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Posts Made By: randy cordell

August 17, 2007 12:52 PM Forum: Telescope Making

cutting a Meade cardboard OTA for focuser

Posted By randy cordell
Hi! This may be a bit elementary for this forum, but here it is anyway.

I just bought a Crayford focuser here on AM for my Neut. I need to cut the focuser hole in my Meade 10" Starfinder OTA out to about 1/2" larger diameter. What is the best tool for this job. The OTA is that high density cardboard tube stuff (my technical description).

What are the "gotchas" of this process with this material?

Your help is appreciated!

Randy

September 3, 2007 12:23 AM Forum: Telescope Making

Meade 10" Starfinder Dobs Modification Questions

Posted By randy cordell

Hi. I have had this Meade for a few years. I bought it from Bill at Telescope Warehouse 7-8 years ago.

Anyway, there are several things that need addressing and I have a bunch of questions about this hoping for answers from those who might have or have had a similar scope.

What I have already done:
- Crayford Focuser
- Telrad
- Center Dotted Primary
- Complete Collimation (moved primary, secondary, focuser)
- Milk Jug bearings
- Moved Alt bearings down
- Tried polishing bearing surfaces
- Flipped Spider over so access to secondary screws better


Questions I have (adding numbers per request....):
1. Is this Secondary cell put together correctly?
2. Should the secondary be dead center of tube?
3. If Primary isn't centered what do I do?
4. How do I stop primary side to side shift?
5. What is the threaded hole in the center of the primary cell for?
6. Did the weights come with it as new scope?
7. What is the material of this tube called?
8. How much improved contrast will flocking get me?
9. How do I make the ALT/AZ movement smoother (not sticky)?
10. Why did Lemon Pledge make them stiffer? Is there a better item?
11. Did this OTA come with an end cover?
12. How tall should the milk jug bearings be?
13. How is the best way to mount ALT/AZ bearings when I replace them?
14. How do I select the largest WF EP that will work well at F4.7?
15. I have center dotted it 3 times, how do I verify placement?
16. At 1200mm is 300x (4mm Occular) my greatest usable power?
17. Bevel on the primary was black marker and came off, do I care?
18. What is symptom of burnt telrad reticle?
19. Cheshire or Laser?
20. Best deal on green laser?
21. How important is fine focus on a Crayford?
22. Is the metal (not orig plastic) RP focuser worth anything to anyone?
23. How do I cool it down faster?
24. Can tube currents be seen in a star test or is it something else?
-
Please chime in with anything relevant. smile

Randy

September 3, 2007 03:13 AM Forum: Eyepieces

UO HD or Volcano Top - What's the differences?

Posted By randy cordell
Love my othos - they're all volcano tops. What is different about the HD style besides the obvious chassis difference?

Randy

September 6, 2007 09:05 PM Forum: Reflectors

Any Helix Laser Collimator owners out there?

Posted By randy cordell
I have decided that a peep hole and star test with tweeking does a better job than the Helix. But I see that it has some setscrews on the side I assume are for collimation. However, when I spin it in the focuser it stays dead on where it is pointed....so what the heck? Any experiences out there with this issue?

the moon is going away, the moon is going away, the moon is going away!

randy

September 20, 2007 02:42 AM Forum: Eyepieces

Orion Dumping the 2" Optiluxe's for $89 + sh as of

Posted By randy cordell
If you didn't know, some of you might like to....I used a 40mm briefly in my 10" f4.7 newt and it was amazing.... These were $149.00 + SH

September 23, 2007 02:51 AM Forum: Reflectors

Coma Correctors basics please

Posted By randy cordell
The more I learn the more it costs me!

I have read numerous threads here on coma correction and find myself confused. Is there one you just put in the focuser and it works transparently or do I need my slide rule every time I change an EP? What about moving between 2" and 1.25" EPs? I do all visual push-to viewing and tend to change my EP's MANY times in a nights viewing. I have been working really hard to get collimation down pat and studied the virtues and trappins of various WF EP's - bought one - and now I see all these comets in ALL my EP's that I never really noticed or cared about before.

As an aside, anybody else relate to the process?

October 24, 2007 05:41 PM Forum: Deep Sky Observing

Nebulae, Galaxies and filters

Posted By randy cordell
Hi.

I don't own any filters. I want to buy everything at once, but that isn't going to happen. If you could only buy one filter to start with, which would it be?

I enjoy globulars and galaxies - are there filters that will help bring more contrast and detail to galaxies?

I have frequently looked for the Veil and California...blah, blah, and can say with conviction they are myths!! But I'm likely wrong. wink

I would like to see the nebulosity of the Pleadies and see more of what The Great Orion and horsehead have to offer.

Planetaries like M57, M27 I can see no problem...what enhances these?

LPR, UHC, colored lenses, where do I start?

Randy

November 5, 2007 02:54 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Finder Scope Questions

Posted By randy cordell
1. Is a "Straight Through" finder the same as a "Correct Image" finder? correct image I understand: It ain't updside down and backwards.

2. How is a finder used when it is too large of a diameter to be able to see with the unaided eye what you are zeroing in on? I can't find a thig if I can't see both images.

3. Uh, based on #2, how in the world is a right angle finder used?

4. On Telrads....I love mine. Our club has one that the red circles move around based on what angle you view from, so it is impossible to find anything, because anything is in the field can be centered by simply moving your head....Mine does not do this. What could be wrong with theirs?

Randy

May 26, 2008 11:25 PM Forum: Pictures of Me and My Telescope and........

Astronomer Gothic

Posted By randy cordell
I was having a little fun with the Mavica yesterday.....


June 9, 2002 07:36 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

EQ Platforms

Posted By randy cordell
I think you are out of luck. I went through this exercise already. I ended up with a Losmandy GM8, which I love dearly....maybe too much, that I bought here on Astromart for $1100.00, used. But I don't know if its big enough for a 10" Newtonian(?) reflector are we talking? A G11 is probably more what you are looking for, unless you don't MIND 5 seconds to settle down after each time you turn the focus knob, and pray you NEVER have wind. You might investigate the Synta EQ6. I don't know where it's at in it's evolutionary cycle now. Last I knew there were still some bugs to be worked out. But it do for you. I would look for reviews of it on places like www.cloudynights.com.

Randy

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