Other "Do It Yourself" projects

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Other "Do It Yourself" projects

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51 topics

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Last post

Twilight 1 arm vibration "fix"

Last post by gregl « Mon Jan 27, 2020 4:05 am
Replies: 1
by pakarinen » Sun Jan 26, 2020 11:37 pm

First post

I finally got around to firing up my table saw and cut a couple of wooden plates today to go on the arm of my Twilight 1. I used 12mm Baltic birch...

Last post

Sounds good. How about a photo?

1 Replies

22 Views

Last post by gregl
Mon Jan 27, 2020 4:05 am
Barn door tracker?

Last post by maceemiller « Sun Jan 26, 2020 8:06 pm
Replies: 26
by maceemiller » Mon Jan 20, 2020 6:52 pm
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2
First post

Hi all. Hope everybody's OK.

As I have no GOTO mount and my EQ mount is, well, rubbish I'm considering trying to make a barn door tracker for use...

Last post

So, got some materials ready to start building but a little confused as to what motor to buy. Any recommendations on a cheap motor to work with the...
26 Replies

335 Views

Last post by maceemiller
Sun Jan 26, 2020 8:06 pm
Astromaster 130eq MD - Modifications

Last post by bladekeeper « Sun Jan 26, 2020 6:24 pm
Replies: 1
by Sebushka » Sun Jan 26, 2020 3:29 pm

First post

Hello everyone
Today I would like to present you my recent mods to my telescope. Purpose was clear - make it astrophotography friendly - long...

Last post

Nice mods!

As for balancing, I seen other newtonian users orient the scope so that the extension tubes and camera are pointed down while in the home...

1 Replies

38 Views

Last post by bladekeeper
Sun Jan 26, 2020 6:24 pm
National Geographic 70mm Refractor (2017 model)

Last post by pakarinen « Sun Jan 26, 2020 1:07 pm
Replies: 4
by GCoyote » Thu Jan 23, 2020 6:22 pm

First post

Picked this up as an (almost) complete kit for $20 last week.
20200123_103250 (800x600).jpg

I'm already reusing the mount, tripod, and other...

Last post

Heh. I just saw one of those 70mm at Hobby Lobby yesterday. Didn't check the price.

4 Replies

92 Views

Last post by pakarinen
Sun Jan 26, 2020 1:07 pm
Tripod Spreaders

Last post by John Fitzgerald « Thu Jan 23, 2020 1:08 am
Replies: 5
by Baskevo » Fri Jan 17, 2020 9:16 pm

First post

Hi guys,

I have heard the weak link for the EQ6-R pro is the tripod, and leg spreaders are not a bad idea. They are ridiculously expensive though......

Last post

I got my truss clamps ($15.99 for pack of 4) at Amazon. They are called stage lighting O-clamps.

5 Replies

181 Views

Last post by John Fitzgerald
Thu Jan 23, 2020 1:08 am
Extra Counterbalance for Guidescope

Last post by Graeme1858 « Fri Jan 17, 2020 5:25 am
Replies: 2
by Graeme1858 » Thu Jan 16, 2020 8:26 pm

First post

Six squares of roofing lead cut from a roll.

Held onto the end of the cantilever arm with the safety bolt!

Regards

Graeme

Last post

Don't forget, you always have the option to get boom microphone stand counterweights. Because they are not Astro gear, they are a lot less expensive....

2 Replies

84 Views

Last post by Graeme1858
Fri Jan 17, 2020 5:25 am
Explore Scientific "Twilight Nano" Alt-Azimuth Mount

Last post by LDW47 « Sun Jan 12, 2020 2:08 pm
Replies: 22
by Sky Tinker » Wed Jan 08, 2020 9:05 am
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2
First post

During 2018, I toyed off and on with the idea of getting one of these mounts, and for my smaller telescopes. A few years before that, I had begun...

Last post

4307FA5F-5EAD-45E5-84EB-E12A00558303.jpeg This is a great write but luckily with my newly arrived yesterday and with my largest refractor, an 80mm,...
22 Replies

481 Views

Last post by LDW47
Sun Jan 12, 2020 2:08 pm
Dob mount for my Meade 10" SN

Last post by Lady Fraktor « Sun Jan 12, 2020 8:49 am
Replies: 4
by StarBru » Sun Jan 12, 2020 6:58 am

First post

I was planning to eventually build a Dobson mount for my Meade 10 Schmidt Newtonian. I had already put my design on paper and bought some nice birch...

Last post

A nice telescope Bruce, you do not see a lot of these anymore.
With a 2.7° FOV it should make a nice DSO telescope.

4 Replies

100 Views

Last post by Lady Fraktor
Sun Jan 12, 2020 8:49 am
Project ARA (augmented reality astronomy)

Last post by Baskevo « Wed Jan 08, 2020 11:19 pm
Replies: 7
by Lokifish » Sun Dec 08, 2019 3:51 am

First post

So when the EVScope made the news, it got me wondering. Why not do augmented reality astronomy for outreach using off the shelf gear? Can run various...

Last post

You should put this in a pair of AR glasses :D lol

Funny you should mention that. While not glasses per se, I do plan to implement this in an...

7 Replies

309 Views

Last post by Baskevo
Wed Jan 08, 2020 11:19 pm
Celestron 130mm S.L.T. tripod damage

Last post by mariosi « Mon Jan 06, 2020 11:37 am
Replies: 4
by mariosi » Tue Dec 24, 2019 5:14 pm

First post

Gia sas,
After 8 years, the Celestron 130mm SLT tripod has been damaged ( leg lock) and I have applied the mount to Sky-Watcher tripod EQ5 .

Here...

Last post

Good mod. And you can salvage that tripod by applying a shaft collar or bicycle seat clamp to the lower leg. I posted some pix of that over on this...

4 Replies

274 Views

Last post by mariosi
Mon Jan 06, 2020 11:37 am
Meade ETX 125

Last post by Pitsmoor Col « Sun Jan 05, 2020 12:07 pm
Replies: 7
by Pitsmoor Col » Sat Jan 04, 2020 10:28 pm

First post

Hi. I bought a Meade ETX 125 from a Auction, It looked in fantastic condition so i put my bid in but kept getting outbid but kept on bidding I won in...

Last post

I think I will have a go at making something myself, can't be hard.

7 Replies

148 Views

Last post by Pitsmoor Col
Sun Jan 05, 2020 12:07 pm
Celestron PowerSeeker 127EQ Renovation

Last post by Sky Tinker « Thu Jan 02, 2020 12:32 pm
Replies: 43
by Sky Tinker » Fri Dec 27, 2019 11:55 am
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2

3
First post

We’ve had it for months, couldn’t ever say anything through it.
Might as well have thrown the money out the window.
You'll never be able to...

Last post

Awesome right up sky tinker.
I’m especially looking at the secondary mirror modifications as my Astromaster 130EQ has a very similar setup albeit...
43 Replies

850 Views

Last post by Sky Tinker
Thu Jan 02, 2020 12:32 pm
Seben 76mm/f10

Last post by gregl « Tue Dec 17, 2019 4:51 am
Replies: 5
by mariosi » Sat Nov 30, 2019 3:35 am

First post

Seben 76mm/f10
This telescope is in great condition and I have donated it. I made a few corrections and replaced the eyepieces in 10mm - 25mm super...

Last post

BTW, anyone needing fasteners, handles, knobs, etc. can find more than you might imagine at McMaster-Carr. mcmaster.com
Reid Tool also has a wide...

5 Replies

470 Views

Last post by gregl
Tue Dec 17, 2019 4:51 am
new lathe project

Last post by yobbo89 « Fri Dec 13, 2019 9:10 pm
Replies: 33
by yobbo89 » Sat Sep 14, 2019 10:29 am
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2
First post

making a diy tilt adapter ,these cost a fortune and are by far the simplest adapters, a few pc thumb screws and some aluminum .

I did not want to...

Last post

This project has actually been on hold because off my new telescope mount, i expect it to be done in the upcoming weeks , all i need is some pc thumb...
33 Replies

1265 Views

Last post by yobbo89
Fri Dec 13, 2019 9:10 pm
Toolboxe

Last post by mariosi « Fri Nov 29, 2019 3:53 am
Replies: 3
by mariosi » Thu Nov 28, 2019 4:09 pm

First post

Toolboxe 41.9 X 33 X 20.6 cm . It is not a perfect job but I'm satisfied :smile:

Toolbox .jpg

Toolbox 1.jpg

Toolbox 2.jpg

Last post

Did you paint the foam?
If so give it 2-3 days before storing your gear in it to dry and let any propellant release from the foam
You do not want to...

3 Replies

201 Views

Last post by mariosi
Fri Nov 29, 2019 3:53 am
Tune Ups?

Last post by GCoyote « Wed Nov 27, 2019 4:47 pm
Replies: 6
by GCoyote » Thu Nov 21, 2019 5:48 pm

First post

Like a number other newbies, I have a few small used scopes that have decent glass on a less than decent mount/tripod. The advantage of that is I can...

Last post

Excellent! Just the sort of tips/tricks I'm looking for.

6 Replies

269 Views

Last post by GCoyote
Wed Nov 27, 2019 4:47 pm
steel tubing dobsonian?

Last post by Marcelo F. « Tue Nov 26, 2019 11:17 am
Replies: 12
by GCoyote » Fri Nov 08, 2019 10:45 pm

First post

Has anyone tried building a simple dob mount using these?

It seems like I could just bolt it together and adjust the width between the...

Last post

Here is an example using aluminum profile:

12 Replies

492 Views

Last post by Marcelo F.
Tue Nov 26, 2019 11:17 am
things that annoy

Last post by gregl « Sun Nov 24, 2019 4:59 am
Replies: 23
by mcolbert » Fri Jun 14, 2019 10:59 pm
1

2
First post

you have a small project (or a big one) that you're involved in and then, bang, it all comes to a halt, because of any number of reasons - mainly...

Last post

...

3. a simple thing, an optics test bench, so one would think. But it is now four weeks since I requested a simple quote from the local...
23 Replies

1145 Views

Last post by gregl
Sun Nov 24, 2019 4:59 am
Aux Battery Pack for Nexstar Mount

Last post by JayTee « Wed Nov 20, 2019 10:12 pm
Replies: 16
by chicagorandy » Sat May 18, 2019 1:49 am

First post

Many folks advise use of an aftermarket battery pack for longer viewing sessions than just the 8 AA's onboard the mount can provide. I chose a $30...

Last post

I'm surprised it ran at all with one of the batteries in backwards.

JT

16 Replies

892 Views

Last post by JayTee
Wed Nov 20, 2019 10:12 pm
Blackening refractor tube.

Last post by mariosi « Wed Nov 06, 2019 7:32 am
Replies: 19
by Apollo69s » Mon Oct 21, 2019 10:39 pm

First post

Hi there ,im into some small improvments off my telescope,,,and the question is--vantablack 2.0 or black 3,0-- inside the tube? trying to figure out...

Last post

Γαβριέλα - Power mod -

Apollo69s - nice result! -

- For a friend I had made a white Telrad once ... -
Bresser 152mm telrad .jpg

Marios

19 Replies

599 Views

Last post by mariosi
Wed Nov 06, 2019 7:32 am
6V power supply

Last post by dcrowson « Sat Nov 02, 2019 7:07 pm
Replies: 6
by Hobbit1066 » Fri Nov 01, 2019 10:28 am

First post

Im looking at making a 6V dc power supply for the CG4.
I cannot locate one anywhere , they all seem to be 12V.
ive thought about a big AH 12V bike...

Last post

You can buy stepdown convertors for next to nothing on eBay and other places. The only issue with these is that they can take some time to be...

6 Replies

317 Views

Last post by dcrowson
Sat Nov 02, 2019 7:07 pm
need advise or help with stepper motor controller box

Last post by OzEclipse « Fri Nov 01, 2019 11:32 pm
Replies: 14
by VenusAstronomer » Fri Sep 27, 2019 3:49 pm

First post

Hi all -

I have an old-style Newtonian scope (14.5 inches), solid fiberglass tube, on a steel fork equatorial base, set in concrete, in an...

Last post

This is fabulous telescope....
If I were you, I would seriously consider installing OnStep system... or (older) Bartels..
I am using both, they...

14 Replies

624 Views

Last post by OzEclipse
Fri Nov 01, 2019 11:32 pm
DIY Anti-vibration pads?

Last post by GCoyote « Mon Oct 28, 2019 4:22 am
Replies: 15
by pakarinen » Wed Oct 02, 2019 2:07 pm

First post

Not sure if my deck is showing more signs of aging, if the ground has different water content these days, or if I'm just becoming more aware, but...

Last post

I save the dense grey or black foam that cosmetics and jewelry come packed in. I've been using it to make custom storage for my instruments but I...

15 Replies

696 Views

Last post by GCoyote
Mon Oct 28, 2019 4:22 am
Focuser fat

Last post by Apollo69s « Fri Oct 25, 2019 12:39 am
Replies: 7
by Apollo69s » Mon Oct 21, 2019 10:47 pm

First post

Is it any special fat for the Telescope focuser--To getting it going easy and smooth---?

Last post

everytime i move the foscuser forward and backward.and when ut comes to a certain position .is sounds sclt schlt schlt--so i will change the sticky...

7 Replies

361 Views

Last post by Apollo69s
Fri Oct 25, 2019 12:39 am
Best cheap paint for your OTA - chalkboard black

Last post by Apollo69s « Mon Oct 21, 2019 10:59 pm
Replies: 5
by Kanadalainen » Tue Aug 20, 2019 1:39 pm

First post

I recently noticed the back of my dob's secondary mirror was not blackened, nor are the spider vane support bolts.

I should blacken them.

IMHO...

Last post

Thats exatcly what im into--so know i got nanotubes on my brain-

5 Replies

374 Views

Last post by Apollo69s
Mon Oct 21, 2019 10:59 pm

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