Common Objects converted to Astro Use

One of the things that I enjoy about forums like this one is seeing what people come up with by taking a common item and finding a unique Astro related use for it. For example, a 35mm film canister as a simple sight tube.

So if you have found, made or adapted something that answers a need, saved you some money, or otherwise made your Astro life easier, please share it with all of us.

Anything you can do to help all of us understand what you have found or done would be a bonus, links, pictures, diagrams etc. But if you don't have these, don't let that stop you from posting.

Might I suggest that responders edit the subject of the response to reflect the idea? ie: Eyepiece Case from Toolbox

Thanks for playing along.

I'll throw in one of my own.

I made a set of antivibration pads for my refractor by cutting a foam keyboard wrist rest into three pieces.

The pad was a cheap promotional logo'd wrist rest. The foam is a closed cell rubber like compound and has great dampening properties. I can't stand to use the refractor without them now.

I made a Telrad dew shield out of a Pringle's potato chip can, wrapped in black duct tape. Cost was about $.50 total, and I got to eat the chips!
Sorry, no photo available at this time. Suffice it to say that it's ugly as sin, but does the job.

Great thread Rod!! I'll see what I can dig up. I've done quite a few small changes to scopes for personal use because I'm cheap

I have a digital camera with a lens that's impossible for find an adapter for (a Leica, based on a finepix design). I tried one of those "Universal" adapters but found it really cumbersome to use so I took a trip to the Home Depot plumbing department and blew a whole $2.65 on a rubber coupler (in which I cut a slot to accomodate the set screws in my 2" diagonal), screw clamp, and a PVC connector.

I've attached pix showing the unit with an inset pic of my camera and an inset where you can peer down into the eyepiece. As you can imagine, the lens sits centered nice and close to the eyelens.

I have found this a breeze to use and very effective
(see: http://www.pswalsh.com/astropages/one.htm taken through my F/6.25 80mm achromat using the "plumbing adapter")

I really like it because I can remove the camera and just observe for a while, watching the seeing, and when I see the shot I want, It just takes a second to insert the camera, set the 10 second timer, lift my hands away and voila.

Attached Image:

I just picked up a used scope and EQ mount but the accessory tray was missing. I like storing my eyepieces on the scope some how so I took an old aluminum pie pan (heavy duty type) drilled three holes and found some nuts and bolts and I was done. Worked pretty well last night..

jon

My 10" f/8 homemade planetary dob includes a surplus achromat and a paper-towel tube in the finderscope construction, old CDs as axial spacers in the base, and a flat weight off a set of barbells resting rear of the mirror cell.

I once made a 1" achromatic spyglass using stainless steel rollers from an old copy machine for the tube and a plastic aspirin bottle painted silver for the dewshield. Was a surprisingly shiny and pretty scope.

Dan,

I love this idea, and I'm going to do this soon. Thanks,

Rick W

A wraparound wrist weight, designed for exercise sessions, makes a perfect balance addition for the mirror end of my 6" Dob when a heavy eyepiece or binoviewer is mounted on it.

-- Tom Dove

Here's another handy item

My eyepieces reside in a hard sided case for transport, when I am observing I find it handy to have an extra eyepiece and barlow out of the case within easy reach. The natural tendency is to slip them in your pocket, but we all know that is not a good idea.

I found this product is a great solution to this need:

http://www.duluthtrading.com/items/54044.asp

It is an eyewear case that works wonderfully for my purpose. The inside is designed to hold optics so it is quite soft. It is long enough to hold my Meade 140 barlow with an eyepiece inserted. The belt clip is industrial strength. Although it is hard to see in the illustration, it opens with a generous patch of velcro that is easy to secure.

With one eyepiece in the scope, and the barlow and 2nd eyepiece on my belt I have 4 magnifications available without leaving scope side. It has been a nice addition to my kit.