You might also want to take a look at the San Francisco Sidewalk Astronomers site. That's the home of John Dobson and his design of telescope is well described there, including how cheap they are.
Often, making a mirror from some piece of plate glass you happen to have laying around can end up being a lot cheaper than buying a mirror.
I'd also go for the largest size of glass that you can afford as the larger apertures (as you have already found out) will end up being better.
I'd also consider buying EPs from places like Surplus Shack and others that have surplus optics EPs as the .965" size EPs really don't have the field of view (simple geometry indicates that the larger the diameter of the EP, the bigger the FOV) and the 1.25" or even 2" EPs will provide better viewing.

• Going To Make A Telescope pt-2 - will1384 - November 25, 2001 - 07:52 UTC
  • Going to make a telescope - bobmay - November 25, 2001 - 22:01 UTC
    • Going to make a telescope p3 - will1384 - November 26, 2001 - 06:45 UTC
      • Pt 3 - bobmay - November 27, 2001 - 20:46 UTC