I didn't start using Ebony Star until the mid-nineties. My all-fiberglass 10" scope (10 built and sold) used plain Formica for the azimuth bearing and polished aluminim for the altitude bearings. Both work well, but need cleaning about twice a year. A wipe with a rag moistened with acetone (use PPE) removes all residue and dirt, then another wipe with carnuaba wax gives the bearings just the right "feel". Recently I got the idea to groove the Teflon instead of using a pebbled surface laminate. I "lap" the altitude bearings by wrapping a strip of 60-grit sandpaper to the trunion, gritty side out, and moving the scope up and down a few times until it's well-seated. This grooves the Teflon and improves smoothness noticeably, as well as making a perfectly-conforming bearing surface. Another method I've only toyed with so-far is using the router and a veining bit to make the Teflon surface resemble rows of little pyramids, rather like the face of a meat mallet. This shows great promise, I might use it on a planned 12.5" Newt. C. __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? The New Yahoo! Shopping - with improved product search http://shopping.yahoo.com