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Very small Dob mount?

Started by Steve V., 11/18/2007 03:09AM
Posted 11/18/2007 03:09AM Opening Post
I just pulled a 4.5 inch Tasco f4.3 reflector out of a garbage dumpster. The mount, finder, eyepiece, and plastic barlow are all perfect to go back in the dumpster. The rest of the scope however looks quite salvagable as a small, quick look, rich field scope, or to give away as a good beginner scope. I would like to build a small dobsonian mount for this scope along the lines of the Orion Starblast scope. Does anyone know of any plans or web sites showing the construction of such a mount?
Posted 11/18/2007 04:22PM #1
Here's a pic of my 4-1/4" dob. The tube is based on the 4-1/4" F/10 in the first Berry book, with thin plywood for the sides and 3/4" at the ends and for the mirror cell. The alt bearings are PVC caps. The rocker/base is 3/4" plywood I had lying around. I built a triangular "ground board" with a T-nut that'll accept the bolt of a camera tripod. Not too wobbly when used at low power! It's been great for monitoring Comet Holmes with a 20mm eyepiece.

John



Attached Image:

jlevro's attachment for post 118481
Posted 11/18/2007 05:31PM #2
Here are a couple of pictures of "pipe mounts".

http://www.astromart.com/forums/viewpost.asp?forum_post_id=452610&poll_id=&news_id=&page=

http://www.rtmcastronomyexpo.org/archives/photos/2004%20RTMC%20AE%20016.jpg


I have mounted a 6" f/5 similarly with great results.