At last, my very own telescope. Its been just over five years since I first met Cathy at S & S Optika. She told me about Chamberlin Observatory and the D.A.S. I attended the next meeting and that was all it took. I started thinking about what my telescope would be. I joined the D.A.S. that evening. I took the first full year learning as much as I could about different types of telescopes; both home built and store bought. I soon found out that if I was ever going to own a telescope I would have to build it myself. With a lot of help from Dave Spillman and Dan Wray, I decided to build a 12.5" F/5.6 Dobsonian. I also wanted it to be made of wood. I love the look and feel of wood. I wanted a scope somewhat different from those of other D.A.S. members. So I decided to make it twelve-sided with a rotating tube.

The construction started with the tube. I used one-fourth inch plywood with beachwood veneer. The base is made of three-quarter inch plywood. The spider and focuser were bought from Astro Systems, the primary mirror cell is from Novak, and the secondary and primary mirrors were from Pirate Instruments. I took the mirror to Jerry Wilkenson to have it refigured.

I remember Jerry asking me why I wanted to go to the expense of refiguring the mirror when I probably couldn’t tell the difference since I was quite new to astronomy. I told him I wanted it to be the very best because this would be my only scope. I wanted it to be a scope that everyone wanted to look through.

It took me almost one year working evenings and weekends to complete it. Construction began November, 1991. First light was October 17, 1992. Optics were by Pirate Instruments and Jerry Wilkenson.

I’ve added an observer’s table and light to the side of the rocker box. This way the table moves with the telescope. I’ve also added a Dob Driver II tracking system. I’ve also airbrushed astronomy art to the rocker box and dust covers, but not on the tube itself. The tube is split in half to make it easier to transport. The rocker box comes apart in three pieces. The tube slides forward and backward for counter balance within the rotating box.

All in all, not bad for my very first scope.

Total cost in parts and materials is about $1,200, not counting eyepieces and spotter scope.

Lyle Smith