Too many holes.... a Starfinder debacle

Well, now I've done it. I put too many ventillation holes in the mirror cell
end of my Starfinder Dob, and the star test now shows a poorly supported
mirror. Not to worry though, I'll fix it.

This is just a caution that anyone considering the Alan Adler fan
modification might want to consider. Turns out there is a point at which the
sonotube becomes sufficiently weak to deform the Meade Starfinder particle
board mirror cell.

As I see it, I have two "good" options here... first, fix it with a (good
and cheap) replacement mirror cell... something I have been considering all
along. The Meade mirror cell bolts into the sonotube in 4 positions, and the
mirror is glued to particle board. I've wanted to replace it to reduce
weight, but I've been equally reluctant as it will affect the balance point.
My concern is that the balance point will move sufficiently far up the tube,
that I will have to replace the base as well. At that point, I'm getting
into enough cost, that I might as well go with option two, order a T-Scope
truss conversion kit from Ed Taychert (I would _love_ to do this).

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As a third, "hack" option... interestingly, 3 points make a plane. The idea
that the mirror cell is bolted in 4 points might work okay for other
designs, but I got to thinking that, had the particle board been supported
in only three positions, any "sag" from a weekend area in the sonotube might
not have caused deformation, only miscollimation. I suppose I could try to
prove that theory by mounting the particle board cell by simply driving
three sheet rock screws in at 120 degree intervals and then pulling the
original bolts... but, then, I've never had a better excuse to either
rebuild the sonotube to reduce weight, or just go all out for the truss
conversion.

Stephen Paul