Before I send off a mirror to the UK for resilvering, I though I'd ask here.
Is there anywhere in Ireland that will resilver a mirror?
Thanks
Darragh
The two main companies specialising in telescope resilvering are Galvoptics in Essex and Orion Optics. I have used Galvoptics extensively over the years and they are reliable. They will only do a standard (89%? reflective) coating with quartz overcoating. This is absolutely fine for 99.9% of telescopes. However, Orion are capable of doing multi-layer ultra-high reflective coatings (98%-99% reflectivity) if you are willing to pay the extra cost. I'll be using this type of coating for my multi-mirror folded Stevick-Paul... if I ever get it finished! Every time I try to pull the finger out and get the project finished, something else crops up to delay me :evil:
It is an 8inch f/6 mirror from a Telescope Service scope.
It's 40mm thick, so I am not sure if the higher reflectivity coating would be worth it.
What are the merits of a higher reflectivity coating and would you consider it overkill for that sort of mirror?
It is an 8inch f/6 mirror from a Telescope Service scope.
It's 40mm thick, so I am not sure if the higher reflectivity coating would be worth it.
What are the merits of a higher reflectivity coating and would you consider it overkill for that sort of mirror?
Thanks
Darragh
Stick with the standard coating for this mirror - you won't really notice the difference. The only reason you might go for the high reflective coatings is if you are using multiple surfaces (three or more.) Check out the Orion (UK) website for a better explanation.
Unfortunately, there are no companies now doing recoating of mirrors. However, I used to coat mirrors professionally during the eighties.
I suggest you send it for ordinary aluminization (88% reflectivity) and not multilayer coating, because those coatings have a tenacious bonding which makes the film difficult to clean off. It can change the optical profile on the mirror surface.
  