
"left-hand side" of the scope, rather than
the "right-hand side"?
A:
We orient our focusers and finderscopes, standard,
on the "right-hand side" of our Truss-Dobsonians
(as viewed from the back of the structure). Why?
Habit is all. We find it is purely a preference
thing, not a performance or a "right or wrong"
approach. We've found most people prefer the "right-hand
side" and find it more natural, but there are
people who cannot get comfortable with that orientation.
We'll be glad to rotate the focuser and finderscope
so they are on the "left-hand side" of
the scope should that be your preference. Please
just let us know at the beginning of your project's
build process.
Q:
Which wood stain colors does Teeter's Telescopes offer?
A:
While our Cherry stain is by far our most popular
color, we do currently offer two other stain choices,
which include "Natural" and "Maple".
Think of our choices like light, medium and dark.
If you like seeing a lot of grain structure in the
wood, then our Cherry stain is the way to go. If
you prefer a more muted grain structure and like
a more natural wood finish then Natural, obviously,
should be your choice. For those who are somewhere
in the middle we offer our Maple stain to give the
wood more color than the Natural stain, but still
to tone down the grain structure. Depicted below
are Natural, Maple and Cherry:
a
a
Q:
So what is Teeter's Telescopes "SuperGloss"
finish anyway? And is it durable?
A:
Well, we can't give away the "family secret"
entirely but what we can say is that the last couple
clear-coats we apply to the scope (we apply 7 in
total) are CrystaLac's Poly-Oxide polyurethane.
Their description of this outstanding product reads:
"Poly-Ox is a non-flammable,
non yellowing, UV stabilized finish designed
specifically for tough applications like floors,
bar tops and even as a substitute for varnish.
It's fortified with aluminum oxide and will
provide years of scuff resistant protection
while resisting household chemicals and cleaners."
Honestly,
if this product is tough enough for floors and bar
tops, then it can certainly handle the nicks, dents
and dings your scope will receive in the field.
Q:
Can I purchase my Teeter's Telescope unfinished and
sand, stain and clear-coat it myself?
A:
Yes! We realize there are amateur telescope makers
in the hobby whose expertise falls more in line
with sanding and staining than CAD drawing, cutting
and routing. If you are tooled-up for wood finishing,
then we are more than happy to construct the full
Teeter's Telescopes structure and test it with the
primary mirror of your choice. Your Truss-Dobsonian
would then come delivered with the major components
already assembled (mirrorbox, rockerbox, UTA) and
sanded down to 220-grit, but not stained or painted.
Having your Teeter's Telescope delivered in this
fashion can save you approximately $250-$350, depending
upon aperture. Please contact rob@teeterstelescopes.com
for more information.
Q:
Can I have the ServoCAT installed on my scope?
A:
Good question! In years passed we have offered StellarCAT's
awesome ServoCAT Go-to and Track system "factory-installed"
on our scopes but currently do not offer such an
installation anymore. This is due to the large investment
in time necessary to install the system and to properly
test the Teeter's Telescope and ServoCAT system
prior to delivery to the customer. We find it of
high priority to turn out our Truss-Dobsonians in
a timely manner (2-4 months) to stay competitive
with other telescope builders. Due to our current
employment situation (Teeter's Telescopes is only
a part-time endeavor) we need to maximize our time
in the shop, which we've prioritized as scope builds
and not ServoCAT installations and tests.
This
is not to say the ServoCAT cannot be installed on
our scopes "after-market", because it
certainly can. We build each of our scopes with
the intent that a ServoCAT system may eventually
be installed in the future. For example, there is
enough room inside of the rockerbox to accept the
azimuth drive motor and clutch mechanisms. The same
goes for the altitude drive motor and clutch mechanisms
on the outside of the rockerbox. Lastly, each of
our groundboards is router-cut round with an edge
fully perpendicular to the face and unfinished beyond
stain/sealer, as per instructions from StellarCAT
(for proper azimuth drive motor and drive wheel
performance). Therefore, your Teeter's Telescope
is ready to accept installation of the ServoCAT
system, but we do not currently offer the installation
service ourselves. StellarCAT provides a thorough
installation DVD with the purchase of their ServoCAT
system, which does make the installation process
doable for someone with a modest array of hand tools.
Q: I see
you only list the SkyCommander DSC unit on your Upgrades
page, but can I get the ArgoNavis instead?
A:
Yes, the ArgoNavis is an available option with your
Teeter's Telescope instead of the SkyCommander digital
setting circle unit. As observers ourselves we prefer
the SkyCommander over the ArgoNavis for several
reasons, and therefore we list it as an option more
prominently. If, however, you feel strongly about
having the ArgoNavis unit then we'll be more than
happy to install it and test it on your Teeter's
Telescope. Please contact rob@teeterstelescopes.com
for current pricing.
Q: Do your
Dual Boundary Layer Cooling Fans impart vibrations in
the view through the eyepiece?
A:
Our Dual Boundary Layer Cooling Fans draw a significant
amount of current (1.33 amps, combined) and therefore
do cause subtle vibrations visible at the eyepiece
at higher magnifications. Typically above 250x we
do not suggest running the fans while observing
due to this vibration and the turbulence in the
mirrorbox they cause. The turbulence, however, is
a good thing since it is what is scrubbing the boundary
layer, is cooling the interior of the mirror and
is ultimately cooling the mass of the mirror itself.
What we tell our customers is that the Dual Boundary
Layer Cooling Fans should be run for approximately
20-25 minutes for 10"-15" scopes and closer
to 45 minutes for 18"-20" scopes prior
to your observing session, and then they should
be turned off for the duration of your session.
They should only then be turned back on if the temperature
of the night begins to fall rapidly and your primary
mirror cannot keep up (ie. you'll notice the images
in the eyepiece becoming soft). This sporadic running
of the fans will also prolong the life of your battery
supply.
Q: Do you
test each Teeter's Telescope as a full unit before it
ships/is delivered?
A:
Yes, indeed! We feel this is the only way that a
premium Truss-Dobsonian should be certified finished
and ready for acceptance by its new owner. Please
see our Guarantee page
for a full explanation of our testing procedures.
Q:
Can I use a binoviewer with my Teeter's Telescope?
A:
Teeter's Telescopes tests each scope we produce
with our Denkmeier Binoviewer, Denkmeier 2"
OCS, Denkmeier Dual-Arm Power Switch, and a pair
of Meade Research Grade 20mm Erfles. We find this
set up is representative of the majority of Denkmeier
Binoviewer units sold for use on newtonians and
can therefore essentially guarantee your Denkmeier
unit will reach focus with your new Teeter's Telescope.
We do not have access to other binoviewers on the
market and cannot guarantee they will reach focus.
In those instances, we request our customers to
please send their binoviewer units to us during
the, approximate, 2 week period while we are optically
testing their scope. We find that actually mating
the binoviwer to the scope and testing them together
as a unit is the best way to ensure compatibility.
Q:
I purchased a Teeter's Telescope used - can you make
a new name-plate with my name on it?
A:
Yes, we can certainly do this for you. We understand
that our scopes change hands over the years and
that as the new owner you probably don't want the
"other guy's" name on your new scope.
Please contact rob@teeterstelescopes.com
to let us know the aperture, focal length, model
Teeter's Telescope you've purchased, and how you
would like your name spelled on the name-plate and
we will have a new one engraved for you. Current
2009 pricing for this service is $45.00/shipped
in the Continental United States and turn around
time is approximately 2 weeks. Please see our Order
page for payment information.
Q:
Does Teeter's Telescopes offer any "In-stock/Off
the Shelf" scopes?
A:
From time to time we will "build ahead"
of our current production run of contracted work.
This is usually rare since, fortunately, all of
our production runs of contracted work are full
and there is no room in the shop to begin an "In-stock"
scope. But there is always the possibility we might
have something in the works. Please contact rob@teeterstelescopes.com
for current availability.
Q:
I've seen that Teeter's Telescopes has come and gone
over the years - will you continue to honor your warrantees/guarantees
if you stop building again?
A:
You are correct, Teeter's Telescopes has a history
of going on hiatus which has reflected changes in
my life such as finishing undergraduate college,
finishing graduate school, taking a full-time environmental
consulting day-job and purchasing my first home.
Those were all big moments in my life that I felt
at the time might erode any time for Teeter's Telescopes.
Regardless, Teeter's Telescopes has always honored
its guarantees and has always provided top-notch
customer service, even during times when we weren't
taking new orders. If for some reason Teeter's Telescopes
must shut its doors again, we will still retain
our relationships with our component vendors and
will still maintain our workshop, so should any
repair work need to be rendered we will be able
to do it. Fear not! :-)
Q: How many
Truss-Dobsonians has Teeter's Telescopes built and sold?
A:
Since we opened our doors in 2002 we will have built and sold sixty-nine (69) Truss-Dobsonians (up
through October 2010). What began as a special
request for our first customer in 2002 has continued
to this day 60 telescopes later. Granted, other
Truss-Dobsonian manufacturers have built far more,
but they build them in assembly-line fashion. In
contrast, each Teeter's Telescope is first discussed
with the customer to understand their desires then
a CAD drawing is completed and each wooden component
is routed, cut or machined one at a time. Because
such care is put into each telescope as its own
separate, special project, we handle far fewer scopes
per year than our larger competitors. But we feel
that gives us a leg-up when it comes to customized
jobs that the larger companies cannot handle. Please
see our Production Log for
a full list of the scopes we have built.
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| FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS |
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| TEETER'S
ON TOUR, 2010... |
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