Shaving notes of the MaineYooper

Here’s my two 1305s. One new and one well broken in  I’m not sure if they will turn out to actually be identical as the sticker says Excelsior on the older one and Hereditas on the newer one. ??

Alrighty then, prepare for pictures!



What a wonderful shave this morning! MacDuff's unscented Aspen Parkland is fantastic, a luscious, creamy lather that is slick and leaves my face feeling good. The brush is the newest addition to the brush drawer (thanks again Mike!) and was a joy to use with the Aspen Parkland. And completing whisker whacking duties were the Overlander and vintage Personna Platinum Chrome (Rite Aid branded)! 

Yesterday, my telescope arrived (which means New England will have cloudy weather for a week or two now!). We may have a brief window this evening before midnight so I hope to be ready. 

My first telescope is a 6" Newtonian reflector, with a focal length of 750mm. It attaches to an equatorial mount on a tripod, and together we completed 5 or 6 Astronomical League observing programs over a 6 year period. 



The Tygon tubing has two hose clamps in each tube, which allowed me to make a homemade Wilcox ring set. The black metal rings hold the tube to the mount, and the Wilcox rings allow you to loosen the metal clamped rings in order to spin the tube without the tube sliding out of the mount! Why bother? Well, EQ mounted scopes get into crazy positions as you move the telescope around the sky, with the eyepiece in awkward positions. The Wilcox rings allow you to spin or turn the tube to get things in a better position for your to comfortably view through the eyepiece. For those interested, here is a video that at the 1 minute mark gets into the issues at the eyepiece with an EQ. And like the video states, for tracking an object across the sky, the EQ is the way to go. I bought a small motor that would move that axis at the same speed to hold an object stationary in view. 

Here is the new scope, another Newtonian reflector, but mounted on a Dobson base (hence, these scopes get named dobsonian reflectors).



This scope has an 8" aperture and a focal length of 1200mm (almost 4 feet). This is what some refer to as light bucket, compared to the shorter reflectors and refractors. Lots of photons can enter this scope. I do find it amusing that some folks are now calling this a "starter" scope! Because 10" and 12" Dobs are a thing, and some are much bigger. But as I don't live in a super dark sky area, and I don't have an observatory on the property, and I can easily move this around, 8" is fine for me!

Here is a comparison photo, the old and the new.



The Dobson base allows you to spin the tube in a full circle (the azimuth for the sky) and you can swing fully upright (the altitude), all while keeping the eyepiece in one position, although the height or distance above the ground can change by a couple of feet. I use an adjustable height chair, and many use a drummer's "throne" or stool. 

Here's to looking up more!

That COOL, I so want to get into using a telescope but fear I ain't smart enough 4 it all.....

That COOL, I so want to get into using a telescope but fear I ain't smart enough 4 it all.....

No, I think you'd love it! With your skills, you'd be making all sorts of hacks that would make things easier. What I don't recommend is the EQ mount. That is tricky, to me, and fiddly to use. I honestly never did get the full hang of it. I usually just pointed the north leg North (I painted indicators on our driveway to help, and used sidewalk chalk when necessary!), attached the scope to the mount, and tried to get it to point at the region of sky I was interested in. Dobs are much easy (and cheaper). I looked up my 6" scope's price and it was the same new today as that behemoth I just received! The only time I would suggest an EQ mount is if the view wants to track objects for photographic purposes. The sky is constantly moving, or more accurately, the Earth is constantly rotating, so you simply cannot "lock onto" an object like Saturn or even the Moon. 

If you are interested, check local libraries for table top reflectors. They are small, 4.5 inch mirrors (which is what Newton had!) and sit on a picnic table. You can get great views of the moon as well as things like the Andromeda galaxy (which if your skies are dark enough, you can see with just your eyeball!!!) and the Orion nebula in Orion's Sword.

I know you are kidding us about the smarts. My bet is you have a pair of binoculars or access to a pair. Those are great for getting started. I did that for 2 months while I over thought and over analyzed what scope to get!

Thanks for the comments Dave!

PS: Hey, you could go up a big tree and make yourself a little sitting spot and get some awesome unobstructed views with binoculars or a finder scope! Just don't point it at a house! (I try to make sure my scope is never directed at a house, so I can't be accused of spying!!)

Recap of last night's star party: canceled.

But I did get to talk with the guy who hosted the party, and I got to see the observatory he is constructing. A very nice gent and I look forward to meeting up sometime when my work schedule and lack of clouds line up! I did get to try gazing from my driveway, but the high humidity and haze pretty much washed out the sky. I sighted two stars (not the most exciting objects to see!) and located a "faint fuzzy" which I think was a small globular cluster. Or a smudge on my lens or mirror. In any event, it was instructive to see the site, instructive as to packing up (very quick compared to before), and has me hoping for clear skies on a night off!

Coffee Time
After quite a stretch trying the 4:6 method with various roasts, today it was time to pull out the French press. I had two great cups, using James Hoffmann's method for the press, and wrote some emails and post replies while enjoying the cups!

Shave 
Today was the last shave this "week" with the aluminum Overlander, and the 6th shave on the vintage Personna Platinum Chrome (Rite Aid branded). Ethos Tibu Sabuni cream was the soap, and I bowl lathered with the Wald Calyx brush. Wonderful shave, wonderful face feel with the Ethos cream.

And that's my story and I am sticking to it!

That is great that you had success with Hoffman's French press recipe!
I have not tried that one in a while.

That is great that you had success with Hoffman's French press recipe!
I have not tried that one in a while.

As a French I have one but obviously didn’t know how to use it 

Interesting video about this technique and i am gonna to try - thank you 

That is great that you had success with Hoffman's French press recipe!
I have not tried that one in a while.

As a French I have one but obviously didn’t know how to use it 

Interesting video about this technique and i am gonna to try - thank you 

This is my favorite (and now only) way to make French press coffee. Thanks, Hercules34, for posting the video, as I watched it again and reliazed I am spooning out the floaters too late! Now I need to brew another cup and do it correctly!

The next bag from my trial with Trade Coffee arrived yesterday. This is from the Anodyne Coffee Roasting Company in Milwaukee, WI.



The bag had directions for brewing which I followed and list here:



For the first cup, I used James Hoffmann's A Better 1 Cup V60 Technique. I found the coffee to be good, but maybe a too little strong or dark for me to call it great. So for the second cup, I tried a recipe from Daddy Got Coffee and a simple two pour technique. This had a slight bitter taste, so I new my grind was too fine. And again, most of the cup went down the drain.

Onto the third cup/attempt. I decided to use the 4:6 method as I had great cups with it. I opted for sweet flavor and light body (first 40% done as a 1/3 bloom and 2/3 first pour, followed by the final 60% done as 1 pour). I opted to brew at temps I'd been using based on Hoffmann's recommendations for various roast levels. And lastly, I opted for my 18g coffee to 300g water. 

And this cup is very good! All will be drunk and next time I may try the medium body 4:6 method (which is the final 60% done in two equal pours). 

Happy Hump Day!

Thanks Eric!

I had not seen that second video.

Third try is a charm!