Not sure how many know, but Carl Zambuto is offering replacement mirrors for Chinese Dobs. These are the costs: 200 mm BK7 1200 mm focal length (F/6) $695.00 with trade in of primary mirror for recycling. Price includes free test of secondary mirror. (This offer is 30% off pricing of similar size custom one-each Pyrex/Supremax primary at 8" diameter) 250 mm BK7 1200 mm focal length (F/4.8) $895.00 with trade in of primary mirror for recycling. Price includes free test of secondary mirror. (This offer is 36% off pricing of similar size custom one-each Pyrex/Supremax primary at 10" diameter) 300 mm BK7 1500 mm focal length (F/5) $1,195.00 with trade in of primary mirror for recycling. Price includes free test of secondary mirror. (This offer is 39% off pricing of similar size custom one-each Pyrex/Supremax primary at 12.5" diameter) So if you have a 250mm dob, you could get a Zambuto for $895.00 and you send in your old mirror which becomes a blank for him to make yet another mirror. Also, on CloudyNights Carl has made this offer right now: Greetings, Cloudy Night gang. This is my first posting to CN... So we have a replacement mirror in an 8" and a 12". However the most common telescope of the lineup has yet to test a Zambuto primary. I thought maybe the group could use a fun project, so here's what we're going to do. We're going to make available for evaluation a 250 mm BK7 Zambuto primary mirror. If there are enough folks interested in doing this, we would suggest a plan as follows: Eligibility requires ownership of a 250 mm or 10" import telescope of 1200 mm focal length. Each participant identifies themselves to the group and indicates they want to evaluate the mirror. Group members decide among themselves who will take delivery and in what order. Perhaps someone would like to volunteer as a project administrator and keep a list of participants, with whom they will correspond. The project administrator will inform the forum when necessary as to what's going on. We ship the mirror to the first participant. Each person has up to 30 days to evaluate, with the goal being as soon as possible to have one or two good nights under clear skies to receive and draft their impressions. The sooner folks get a good night, the more people can use the mirror. -Not a "perfect" night, but just a good clear night. The participant writes a report to the group, giving their impressions in the best way they can, based on their experience. Then they ship the mirror to the next participant. So the only cost to each is one shipping fee. We have two main purposes for this project- one, for each participant to create a writeup of what they find and post it to the group. And second, each participant gets to experience a Zambuto primary mirror IN THEIR OWN TELESCOPE, at their own observing site, where they can relax and take the time necessary to get the full experience. This does not happen with a quick glance at a star party, where there are usually outside pressures, and the scope being looked through is unfamiliar. This project should remain within the continental U.S., at least in the beginning phase. International shipment and customs could present a hassle. The mirror for this project is a production sample which just came off the line. It is right now on its way to the coater, where it will be center spotted following the coating and shipped to our first volunteer. Link: http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/4489836/pag... About 1/4 of the way down. Here is the thread on what you have to do in order to get the trial mirror: http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=4569005&pag... One is to contact CityKid and get on the list. Two, do a write up at that thread on your experience with the mirror. Three, send the mirror on to the next set of people. Shipping is about $20 to $25 Steve Dodds at NOVA Optical will be coating the mirror so everyone knows that and he should be receiving it and coating it rather quick. So, after all that here is my question. I have an Orion XT10 that meets the requirement and I am willing to put my name on the list. IF I do this, is there anyone here that would go out to a dark site locally and observe with me using it? I would ask for your review and thoughts to put into mine? Just want to check before I commit. -- Jay Eads