Title:	The Dobsonian Telescope: A Practical Manual for Building Large Aperture Telescopes
Authors:	David Kriege, Richard Berry
Publisher:	Willmann-Bell, Inc.
ISBN:	0-943396-55
Pages:	475
Buy It:	at Powells

If you want to build your own telescope, the Dobsonian type is by far the most popular style of telescope. From the start the Dobsonian mount was developed for the amateur to build his own scope. It is the reason for it's very existence.

I put this book on my wish list this year, and my sister was more than happy to provide me with a copy for Christmas (Thanks!). It's a large, detailed book. It's hard cover, about the size of a trade paperback, and fairly thick (475 pages). It does not have a lay flat binding (I tried to open it up to a random page, it did not stay, and slowly closed itself with a bit of a thwap). This is a bit of a hindrance for a book designed to help you build something, but is so common, it doesn't really speak badly of the book.

After reading, this book really makes me want to build a scope. As with any large daunting project, you simply break it up in to steps and sub assemblies, and it starts looking doable.

Functionally, the book goes from a general description in the early chapters, down in to finer details in the later chapters. There is some repeating of information here and there, but it means that you don't have to skip around in the book to find all the information you need. A very sensible arrangement.

The book is primarily focused (uggh, sorry...) on larger telescopes -- They recommend that you start with a 20" aperture, which is really pretty big. They also say you should buy a mirror, and not make your own. In these larger sizes, this is probably a prudent thing (especially if it's your first mirror), but if you want to make a "smaller" mirror, there's really nothing preventing you from doing so. I really want to make my own mirror -- Jim Craig made one, why can't I?

In the beginning, this book gives you the impression that seriously nasty math is to follow. Many equations are brought up, Engineering properties of materials, Statics & Dynamics... Then, they never use any of it, and just assume that you will take them for their word when they say to use 3/4" plywood to make the mirror box, and which type of Formica is best used in the bearings. They give you enough information to do a lot of the calculations yourself, but they also provide plenty of tables of dimensions so that you don't have to.

There are several good appendices in the back, one is on making a smaller telescope (8" mirror, sonotube body -- basically a very traditional Dobsonian). There's a section on grinding mirrors, but I would probably recommend buying a copy of Texerau's book, which has a lot more detail on making mirrors. A small section on equatorial mounts (not enough info to really build one, but some pictures and theory of operation). Digital setting circles get an appendix, with good information on how to mount the parts. And finally, a good list of sources for some of the harder to find pieces of hardware.

The Authors are very knowledgeable, and the book makes a good read. I think the gold standard for DIY books is Ron Champion's Build Your own Sports Car for £250, and I would say this would rate as 4/5 Champions. Maybe even a 4.5.

The book can be bought through Powells, were I'm an affiliate, and you can help support my website by following the link.