Posts Made By: Bernard Kean

Hi folks, I've been thinking of getting a Denk II w/Univ. PS for use in a TV101 and was wondering how the Naglers work in this set up. I've searched around on some of the forums and found much talk about various eyepieces but very little if any about the Naglers. Anyone using them? Any comments?
Thanks
Buck

Hi Folks
I've ony recently started using larger binos in the 10x50mm to 15x70mm range to view and have yet to find a pair that can resolve the Saturns's rings from the planet. I do use a Unimount so holding them steady is not the issue, and I'm not expecting an APO telescope view, I have that. I've even tried some of the Fuji's, while the build quality was better, I didn't see 2 to 3 times the price over the lesser brands in the view. At best with any of them I can see an eliptical object but have never picked out rings from the planet, or am I expecting too much? Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Buck

Hi Folks
Recently I've switched over to the barlowed laser method of collimation and decided to get a better laser. I found a Howie Glatter 1.25"/2" off Amart and purchased the barlow attachment from Howie. However, I didn't particularly like the plastic single beam aperture attachment that came with it and purchased another from Howie and it was OK and I could make it work. But what I was looking for was something more durable and would fit better. I had remembered several people mentioning PreciseParts and were very happy with the work. Well, I contacted Ashley at Precise Parts and faxed him a sketch of what I wanted and later that day he called me back with a few questions. He said it would take him a few days to finish the part and get it shipped. Today I go home after a business trip and the package was here. I have to say the workmanship was excellent and it looked and worked perfectly. Kudos to Ashley at PreciseParts. If you ever need a thing-a-ma-gig, dodad, thingy part and have to resort to having it made, do not hesitate to give PreciseParts a call.

Hi Folks
I finally found something that works miracles on the old style
post and bearing type Gibraltors. This stuff is called TFE Dry Lube
by Sprayon (Sherwin-Williams). It is very fine teflon suspended in
a carrier agent in a spray can. It says it is a lube for the usual
applications as well as a release agent. I simply masked off the post
on the head and everything but the plastic bushing on the tripod. I also
removed the encoder and plugged the lower end of the bushing as well
as the encoder hole in the end of the post. Then sprayed the post and
bushing with two coats and let dry. Paying close attention to hitting the
top flat surface of the bushing. The carrier agent drys very fast and a light white
film is left to let you know where the spray was applied.
Well last night was the first night I've had a chance to use the
Gibraltor and I have to say it was a miracle. My Gibralter has never
moved so smooth and easy with no striction. I've tried all sorts of
lubes, greases, and silicones and also clean and dry, and nothing worked
anywhere near as good as this stuff. It remains to be seen how long
this treatment will last, but if I have to retreat every few months it
will be well worth it! It was heaven to be able to just push the scope
along with one finger at 270x near zenith and easily stay on target without
overshooting and jerking.
Hope this helps
Buck

Hi folks
Is anyone using a binoviewer straight through on a scope? I've been
thinking of using this type setup instead of binoculars for a few
reasons. Mainly better image, power selection, and if using a light
scope could be mounted on a parallelogram mount and then lean back in a
reclining type lawn chair then point and look. I know I'll probably
need an extension of some length. Any insight and comments would be
most welcome.
Buck

Roland
I can't find the tread, however a few months back you mentioned bringing in some binoculars. Has there been any movement on that project?
Buck

Hi folks
I'm still suffering Nirvana from this past weekend. I just spent the weekend up in the North GA mountains at a very dark site with my NP101 on a Gibraltar with a case of Naglers and I have to say I simply OD'd Friday night. From my usual location under the light dome of Atlanta and small hole above to see the sky where I can maybe get one constellation, then to get up there I was where I could actually see the and this huge chunk of sky, I was giddy. For me it was also a treat to to see the the northern parts of the sky so I had many new targets to find, however at times with so many stars visible, I actually got lost trying to find my way around putting all the constellations together in one big overhead picture. Once I got the big picture of things under control, it was like shooting fish in a barrel. Set the red dot of the Starbeam about where the target should be, look through the NP101 with a 26T5 and it was almost always in the field of view, put in a 13T6 to get a closer look and center it up and then go to another appropriate higher power as needed. It was one of those magical nights where everything fell into place, dark sky, excellent seeing, excellent equipment, and almost could not miss a target. At about 2:30 the dew got the best of me so I packed up and went to bed a happy man. Saturday night promised to be a bit better with a little less dew, except for a couple hunters with their blazing sun for a lantern. I politely asked them if they would mind turning it down a bit and invited them up for peek. They said they would and they did, but would be going to bed about 11:30, so it was not a big problem and I moved my vehicle to block their remaining light until 11:30. The dew was much better so I was still having a wonderful night until about 3:00 when I was about to pack up when I turned around to face the southeast and discovered Orion had just cleared a ridge (haven't seen Orion for a long time) and just after that the moon cleared a ridge in the east. By now it's 4am and I'm bone tired and ready for bed so I pack up, then crashed. With two unbelievable nights, and so many great views it's hard to pick a best view. However, if I had to pick one it would have to be either Andromeda with the 26T5 which filled the entire FOV or the Orion Neb in the 7T6, in both cases they seemed to stretch forever. Something I have never seen from my usual viewing location.
I've been in this hobby about 4.5 years and had many good nights. But I can state that it was easily the best weekend I've every had, where everything all fell together and everything worked for me perfectly.
Buck
PS: Now if I could only figure out how to get the NFS to let me live up there.

This might be a bit OT but I ran into a problem with my current project. I've made a blind to block a neighbors yard light out of 1" S40 PVC pipe. I went to cover it with a thick black plastic sheeting and found out I don't have a tape in the house that will stick to this stuff, I tried masking tape, painters tape, duct tape, packaging tape, scotch tape, Alum. backed vent tape, even 3M 77 spray adhesive. I could go to the automotive stores and get some stuff my father called gorilla snot, not sure who makes it but it usually sticks to anything, but its gawd awful to work with. Any other ideas?
For any of you folks that have made such blinds, what did you use for the blocking material? It needs to hold up to the weather because it will stay outside all the time.

Project on hold
Buck

Michel
Dunno what the problem is but I just Googled "Pluck Foam" and got more hits for foam replacement sets than I can list. Give it another try, there are hundreds of places to get it.
Buck

Hi Mike
Flip a coin and take your pick. Most scopes have enough focus travel to accomodate the use of either adapter. Only if you have a known issue will it make a difference.
Hope this helps
Buck