Posts Made By: Mike Curnutt

Yep, I was out @ 4am this morning viewing it. The sky was pristine until clouds rolled in around 5:30 am. But, M42 and the surrounding area still gets my blood pumping. MC

William, it is Focus Knobs an AstroMart Supporter

http://birdman.cts.com/focusknobs/product.html

Back from what...jail? LOL

Glad you enjoyed your little adventure under dark skies.

Mike

Malcolm, is that a 'Trick' question? Not trying to be funny but, you just posted that on AstroMart Classified Forums. Each of the scopes you mentioned as well as many other older scopes like Unitron, Southern Pacific Instruments, and such are sold here on AM all the time. Some are for sale right now. Not sure why you would ask a question like that on this website.

Nice looking scope and mount, David. If you still have trouble with the final collimation, you might shoot Mark @ Clear Vue Optics (an Astromart Sponsor) an email and talk to him about his Antares Collimateable 2" Diagonal. I have one of his 2" Non Collimateable Diagonals I use on a SV78S, 80ED and 120 SVST and it is good, real good. Mark is an Optician by trade and knows quite a lot about refractors and optics. If you are already using a 2" Diagonal of your choice, you can always sell one of them on AM once you get everything fine tuned. Mark answers all of his emails and if you emailed him this afternoon you'd hear back from him tonight. Anyway, just a thought.

About 2/5ths of the way down:

http://www.clearvueoptics.com/prod02.htm

Dan, I see you got it out already. Sometimes you can use a Torx Bit or a Square Drive Bit that can get just enough bite to start backing the stripped allen head screw out. Try putting slightly more pressure toward the bottom right when turning counter clockwise to remove a stripped allen head screw. Once out, ALWAYS replace with Stainless Steel Allen Head Screws. Some Home Depot's carry them but, if they don't have them in S/S go to your nearest Bolt & Screw Supply house. Their Retail Counter will sell you small amounts.

Stop squatting on Floyd's favorite observing spot. If you see E.T. tell him to phone home as well.

I just checked my email (first chance I've had today) and still no emails from ads in the 'Classified' section. Went to my Account Menu again and checked settings and everything seems in order and since I am receiving emails from all my normal sources around the internet it has to be a glitch with Astro-Mart. Maybe the changeover has something to do with it??? As a 'paid' supporter for years on Astro-Mart, I look forward to getting classified emails early. Any help will be greatly appreciated. This is now the 3rd day of no emails.

Thanks,

Mike

UPS needs a serious Management shakeup. I've had two (2) AstroMart shipments come to me via UPS, damaged. Luckily the two AstroMarters I bought from stood behind what they sold me and made it good while they still waited for UPS to do something about it. After more than 2 months, UPS still hadn't done a thing. And watch out for the new UPS stores popping up everywhere. They are overcharging people big time. I always weigh items I ship and I've caught them adding 20-30% EXTRA weight as well as give me a total price that is way off what I figured using their own website. I have talked to many people who sell items on several different internet sites like Ebay/AstroMart/GunsAmerica, etc., and the consensus is UPS better get their act together or they could go down the tube in short order.

FedEx and USPS, on the other hand normally get here a day or so sooner and nary a dent nor tear in the packaging, whereas the boxes from UPS look like they were used as mat material at this weeks WWE Smackdown.

It just boggles my mind that some AstroMart users don't have a clue for what it takes dollar/expense wise for a site like AM. It is encouraging to see some of us that have paid to be Supporters, some of us renewing recently for the 3rd time. I then look at the Top Users and see many who have never supported AstroMart, yet have placed hundreds of ads. C'mon folks, $10.00/month is so cheap to keep a site like this going. Like one poster noted, AM is actually a competitor to Herb and Ray, yet they have come out of their pockets so we could have a great place to buy, sell, trade and visit with others who enjoy Astronomy. It really is time for the big users to throw some money into the pot. I've seen hundreds of sites go belly-up due to ever increasing costs (larger and more Routers, Servers, T1 Lines, etc.) and when they go kerplunk without notice you really feel it, especially if it is a site where you've stored photos or had items for sale or even investment sites where one could really get good info. So please, everyone pay the Pauper. It won't be painful. Just give up a couple 'junk' fast food meals per month and you'll not only be healthier but, you'll still have a place like AstroMart.