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Posts Made By: James Adams

April 3, 2008 02:45 PM Forum: Telescope Making

wood protection

Posted By James Adams
Stain with a lot of pigment [rather than dye] would afford some protection. That's why paint is more effective than stain at protecting wood.

Look for Cetol wood finishes, they're the best clear wood finishes you can get for exterior use.

James Adams

April 3, 2008 10:35 PM Forum: Telescope Making

What do you call it, or how do I make it, or where

Posted By James Adams
Maybe Google on Vlier, they make anti-vibration feet for equipment; also, Reid Tool & Supply, who carry a wide variety of anti-vibe feet for varying loads, as does McMaster-Carr.

James Adams

April 19, 2008 03:51 PM Forum: Telescope Making

Glue for Ebony Star

Posted By James Adams
In my cabinet shop we use 3M High Strength 90 for flat work.

It's ready when it doesn't "leg up" when you touch it, or smear. The temperature and humidity might affect the bond, so do it where it's warm and dry, but not near an open flame or in an unventilated space! Be sure to hammer it with a rubber mallet to establish the bond when you're done. Hand pressure isn't enough. Long sticks placed between the laminate and the substrate will help you position it, then withdraw the sticks one by one. Leave a bit of overhang and then route it flush. Sand or lightly break the edges, they can be sharp!

For curved surfaces, there's a different procedure.

June 16, 2008 02:56 PM Forum: Solar System Observing

Red Moon Fri 13 2008

Posted By James Adams
Greg,

It was from the fires in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The sunlight that day was quite orange, too. At 2 AM the Moon looked like it was in full eclipse, except it wasn't full.

James Adams

March 30, 2009 04:32 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

Krylon Ultra Flat Black Spray Paint.

Posted By James Adams
Sherwin-Williams has rattle-cans of industrial dead flat black lacquer; they have gallons of solvent base flat black sealer and flat black lacquer which are quite, ah, black.

Useful trick: whatever paint you use, after applying and before it dries, wipe it gently with your hand. It will take any residual reflectivity away.

James Adams

May 5, 2009 02:29 AM Forum: Telescope Making

Wood finish upper cage rings and focuser board

Posted By James Adams
David,

Thomas has the right idea. Urethane is pretty bulletproofand user-friendly.

Next step up might be a Cetol exterior clear finish by Sikkens, still easy to apply, more expensive, but a step up.

James Adams
[Cabinetmaker and fine woodfinisher.]

June 7, 2012 03:23 AM Forum: Solar System Observing

transit

Posted By James Adams
I was using a Baader Planetarium visual filter on a very good [Vixen] 80 mm. f 11 refractor which I'd shortened for use with a binoviewer. I had 32 mm. plossls in the bino, which seemed ideal, the right combo for image size and sharpness.

I counted 24 sunspots in the two equatorial belts with a couple of those a bit outside the usual paths.

I looked for the "black drop" effect but windy conditions were making the image dance a bit; still, I think I may have to wait for the next one because I couldn't confirm seeing that.

I saw no indications of atmospheric effects on the planet, all I saw was a very sharply defined disc, maybe the size of a .45 bullethole in a basketball sized disc.

I noticed that the transit seemed to take much longer than the Mercury transits, which makes sense, as the orbit of Venus is further from the sun.

I got my photon fix now, time to slither and squelch my way back into my cave!

James Adams

July 2, 2012 04:39 AM Forum: ASTRONOMY

Mauna Kea question

Posted By James Adams
Jim,

The car rental places don't want you driving up there, that's why they say you need a wheeler. You don't. But it may void your insurance as provided by the agencies.

I drove up anyway, and was glad I did. Even after acclimating at the visitors' center, at the summit, when I stepped out of the car I was seeing lots of little twinkling lights, and it was early afternoon! There's not as much air up there.

Also, despite the altitude there can still be high cloudiness, and, as others have said, it can be quite windy and cold.

Weather permitting, I'd try the visitors' center, and there are lots of places beside the road below there where you could set up if it's more convenient.

May 26, 2014 07:54 AM Forum: Mounts

Losmandy G 9 base plate

Posted By James Adams
The fact that the mount was made by Losmandy for Celestron led me to try it out on an OLD Celestron tripod which came with an orange-tube C-8 I was given; when I removed the wedge the bolt holes lined up perfectly!

The G-9 now sits outside with my B.O. 1278 on it. It tracks and works fine! Now I need to dig my Meade H.D. field tripod out of storage and try to adapt the mount to that. It will be a more substantial support.

May 26, 2014 07:54 AM Forum: Mounts

Losmandy G 9 base plate

Posted By James Adams
The fact that the mount was made by Losmandy for Celestron led me to try it out on an OLD Celestron tripod which came with an orange-tube C-8 I was given; when I removed the wedge the bolt holes lined up perfectly!

The G-9 now sits outside with my B.O. 1278 on it. It tracks and works fine! Now I need to dig my Meade H.D. field tripod out of storage and try to adapt the mount to that. It will be a more substantial support.

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