Other "Do It Yourself" projects

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From an EQ to an Alt-Az

Last post by Lady Fraktor « Tue Jun 30, 2020 10:22 am
Replies: 1
by Thefatkitty » Tue Jun 30, 2020 12:52 am

First post

I love summer. I hate humidity. There, rant over...

Yesterday (Sunday) was 35C (95F), toss in some nasty humidity, and that is why I stayed in the...

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Quite ingenious Mark, I hope it works well for you.
A couple nice images even with the poor weather.

1 Replies

96 Views

Last post by Lady Fraktor
Tue Jun 30, 2020 10:22 am
Ideas for motorizing a 12" 'tube' mount?

Last post by turboscrew « Sat Jun 20, 2020 6:04 pm
Replies: 3
by turboscrew » Sat Jun 20, 2020 12:05 pm

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I've been thinking about motorizing the dobson mount of my 12 tube, but I haven't come up with a mechanism to do that.
It looks like the stepper...

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Hey, thanks! You gave me the idea to search gearboxed steppers, not just steppers, and the search results are pretty different.
There are NEMA17...

3 Replies

133 Views

Last post by turboscrew
Sat Jun 20, 2020 6:04 pm
By jove, it works!

Last post by Kanadalainen « Thu Jun 11, 2020 3:58 pm
Replies: 12
by Thefatkitty » Sat Feb 22, 2020 4:30 am

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Recently there was a thread titled Barn door tracker? by member maceemiller. It got me to thinking of the one I had made about three years ago and...

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Mark

I tried to pm you but you may have your message receipt turned off... couldn't add your contact to the pm. Let me know -> perhaps its on my...

12 Replies

1032 Views

Last post by Kanadalainen
Thu Jun 11, 2020 3:58 pm
another lathe project

Last post by oscaletrains « Wed Jun 10, 2020 4:41 pm
Replies: 11
by yobbo89 » Sat May 30, 2020 5:37 pm

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so it turns out televue use different sizes on thiere barlow extention tubes and also different threads, i almost ruined my job, lucky i did a light...

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Adding to my post above, I don't know your tools or experience so please forgive me if you already know this, but carbide requires absolute rigidity...

11 Replies

288 Views

Last post by oscaletrains
Wed Jun 10, 2020 4:41 pm
Best cheap paint for your OTA - chalkboard black

Last post by Shadower360 « Tue Jun 09, 2020 3:31 pm
Replies: 6
by Kanadalainen » Tue Aug 20, 2019 1:39 pm

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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...

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black 3.0 blocks 99.7 light. There is nothing darker out there. $22. for 150ml. You thin it a little with water. I still have 3/4 of the bottle and...

6 Replies

564 Views

Last post by Shadower360
Tue Jun 09, 2020 3:31 pm
Blackening refractor tube.

Last post by Shadower360 « Tue Jun 09, 2020 3:28 pm
Replies: 20
by Apollo69s » Mon Oct 21, 2019 10:39 pm
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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...

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I did the same thing and it worked great. Vanta 3.0 is ridiculous!
20 Replies

981 Views

Last post by Shadower360
Tue Jun 09, 2020 3:28 pm
A mount mod for my Jason 80mm f/15

Last post by Thefatkitty « Mon Jun 01, 2020 2:34 am
Replies: 8
by Thefatkitty » Sun May 31, 2020 3:01 am

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Hi everyone, hope you are all good :D

Today I decided to finally make the modification to my Jason that I’ve been thinking about for a while....

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A very good modification to the mount Mark, that should make it much easier to get outside now :D
Take care and all the best!

Thanks Gabby, and...

8 Replies

378 Views

Last post by Thefatkitty
Mon Jun 01, 2020 2:34 am
Adapting Celestron's excellent StarSense Explorer platesolving app to a Z8 dob

Last post by The Happy Parrot « Wed May 06, 2020 10:48 pm
Replies: 6
by The Happy Parrot » Wed May 06, 2020 1:05 am

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A few weeks ago I posted my first impressions on the new Celestron DX 102AZ refractor. This is an entry level telescope, a nice one at that, with a...

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This is really cool. I might try it with my new phone that is scheduled to arrive tomorrow by FedEX - a google pixel 4 xl. I thought that getting...

6 Replies

767 Views

Last post by The Happy Parrot
Wed May 06, 2020 10:48 pm
DIY camera lens to telescope adapter (rear lens dust cover and 1.25 eyepiece holder

Last post by realflow100 « Thu Apr 30, 2020 3:44 pm
Replies: 4
by realflow100 » Fri Apr 24, 2020 12:50 am

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I made one of these and can't believe how well it works! you may need to loosen the eyepiece out a little ways from the holder depending on the model...

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Yeah 10mm gives the most useful magnification (depending on how fast or slow the lens is)
For a slower lens you can use a lower power eyepiece for a...

4 Replies

459 Views

Last post by realflow100
Thu Apr 30, 2020 3:44 pm
SDR and meteor detection.

Last post by KingClinton « Wed Apr 29, 2020 12:10 pm

by KingClinton » Wed Apr 29, 2020 12:10 pm

Has anyone on the forums had any success with using the RTL SDR receivers to do meteor detection?
I also know that some of the HAM radio guys are...

0 Replies

195 Views

Last post by KingClinton
Wed Apr 29, 2020 12:10 pm
Guide Scope Bahtinov Mask

Last post by Dragonsfire « Mon Mar 30, 2020 3:00 pm
Replies: 8
by Graeme1858 » Sun Mar 29, 2020 9:57 am

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Here's my new Guide scope Bahtinov mask! I used the 9.25 mask as a template and cut up a cornflake packet!

Haven't used it yet. Do you think it...

Last post

Looks great ! just a little paint job :)

8 Replies

614 Views

Last post by Dragonsfire
Mon Mar 30, 2020 3:00 pm
Collimation tools

Last post by Lady Fraktor « Fri Mar 27, 2020 8:41 pm
Replies: 3
by MariusD69 » Fri Mar 27, 2020 2:17 pm

First post

Hello!
I bought last year a TS RC8 (I'm the third owner), but I didn't like how the stars looked like. I collimated it with Cheshire and laser, then...

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Very nice work Marius.
Years ago almost everyone I knew made their own collimation caps and sight tubes, now you rarely find anyone doing this.
A...

3 Replies

267 Views

Last post by Lady Fraktor
Fri Mar 27, 2020 8:41 pm
Dob mount for a C8?

Last post by helicon « Wed Mar 18, 2020 3:30 pm
Replies: 15
by pakarinen » Tue Feb 25, 2020 2:03 pm

First post

Reading the latest Sky&Tel this morning and an article on a classic Dob got me thinking (always a dangerous thing).

I have a deforked classic C8...

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That's really cool. Turns it into a table top instrument.

15 Replies

2526 Views

Last post by helicon
Wed Mar 18, 2020 3:30 pm
Barn door tracker?

Last post by maceemiller « Sun Mar 08, 2020 10:06 am
Replies: 42
by maceemiller » Mon Jan 20, 2020 6:52 pm
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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...

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Your stepper motor doesn't look like any stepper I've seen. It only seems to have two wires. So I searched on motor C9050-60003 and found this :-...
42 Replies

3272 Views

Last post by maceemiller
Sun Mar 08, 2020 10:06 am
Gear ratios?

Last post by maceemiller « Thu Mar 05, 2020 8:08 pm
Replies: 7
by maceemiller » Thu Mar 05, 2020 7:47 am

First post

Hi all.

So I have a 3.3 RPM synchronous motor for my barn door tracker. Using gears, what would I need to get the RPM down to 1?

Thankyou

Carl

Last post

20200304_212050.jpg

I did think the cogs were backwards! I'm no electronic whiz either. The motor I'm using I got from an old Christmas...

7 Replies

663 Views

Last post by maceemiller
Thu Mar 05, 2020 8:08 pm
National Geographic 70mm Refractor (2017 model)

Last post by GCoyote « Sat Feb 29, 2020 9:32 pm
Replies: 18
by GCoyote » Thu Jan 23, 2020 6:22 pm

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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...

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Just had to let the glue cure overnight, clean off a tiny amount of excess at the seam and, it's done!

NatGeo70mm Done 20200229.jpg

The squirrel...

18 Replies

1915 Views

Last post by GCoyote
Sat Feb 29, 2020 9:32 pm
Meade 4504 c 2006 Refurbishment

Last post by GCoyote « Mon Feb 24, 2020 9:33 pm
Replies: 15
by GCoyote » Fri Feb 14, 2020 2:40 pm

First post

So a couple years ago I picked this up for $30

Meade model 4504 c 2006.png

It was missing the drive motors, controller, eyepiece tray, and finder...

Last post

It's here. It's a perfect fit!
On to the next job, the mount.

15 Replies

1421 Views

Last post by GCoyote
Mon Feb 24, 2020 9:33 pm
Light trap material

Last post by John Baars « Sun Feb 16, 2020 6:50 pm
Replies: 2
by John Baars » Sat Feb 15, 2020 4:32 pm

First post

Two weeks ago I ordered a piece of Protostar light trap material in the US. Today it arrived. I put it inside a dewcap for the 150 mm achromat and...

Last post

I can't withhold these pictures of the Protostar effectiveness.
The following pictures were shown earlier on Astronomyforum. Its shows how effective...

2 Replies

665 Views

Last post by John Baars
Sun Feb 16, 2020 6:50 pm
Mini power tank 12v.

Last post by Dragonsfire « Tue Feb 11, 2020 6:15 pm
Replies: 1
by mariosi » Tue Feb 11, 2020 1:10 pm

First post

Mini power tank 12v. 8.5AH by using electrical panel box 20cmX8cmX15cm.

Marios

Power tank 1.jpg

Power tank 2.jpg

Power tank 3.jpg

Power...

Last post

Nice :)
Allot of people putting together power supplies using 18650 batteries.

1 Replies

632 Views

Last post by Dragonsfire
Tue Feb 11, 2020 6:15 pm
Cardboard and Duct Tape

Last post by Graeme1858 « Mon Feb 10, 2020 8:02 pm
Replies: 6
by Graeme1858 » Sun Feb 09, 2020 9:00 pm

First post

Last October I bought a sheet of solar film to attempt to capture an image of the Mercury transit. In use I just stuck it onto the OTA with tape....

Last post

Looks like some fine Kent ingenuity to me, Graeme! Nice work! :)

They're noted for that these suverners . :animals-dogrun:

Wivouta doubt...

6 Replies

726 Views

Last post by Graeme1858
Mon Feb 10, 2020 8:02 pm
Carry Case for CPC 1100

Last post by Wingsfan81 « Mon Feb 10, 2020 3:54 am
Replies: 12
by Wingsfan81 » Sun Feb 09, 2020 9:33 am

First post

Ok, the term “carry case” might be a bit of a stretch. It has wheels and rolls. Basically it will make my life much easier whenever I need to...

Last post

That's a nice solution! I am looking for a travel case for my new 9.25 . How heavy is this Husky case?

It wasn’t terribly heavy for me empty,...

12 Replies

685 Views

Last post by Wingsfan81
Mon Feb 10, 2020 3:54 am
Meade ETX 125

Last post by Pitsmoor Col « Thu Jan 30, 2020 7:22 pm
Replies: 9
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

Good Idea mate, I usually am able to find old plastic caps that are a perfect fit for Eye Pieces. So will keep an eye out for a lens cover for the...

9 Replies

756 Views

Last post by Pitsmoor Col
Thu Jan 30, 2020 7:22 pm
Twilight 1 arm vibration "fix"

Last post by gregl « Mon Jan 27, 2020 8:13 pm
Replies: 3
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

Great idea. Thanks.

3 Replies

424 Views

Last post by gregl
Mon Jan 27, 2020 8:13 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

426 Views

Last post by bladekeeper
Sun Jan 26, 2020 6:24 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......

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

5 Replies

603 Views

Last post by John Fitzgerald
Thu Jan 23, 2020 1:08 am

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