Posts Made By: Darrell Hensley

I know I told everyone I finished my dobsonian the other day but I just had to talk about it some more.Nobody here at home is interested and maybe none of you guys are either,but at least you know how I feel.After everyone gave input on how to get my focal length I finally figured it at 46".So after figuring the length of my focuser with about an inch racked out I installed the focuser and it was perfect the first try.I cant believe the views I'm geting from something that I actually built myself,considering astronomy has been my hobby now for about 5 months.Everything is crystal clear especially since the mirrors are only generic mirrors bought from an auction from Bill Green.I viewed Saturn for about an hour,I used the celestron eyepieces I bought from telescopes.com ,even the 4&6mm ep's gave great views.The 6mm gave as clear a view as my 32mm gave when in my meade ds2130 5" mirror.I could see the spaces between the rings,the tan color of the planetand everything.The Butterfly cluster and Lagoon nebula were terrific along with some of the Messiers I could find.I cheated here a little bit,I used my goto on one of my other telescopes to help guide me to where I needed to go.I'll go now,I just had to talk to someone who knows the feeling that I'm having.I had'nt built anything since the lamp I made in workshop in about 1974.clear skies,Darrell Hensley-telescope builder,ha-ha

Here I go again,I am wanting to go ahead and start a new dob project,this time I'm going up to a 10" from already just finishing a 6".What I'm wondering is,is it possible or practical to use an ETX 60 scope for my finder scope?I have one just sitting around collecting dust and I loved using this scope as it gave sharp clear views.If so, exactly how can it be mounted so it can be syncronized with my dob?Can I make the bracket then buy the rings or would I need to buy the bracket because of needing to adjust for the dob views.I have never dealt with any type of scopes that used rings.I dont even know if Im using the right word by saying bracket for the part that the rings hold the finder scope on.If anyone has a little time to answer my question I'd appreciate it.Maybe even a photo of something similar.Clear skies,Darrell Hensley P.S. I wont be staring this project for about a week from now.I hope to get everything done then hopefully get a good deal on a mirror set.Just do things from payday to payday.Thanx,Darrell

Fellow astronomers,I just wanted to take a little time and share another great experience that I had with Meade.I have never had any trouble with getting anything replaced,although it's difficult getting them on the phone,I guess they're really busy so I emailed them.I was having trouble with motor unit faults on my mount for a DS series reflector telescope.I explained everything that was happening from start to finish.A week later I recieved a new mount,a new autostar hand paddle and another focuser that I was having trouble with.I know everyone doesnt always have this type of luck with them but as far as I'm concerned there is not a better company that could stand behind their products like Meade.These folks are really great people,and thats what makes a great business- along with a great product.If anyone has trouble with anything from Meade they are listening and will help.Maybe their new president of the company is going to work out just fine.Thanx for listening-Clear Skies,Darrell Hensley

Well Greg,At least you did wait for your 6yr.old son to fall asleep before doing such a thing.Some things dont need to be seen by youngsters.My 16 yr. old has walked up on me while I'd be doing something like this and I'd tell him I learned it on Astromart.Have fun but be careful.Darrell Hensley

Hello everyone,After building a 6 " dob and loving the views I get some of you told me that I had been bitten by the bug and guaranteed me that I would not stop there.Well,you were so right.I missed being in my little work shop on rainy and cloudy days and was hungry for bigger and brighter views.I built my mount from furniture grade oak plywood and stained it golden oak.It looks like my staircase and cabinets.I was a lot more comfortable building this one so I used the good stuff.I figured I'd wait till someone put an ad for a 10" mirror I could afford,I thought maybe anywhere from 6 mos. to a year.I was going to have me a budget just for my mirror.But a fantastic Astromarter Brian Carter placed an ad for one he said was'nt in the best of shape.I contacted him and he even dropped the price and throwed in the mirror cell for $15.00,and even paid shipping.This is what our forum is about,when you get right down to it we're all trying to accomplish one thing and thats to better our relationships with fellow Amarters so everyone has a good chance to enjoy our great hobby.I'd like to go to Georgia and thank him in person someday.It turned out that this mirror was a fathers day gift from my 2 sons and I can't believe the views I can get with this telescope.Whenever I can return any favors to a beginner such as myself I defineitly wont think twice about helping them.I work for a living so therefore dont plan on getting rich selling any of my used equipment.I was very lucky to find a great bunch of folks like the ones on Astromart forums.You should see me sometimes in the dark parts of my yard,I'll have sometimes 3 telescopes going at once with kids ranging from 4 to 19 years old.Usually about 8 kids checking out everything I find for them.It's a little tiring but I love it and would'nt trade it for anything.Thanks to all,Darrell Hensley

I really hate to change such an interesting subject-for just a minute.But i'd like everyone to know if you already dont that you will get the fasted and most courteous service you could ever ask for .Thanking fellow astromarter Dale Penkala for the great treatment he gives to his customers.All I bought was a collimating eyepiece and he treated me as though I had bought a $2000.00 telescope.I think he will and probably already has gone far with his business.Just wanted everyone to know what a great member that we have.Many Thanx, Darrell Hensley

Has anyone ever tried the rain-x anti fog on your eyepieces? I'm having trouble viewing for more than 3to4 seconds then fogging up due to such high humidity here in Kentucky.Before I tried it I wanted to check with you folks to see if it would harm the coatings.My arm is about to drop off from fanning it so often,so I bought a battery operated fan but I hate constantly having to stop viewing just to defog my ep's.Any input would be appreciated.Thanx,Darrell Hensley

Hey Dave,Floyd,and all you other veteran telescope builders.I have built a couple dobs and so enjoy watching them come to life,but is there a way to kind of maybe jury-rig a machine to grind and polish my own mirrors for personal use? If so what will I need to do it? I know it would be kind of complicated but I dont have any place around here that even knows what a telescope looks like I dont think.What type motor and gears for proper speed,pressure etc.Is there a book maybe on the subject on building your own machine?I have'nt been doing much viewing for a while because of the persistent fog and humidity,now we have Ernesto screwing everything up even here in Kentucky.I'm going crazy and this thought hit when wanting go ahead and build another telescope and cheking out all the mirrors,some at really good deals but then I thought that after maybe ruining a couple blanks I might be able to get a decent mirror ground to within pretty good specs.Maybe this is a pipe dream but I'd really like to try it.No laughing please.Clear skies,Darrell Hensley

Guys,I don't know if this is the right forum for this or not,but I had to talk to someone that would know exactly how I feel right now.I finally got a really good night for viewing tonight without the fog and haze and sweat running in my eyes.I had a couple scopes set up and was letting the mirrors reach the right temperature and walked inside for maybe 5 minutes to get a coke and a candy bar,my eyepiece case was sitting on my stool airing out also.I heard a loud vehicle on the road and it stopped and a door slammed soon after.The vehicle took off faster and louder than before and I really did'nt think much about it because theres a lot of houses around me,I thought a neighbor had a visitor.When I went back out I thought I'd put in a 9mm in my 6" dob.I almost cried,my entire case of eyepieces were gone except for the 2 I already had in my scopes.Although they were not high end eyepieces,they were what I could buy without affecting the family budget.I added an eyepiece every so often ,there was about $300.00 worth of my pride and joy stolen in a matter of seconds.So I guess back to the drawing board-maybe!I'm just so disgusted,I've never had anything that I was more happy with as a hobby except playing guitar.Sorry guys,I needed a shoulder to cry on,someone who would really understand how bad I feel.Clear skies everyone, Darrell

Guys,I don't know if this is the right forum for this or not,but I had to talk to someone that would know exactly how I feel right now.I finally got a really good night for viewing tonight without the fog and haze and sweat running in my eyes.I had a couple scopes set up and was letting the mirrors reach the right temperature and walked inside for maybe 5 minutes to get a coke and a candy bar,my eyepiece case was sitting on my stool airing out also.I heard a loud vehicle on the road and it stopped and a door slammed soon after.The vehicle took off faster and louder than before and I really did'nt think much about it because theres a lot of houses around me,I thought a neighbor had a visitor.When I went back out I thought I'd put in a 9mm in my 6" dob.I almost cried,my entire case of eyepieces were gone except for the 2 I already had in my scopes.Although they were not high end eyepieces,they were what I could buy without affecting the family budget.I added an eyepiece every so often ,there was about $300.00 worth of my pride and joy stolen in a matter of seconds.So I guess back to the drawing board-maybe!I'm just so disgusted,I've never had anything that I was more happy with as a hobby except playing guitar.Sorry guys,I needed a shoulder to cry on,someone who would really understand how bad I feel.Clear skies everyone, Darrell