Posts Made By: Thomas Holst

Paul,

I don't think the expanding foam is something you want to squirt inside the fork arms on your scope. It's rigid when it cures, not flexible, and if you ever decide to remove it, you will wish you never put it there in the first place. You'll have to chisel it out.

As an experiment, try duct taping several ounces of lead automotive wheel weights to the outside of only one fork arm, then see if the vibration persists. If it does, it's likely not a "tuning fork effect". More likely it's the tripod, the wedge, if you use one, or the whole combination.

Thanks for sharing that very poignant photo. My family was very lucky. My Uncle (Army), my Father-in-law (Army) and my Dad (Navy) all survived WWII and gave us the lives we now enjoy. A very special thanks goes to the many who never made it back.

My special thank-you goes to my close high school friend, Andrew James Payne, Jr., PFC-E2, USMC, KIA on April 19, 1968, Quang Tri, RVN.

Thomas Holst
Sgt-E5, USMC, RVN '69~'70

Great idea, Steve. I too hate fiddling with tools (Allen wrenches & screwdrivers) when assembling or adjusting telescope equipment. The best solution I've found is to make my own thumb screws using readily available stainless steel socket head cap screws and pressing on "Shear-Loc" plastic knobs. See:http://www.shear-loc.com/

When I discovered these Shear-Loc knobs several years ago, I purchased a kit of 150 knobs of various sizes and styles, which comes in a compartmentalized plastic box. The only tool needed to create a custom made thumb screw is a standard bench vise to press the plastic knob onto the socket head cap screw and it takes only a few seconds. I have used up so many of the knobs in my kit, creating thumb screws for myself and friends, that I'm about ready to buy another box.

Jerry Mason said:
...Yeah, I admit I'm a proud father and guilty today of using this forum as a brag board but thought I would risk the wrath from all the folks who feel I've placed dangerous weapons in the hands of a babe to find out how many other dads enjoy shooting with their children...

Jerry,

I'm glad to see that you are both getting a lot out of your father/daughter relationship. It used to be that the moms had full control of the raising of daughters and they ended up with little or no exposure to many worldly experiences, historically reserved for guys. Something as simple as learning to shoot a .22 rifle or recurve bow archery develops hand-eye-brain coordination, a better understanding of the physics involved, a sense responsibility, a respect for safety, and a good teacher/student relationship between the two of you. All of this builds a can-do attitude which will accompany your daughter for the rest of her life. I've been amazed at the skills that girls can acquire and master, when given the chance, encouragement and some thoughtful guidance.

Although I've not yet been able to interest my daughter (an only child) in shooting, she's gone camping/hiking/fishing with my wife and I ever since she could walk. In these outdoor skills, she regularly outperformed guys several years older. By age 16, she could drive a car, a motorcycle, a truck, a boat and an airplane (Cessna 172). Her interest in astronomy and science in general has given her a much better understanding of, and feel for, the world around her. She has such an amazing sense of direction (almost unheard of in females), I often refer to her as the "human GPS".

As she's grown up, I've had no idea which direction she might take, but she's currently a senior in college, working on her BS in Fishery Resources and contemplating graduate school. Life is like a box of chocolates...

Anyway, I urge you to continue encouraging your daughter in any constructive endeavors in which she shows an interest. She just might find the one that gives her a direction and defines her future.

Randy Holst
(another proud father)

They left out one of the best, and my favorite, the Erector Set. I played with it so much I wore out all the threads on the screws and nuts. My dad had to go to the hardware store to buy more.

Could this be tomorrow's headline?

Lee,

When I stumbled upon your post, I figured you meant birds inside Walmart. My Walmart always seems to have a few birds flying around up in the high exposed truss ceiling and occasionally they'll come down and buzz the customers. Most of them seem to be finches or similar sized birds. I'd try to get a picture but I don't think my iPhone will zoom far enough.

Tom and Steven,

After receiving your confirmation on the Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS lens, I purchase one new and mailed it to my daughter at college. She was thrilled and is quite satisfied with it's performance and ease of use. I've attached a shot she took on her first photo outing with her Canon Digital Rebel XTi and her new lens.

Thanks guys!

William Paolini said:

...Finally, mispelling will be welcombed and tolerated.

Uh, I dunno if I can handel that.

If you have a Mac, it can done very easily in "Preview", which is included with the Leopard/Snow Leopard operating system.