Posts Made By: Joe Dickson

Perhaps this is common knowledge among atm'ers but you can get free 2x3 foot samples shipped free directly from Wisonart.
http://www.wilsonart.com/laminate/consumer/products/index.asp

I'm doing my first project. Ordered a 10" optic set and started cutting plywood yesterday. Now for all the sanding, priming, drilling... Any recommendations for getting free or very cheap teflon? I'm using the basic free 10" Sidwalk Astronomer plans with some mods.

Finally finished my platform enough to test it with the scope on it. This might actually work!

So that's what it looks like in a 20" Wow. Not helping my aperture fever any.

Just received the fedex package. The mirror looks fine and I'm still trying to decipher some writing on the side. Looks like a 9.2? in red pencil or something. The mirror is 1" thick. The secondary is big! measured 2.75" (will need a smaller one) The focuser is quite impressive. First 2" I've had. I'm trying tofigure out what focuser height to plug into NEWT. From the bottom to the very top of the 2-1.25 adapter is 3.25" Does that sound right? The right angle finder looks to be 30mm, not correct image.

I've completed the scope using the optic set. The base and tube still needs some finishing work, painting, eyepiece holder etc. I used the homemade spider design and the oversized secondary. Of course it's been cloudy here in the desert now!! I did get a few objects viewed. Jupiter was much brighter than in the 6" f8 but very little detail/contrast? M4 looked very nice though. I could see many more stars resolved, especailly taking my time and using averted vision etc, it seemed like there were tendrils/filaments of structure I never really observed in the 6". Since then I've ordered a new spider from Destiny and 2.48" secondary from Orion, they should be here today. The azimuth motion seems fine using magic sliders and an old Guy Lombardo 33rpm lp, but the alt bearing works a little too well with the 4" PVC caps and magic sliders. I may have to try larger diameter trunions? I did create my own "correct-tension" setup using bungee cords pulling down on the PVC caps and attached the base of the rocker box. The whole tube almost slid out of the tube box using a couple rubber door jams as wedges. Needing to secure the tube better is a top priority now so I added some shims and foam and hinges to the top of the tube box so I can still move the tube around for balancing an focuser placement. Looking forward to this weekend when I can give it a real workout. The finder that came with the kit is a joke so far. Even Jupiter looks like a colored out of focus tiny dot. Not sure if I'll be able to use that for any star hopping. The barlow that came with it won't insert all the way into the focus tube. The focuser works good and the other Series 500 ep's that are included seem ok too.

Exellent! I built the exact same mount! I really like it. What are the binoculars attached to? The black piece the binos sit on? Looks like some kind of universal joint?

Thanks

I have the Barska 15x70s on a parallelogram mount and am really enjoying them. The focus seems a bit loose when viewing at steep angles but a piece of tape pretty much locked the focus for me. I use glasses when viewing and can just take them out and they are already in focus. Makes a great grab and go scope.

Talk about customer service! I got goose bumps reading it. When (not if) I get my premium dob it will have a CZ mirror in it.

Thanks for sharing.

I listened to that one! I thought it interesting that Mr Levy mentioned he was having a hard time star hopping due to the effects of the altitude on his thought process. Low oxygen to the brain apparently? Did you notice any impairment or did you use goto? The Milkyway must have been something to see.

Have you tried a simple pnuematic computer chair? That's what I use with my 10" f5 dob. It just gets high enough to use the dob around zenith, it has a backrest for leaning back and watching meteors or scanning with binos, it rolls around easily and it was free since we had an extra computer chair here in the house. I'm thinking of getting a smaller lighter version to take in the car though.