Other "Do It Yourself" projects

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Focuser fat

Last post by Don Quixote « Tue Oct 22, 2019 10:37 pm
Replies: 6
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

If I understand correctly, a focuser with diagonal thread plate sounds like a rack and pinion focus.
If this is the case I have found on my rack and...

6 Replies

68 Views

Last post by Don Quixote
Tue Oct 22, 2019 10:37 pm
Blackening refractor tube.

Last post by Apollo69s « Tue Oct 22, 2019 8:48 am
Replies: 3
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 have looked at the krylon paint,,,but it think il go at the 2,0 or 3,0 black colour...if the colours have the same propertiess,,il go for the...

3 Replies

36 Views

Last post by Apollo69s
Tue Oct 22, 2019 8:48 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

191 Views

Last post by Apollo69s
Mon Oct 21, 2019 10:59 pm
10pxSky-Watcher mount mod

Last post by mariosi « Mon Oct 21, 2019 1:48 pm
Replies: 5
by mariosi » Sun Oct 20, 2019 11:36 am

First post

Hello all,
I have simplified the Dob mount into individual pieces(4) to have more space in the car to travel comfortably with my family,combining the...

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That is really well done! I have the same scope from a trade, and it needed some help :lol: The base was rotted at the bottom, and during the rebuild...

5 Replies

63 Views

Last post by mariosi
Mon Oct 21, 2019 1:48 pm
Getting around design flaws

Last post by Micke187 « Sat Oct 19, 2019 3:19 pm
Replies: 8
by seer » Fri Aug 30, 2019 4:04 pm

First post

DSCN1422.JPG
I took my new 144mm EQ reflector out last night and the biggest problem with it was after I polar aligned with the AZ part of the mount...

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havent concidered swaping out the original screw and replace it with a screw you could use a wrench to tightening more then by hand ?

8 Replies

284 Views

Last post by Micke187
Sat Oct 19, 2019 3:19 pm
things that annoy

Last post by Seawolfe « Wed Oct 16, 2019 1:35 pm
Replies: 12
by mcolbert » Fri Jun 14, 2019 10:59 pm

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...

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I carry spare batteries from AAA to D cells, to a couple of the dime batteries. These come in handy, as I even carry a backup battery for my scope...

12 Replies

443 Views

Last post by Seawolfe
Wed Oct 16, 2019 1:35 pm
DIY Anti-vibration pads?

Last post by pakarinen « Tue Oct 15, 2019 9:10 pm
Replies: 14
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...

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We do a little salsa and bachata now and then at social dances. Good stuff.

14 Replies

268 Views

Last post by pakarinen
Tue Oct 15, 2019 9:10 pm
Light Blocking Panels

Last post by EAGLE 5 « Tue Oct 15, 2019 3:08 am
Replies: 19
by KingNothing13 » Tue Aug 13, 2019 5:49 pm

First post

Does anyone on the forum use light blocking panels?

If so, do you have plans/photos you'd be willing to share?

I am thinking I would like to put...

Last post

I noticed on the local want ads somebody was selling trade show display walls. They were $150 Canadian for a 8x8 and $200 for a 10x10. Borderline...

19 Replies

500 Views

Last post by EAGLE 5
Tue Oct 15, 2019 3:08 am
new lathe project

Last post by yobbo89 « Fri Oct 11, 2019 8:17 am
Replies: 28
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

What lathe are you using?
I've been puttering around with a Grizzly G0602 10x22 now for a few weeks and love it. (No DRO's on my machine yet,...
28 Replies

520 Views

Last post by yobbo89
Fri Oct 11, 2019 8:17 am
need advise or help with stepper motor controller box

Last post by VenusAstronomer « Thu Oct 03, 2019 1:03 pm
Replies: 12
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...

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I was able to catch up with an old friend yesterday. Haven't seen or heard from him in 3 or 4 years, as health issues took him away from astronomy....

12 Replies

282 Views

Last post by VenusAstronomer
Thu Oct 03, 2019 1:03 pm
Side-grade

Last post by Greenman « Sun Sep 29, 2019 6:53 pm
Replies: 5
by Greenman » Sat Sep 28, 2019 6:15 pm

First post

My pawnshop special 80AT worked OK for a while, but now I get consistent ‘motor failures ‘ roughly at the same positions. I was toying with the idea...

Last post

Nice one if anyone else is considering this see the bottom of this page on weasner:

5 Replies

120 Views

Last post by Greenman
Sun Sep 29, 2019 6:53 pm
DIY stuff and getting ready...

Last post by bladekeeper « Tue Sep 24, 2019 12:10 pm
Replies: 5
by man1 » Mon Sep 23, 2019 9:05 pm

First post

Finally I got my Telescope last Friday and I have been busy doing some of the DIY stuff that I wanted to do. What better way to learn how to...

Last post

Thanks for your advice to give enough time to let the mirrors cool down enough. I am planing to run the fan all the time and just vary the fan speed...

5 Replies

143 Views

Last post by bladekeeper
Tue Sep 24, 2019 12:10 pm
Longer Thumb Screws

Last post by gregl « Mon Sep 23, 2019 3:58 am
Replies: 11
by Don Quixote » Tue Sep 10, 2019 1:34 am

First post

FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH.

I have always found it a tedious fumble to tighten and adjust accessories in and around the focuser on my telescopes.
These...

Last post

By the way, if you can't find what you need from an astro supplier, there is an outfit called Reid Supply that has a boatload of various setscrews,...

11 Replies

282 Views

Last post by gregl
Mon Sep 23, 2019 3:58 am
Dylan O'Donnell Designs a Mount

Last post by dghent « Thu Sep 19, 2019 12:36 am
Replies: 7
by seer » Thu Sep 12, 2019 3:41 pm

7 Replies

187 Views

Last post by dghent
Thu Sep 19, 2019 12:36 am
Just finished my Heater ctrl Box

Last post by Juno16 « Wed Sep 18, 2019 10:58 am
Replies: 6
by man1 » Tue Sep 17, 2019 11:47 pm

First post

I have build a Dew Heater control box for my new XT10i. I have 3 channels, #1 will be for the tel rad, eyepiece, red dot and the 9x50 finder scope....

Last post

Thanks for all the comments...

I am working at -30C type of temperatures that's why I didn't put metal connectors directly on the box, but extended...

6 Replies

123 Views

Last post by Juno16
Wed Sep 18, 2019 10:58 am
DIY solution - carry a 10" DOB tube

Last post by JayTee « Fri Sep 13, 2019 1:47 am
Replies: 5
by TSS_ASTRO » Sat Aug 31, 2019 4:54 pm

First post

Hi all,
I have the Orion XT10 DOB and I'm working on thinking up a strap system that will facilitate a carry handle of some kind.
If anyone has a DIY...

Last post

Hi guys,

I move this post over to this sub-forum to keep our filing system a bit more organized.

Cheers,
JT

5 Replies

164 Views

Last post by JayTee
Fri Sep 13, 2019 1:47 am
DIY DEW Shield for my Orion XT10i

Last post by Lady Fraktor « Mon Sep 09, 2019 9:28 pm
Replies: 1
by man1 » Mon Sep 09, 2019 9:15 pm

First post

Thank You all for the friendly 'Welcome' to this forum.

Here is some information that I thought of and that I can share with all of you. I was...

Last post

Yes the slider does work very well :)
I made a new shield for my C6R a few years ago as the factory one was to short and weighted 1kg! Much to...

1 Replies

72 Views

Last post by Lady Fraktor
Mon Sep 09, 2019 9:28 pm
3D printing

Last post by a100171 « Wed Aug 28, 2019 11:56 pm
Replies: 1
by mcolbert » Wed Aug 28, 2019 11:38 pm

First post

this is to gauge the use of 3D printers. Do we have any users amongst us? What machines are used, what are advantages and disadvantages?
How is the...

Last post

Plastics can be used very effectively, and they are not all the same. There is a member ('Dr Benway ) over at CN who makes all sorts of parts, e.g....

1 Replies

88 Views

Last post by a100171
Wed Aug 28, 2019 11:56 pm
Installing a new dovetail base for finderscope

Last post by seer « Mon Aug 26, 2019 4:28 pm
Replies: 18
by seer » Mon Aug 19, 2019 1:42 pm

First post

I plan on installing a dovetail base for a finderscope on my Meade 114mm Polaris EQ Reflector today. Last night I dug out the tools that I think I'll...

Last post

I just came back in. I was outside aligning and sighting this telescope in. It took about 20 minutes.
The thing is, is that I can't do like most of...

18 Replies

393 Views

Last post by seer
Mon Aug 26, 2019 4:28 pm
Creative DIY

Last post by Lokifish « Tue Aug 20, 2019 1:00 am
Replies: 27
by mcolbert » Thu Jul 18, 2019 4:31 am
1

2
First post

browsing another forum I came across a sticky devoted to 'non-astronomical items used for astronomy'. It is a fascinating collection of hints, tips...

Last post

It's more PVC than glass. A DIY 2 wide field EP. Works out to about a 45mm focal length with 65 degree FOV.
Primary objectives from dead 7x35 binos,...
27 Replies

822 Views

Last post by Lokifish
Tue Aug 20, 2019 1:00 am
diy barlow adapter

Last post by yobbo89 « Sun Aug 18, 2019 9:27 am
Replies: 2
by yobbo89 » Sat Aug 17, 2019 8:34 am

First post

g'day all, sometime ago i got a lathe to do some hobby work during out of order astronomy repairs, finally it's all setup and i have the correct...

Last post

done the other end, i learned this trick, add a clearway for the threading tool so you one can screw the adapter all the way against it's mating...

2 Replies

107 Views

Last post by yobbo89
Sun Aug 18, 2019 9:27 am
Meade LX200 Mount Adapter for Celestron HD Wedge

Last post by a100171 « Wed Aug 07, 2019 1:27 am
Replies: 4
by a100171 » Sun May 26, 2019 12:19 am

First post

So, I have my older Meade LX200 more or less all ready to go outside. I plan on leaving it all outside with a cover. I should have had my observatory...

Last post

Well I certainly learned a lot from this. I got some much better tools for starters.
A quality tap wrench for one...the cheapo one that came from...

4 Replies

250 Views

Last post by a100171
Wed Aug 07, 2019 1:27 am
155mm F3 refractor, Victor C Rogus.

Last post by Thefatkitty « Thu Aug 01, 2019 11:25 am
Replies: 2
by KingClinton » Thu Aug 01, 2019 6:51 am

First post

Some inspiration for a DIY project or two.

Last post

Great article, thanks Clinton :D I'll have to look for that book as well. I'm also intrigued by the line about using sand for tracking, much like an...

2 Replies

131 Views

Last post by Thefatkitty
Thu Aug 01, 2019 11:25 am
Junk bin "Planet Killer" zoom

Last post by mcolbert « Sun Jul 21, 2019 7:20 am
Replies: 1
by Lokifish » Sun Jul 21, 2019 2:53 am

First post

Junk bin Planet Killer zoom

About a year ago I purchased a tiny little zoom monocular for my daughter. It was a fun little do what you want with it...

Last post

so that's what the offspring of an amateur astronomer is for - to provide the contents of a junk bin. ;0. Mine haven't been able to pull that one off...

1 Replies

186 Views

Last post by mcolbert
Sun Jul 21, 2019 7:20 am
removing the miror from a Meade 8"

Last post by mcolbert « Wed Jul 17, 2019 4:36 am
Replies: 39
by mcolbert » Mon Jun 03, 2019 9:16 pm
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2
First post

DIY II ;)

I want to check the forum wisdom on how to remove the mirror from my SCT.

From what I have seen on other sites the three things to...

Last post

the mirrors have arrived safely, now to remember how to put the whole thing back together! ;)
39 Replies

1064 Views

Last post by mcolbert
Wed Jul 17, 2019 4:36 am

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