Other "Do It Yourself" projects

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Making a new solar filter for my ED80 refractor

Last post by OzEclipse « Sun Mar 12, 2023 8:44 am

by OzEclipse » Sun Mar 12, 2023 8:44 am

Some of you will have had me respond to your posts about solar filters by pointing you to an article on my website about constructing a holder for...

0 Replies

59 Views

Last post by OzEclipse
Sun Mar 12, 2023 8:44 am
Accessory rail for Nexstar 8i SE

Last post by Lady Fraktor « Tue Feb 07, 2023 7:06 pm
Replies: 2
by MaxBlancke » Tue Feb 07, 2023 12:31 am

First post

Last week, I discovered that the plastic mount for the sighting scope on my 8i SE had broken off and disappeared. I thought it best to install a...

Last post

A good idea!

2 Replies

73 Views

Last post by Lady Fraktor
Tue Feb 07, 2023 7:06 pm
Alt / Az mounting my OMC140

Last post by John Baars « Sat Dec 24, 2022 10:30 pm
Replies: 3
by John Baars » Sat Dec 24, 2022 2:40 pm

First post

My OMC140 ( 140mm Maksutov) was actually always a tad heavy for the Alt/Az mount my GrabnGo 102mm Maksutov normally sits on.
The little 102mm Mak has...

Last post

Well done John! I do the same with ES Twilight 1 when observing with 8 SCT, improves observing considerably. Unfortunately, it does not work with...

3 Replies

206 Views

Last post by John Baars
Sat Dec 24, 2022 10:30 pm
Low Budget Solar Viewer

Last post by Lady Fraktor « Thu Dec 01, 2022 5:25 am
Replies: 2
by chartram » Thu Dec 01, 2022 1:35 am

First post

Hello,

Apologies if this has been covered already. This is a super cheap DIY solar viewing setup.

Ingredients:

- 3gal bucket
- ultra flat black...

Last post

Very cool!
This is something like a solar funnel?

I use refractors from achro doublets to oil spaced triplet with a herschel wedge without issue....

2 Replies

187 Views

Last post by Lady Fraktor
Thu Dec 01, 2022 5:25 am
New insulation- jacket for 140 mm Maksutov

Last post by messier 111 « Tue Nov 29, 2022 2:48 pm
Replies: 5
by John Baars » Mon Nov 28, 2022 2:24 pm

First post

Well, if you're still busy sticking radiator foil behind the radiators of the heating, you might as well replace the old insulation jacket of the...

Last post

what ? don't you look at the stars in a tuxedo?
seriously if it works why not.
you can spend more time looking at the stars.
good thing.

5 Replies

224 Views

Last post by messier 111
Tue Nov 29, 2022 2:48 pm
Where do you go to the Bathroom

Last post by planecrazzzy « Tue Nov 22, 2022 7:54 am
Replies: 6
by planecrazzzy » Wed Oct 19, 2022 4:46 pm

First post

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Ok... That was just a Hook
Although, the reason I bought this was so girls could go to the bathroom on the pontoon boat.
Just remember that when...

Last post

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Hi , Glad to hear your about your new booth...
Is it for your scope , or for you ? Maybe both.
.
I have two Tips ...
One , on folding... you'll get...

6 Replies

261 Views

Last post by planecrazzzy
Tue Nov 22, 2022 7:54 am
My platform

Last post by Frankskywatcher « Fri Nov 18, 2022 2:44 am
Replies: 2
by Frankskywatcher » Wed Nov 16, 2022 2:39 pm

First post

I finally got around to making a platform for my scope now it’s so much easier to move my scope around.
I cut a piece of wood 4 inches bigger than...

Last post

Locking wheels?

No but I prefer it that way my garage and my driveway is perfectly flat

2 Replies

177 Views

Last post by Frankskywatcher
Fri Nov 18, 2022 2:44 am
Mount Stabilization with three Bungie cords

Last post by planecrazzzy « Mon Nov 07, 2022 9:29 pm
Replies: 7
by planecrazzzy » Fri Nov 04, 2022 7:22 pm

First post

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I haven't needed this kind of stabilization yet... I'm still mainly Visual...and preparing for AP.
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I've thought about some of the things they do...

Last post

There is no pressure to speak of... ( The sky is not falling... the tape is NOT red , There is NO spoon )
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OK... Why do people make those Braces to...

7 Replies

260 Views

Last post by planecrazzzy
Mon Nov 07, 2022 9:29 pm
Bottle cap Diagonal on Orion Finder scope

Last post by planecrazzzy « Sun Nov 06, 2022 10:25 pm
Replies: 4
by planecrazzzy » Sun Nov 06, 2022 4:13 pm

First post

.
I bought an Orion 6 Newtonian...

It comes with a finder scope that is HARD to see through, it won't accept a diagonal...
For $100 , they'll sale...

Last post

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Right now I'm just trying to confirm and fine tune the Mounts target centering.
/
But most of the time I couldn't get into a position to look...

4 Replies

193 Views

Last post by planecrazzzy
Sun Nov 06, 2022 10:25 pm
Mount Mod /StarSense Camera

Last post by planecrazzzy « Sat Oct 29, 2022 12:27 am

by planecrazzzy » Sat Oct 29, 2022 12:27 am

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So it's supposed to go in place of the finder scope...But I want a finder scope
.
What If I wanna put a different telescope on the mount, gotta...

0 Replies

134 Views

Last post by planecrazzzy
Sat Oct 29, 2022 12:27 am
Options for case foam

Last post by planecrazzzy « Sat Oct 22, 2022 4:46 pm
Replies: 11
by Chich » Fri Jul 08, 2022 10:23 pm

First post

I have to make new foam inserts for some cases. Before spending a schwack of money on some Kaizen foam does anyone have any other suggestions? or...

Last post

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Thanks for explaining that... it's the first time I've came across it.
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I've had to edit a few post ... must have been within that time.
.
Gotta...

11 Replies

685 Views

Last post by planecrazzzy
Sat Oct 22, 2022 4:46 pm
Mod for Tri-pod 2" legs

Last post by planecrazzzy « Fri Oct 21, 2022 12:01 pm
Replies: 4
by planecrazzzy » Wed Oct 19, 2022 4:17 pm

First post

IMG_6827.JPG .
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OK, here's something easy to remember...
Pipe is measured from the INSIDE...
Tubing is measured from the OUTSIDE...
.
The Legs are...

Last post

One last example.
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This shows how many cables these hold...
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But , one set of this down the tri-pod leg , can be shared by another set...staggered...

4 Replies

187 Views

Last post by planecrazzzy
Fri Oct 21, 2022 12:01 pm
Correcting Coma in my F5 Fraunhofer Doublet.

Last post by Makuser « Sat Oct 01, 2022 7:41 pm
Replies: 2
by John Baars » Tue Sep 22, 2020 9:43 am

First post

I have had this 150mm F5 Fraunhofer refractor for a year by now. I recognized a small amount of Coma on the optical axis. It was clearly visible from...

Last post

Hi John. I just found this link that you posted on another thread recently and as I have an Omni 150XLT f/5 Fraunhofer doublet refractor, I found...

2 Replies

3062 Views

Last post by Makuser
Sat Oct 01, 2022 7:41 pm
Fixing jerky azimuth on my dob

Last post by avid.astronomer « Tue Aug 02, 2022 1:57 pm
Replies: 3
by avid.astronomer » Mon Aug 01, 2022 11:33 pm

First post

I love my 12 Zhumell Dob, but I've noticed recently that whenever the tube is pointed relatively high in the sky, the azimuth motion has a tendency...

Last post

I was intrigued by the idea of using a lazy susan bearing and had already put it on my shopping list as the next thing to try when I came across a...

3 Replies

286 Views

Last post by avid.astronomer
Tue Aug 02, 2022 1:57 pm
Rotatable finder mount

Last post by John Fitzgerald « Thu Dec 23, 2021 4:32 pm
Replies: 5
by John Fitzgerald » Thu Jul 01, 2021 9:56 pm

First post

When using my 6 f/8 apo, on the G11S eq mount, sometimes the finder becomes inconveniently placed or even inaccessible from the eyepiece position. I...

Last post

It's working great. I have two 50mm finders on it, one per side. One of them is always accessible.

5 Replies

6965 Views

Last post by John Fitzgerald
Thu Dec 23, 2021 4:32 pm
Fitting Baader Steeltrack-skywatcher 200PDS

Last post by UkDave « Mon Dec 06, 2021 10:04 am

by UkDave » Mon Dec 06, 2021 10:04 am

So my Xmas treat was to upgrade the stock focuser on my 200 PDS Newtonian to a Baader Steeltrack highly regarded as a solid focuser , so yesterday I...

0 Replies

3335 Views

Last post by UkDave
Mon Dec 06, 2021 10:04 am
Renovation of an EQ5-class Mount

Last post by Sky Tinker « Mon Nov 08, 2021 4:32 am
Replies: 41
by Sky Tinker » Tue Oct 19, 2021 10:06 am
1

2

3
First post

Back in the early 2000s, I had gotten a Vixen GPDX, an EQ5-class mount. But within a couple of years it was destroyed in a conflagration, in February...

Last post

Forget iOptron and Vixen. I ordered this...

...and from a Reverb seller, for $21.57, shipped.

We'll see how that flies.

Here are a couple of...
41 Replies

22109 Views

Last post by Sky Tinker
Mon Nov 08, 2021 4:32 am
Corrugated plastic shelters

Last post by SkyHiker « Sat Oct 30, 2021 10:23 am
Replies: 1
by Chich » Sat Oct 30, 2021 3:51 am

First post

Found this site while surfing around. Might give someone ideas for making a small observing shelter. Lots of other interesting projects on the site...

Last post

Found this site while surfing around. Might give someone ideas for making a small observing shelter. Lots of other interesting projects on the site...

1 Replies

3339 Views

Last post by SkyHiker
Sat Oct 30, 2021 10:23 am
Epic idea discovered. use a lighter to create black carbon flocking!

Last post by JayTee « Mon Oct 04, 2021 11:44 pm
Replies: 10
by realflow100 » Sat Oct 02, 2021 2:55 pm

First post

Its extremely effective when applied to the inner surface of eyepiece 1.25 barrel part (the part where you would thread a filter onto)
Even for the...

Last post

I wonder how much a small bottle of VantaBlack goes for?...
Here you go. $24 for 150ml.

10 Replies

4772 Views

Last post by JayTee
Mon Oct 04, 2021 11:44 pm
3D printed telescopes?

Last post by GCoyote « Fri Aug 06, 2021 4:43 pm
Replies: 9
by helicon » Tue Dec 29, 2020 3:11 pm

First post

I came across this link today and thought I would share it. I suppose it's inevitable that this will happen.

Last post

I keep coming back to this concept. I've had to make a number of small plastic or metal parts to adapt different brands of gear to work together. Any...

9 Replies

6686 Views

Last post by GCoyote
Fri Aug 06, 2021 4:43 pm
Transportable Tripod Base

Last post by Jones « Thu Aug 05, 2021 3:53 am
Replies: 3
by Jones » Mon Aug 02, 2021 4:03 am

First post

20210801_102514.jpg
I'm getting old and feeble. I downsized to a SV M2 mount and 115mm triple scope but I hate it (is that a crime?). A 130 triple...

Last post

It was raining all the time while building. When done the rain stopped, skys cleared and tested that nite. Hey, this is Arizona after all.

3 Replies

2727 Views

Last post by Jones
Thu Aug 05, 2021 3:53 am
Alt-Az Block-Pipe mount

Last post by GCoyote « Thu Aug 05, 2021 2:49 am
Replies: 6
by Jones » Mon Jul 26, 2021 8:01 pm

First post

Just finished building my latest mount head. Mounted up is my 18 lb. 130mm f/7 triple. Galvanized threaded 1.25 pipe rides nice and smoothly in 1...

Last post

Here is a previous mount- the wood equatorial.
Uses 2 screw pipe. Built 2003. Has a slot in the base for easy 2-wheeler transport. Worked great for 8...

6 Replies

3658 Views

Last post by GCoyote
Thu Aug 05, 2021 2:49 am
All sky cam project

Last post by KathyNS « Thu Jul 01, 2021 12:14 pm

by KathyNS » Thu Jul 01, 2021 12:14 pm

I had an ASI120MC that mostly gathered dust except for a short time around planetary oppositions. And I had a curiosity about what the weather was...

0 Replies

2038 Views

Last post by KathyNS
Thu Jul 01, 2021 12:14 pm
Scope stuffer for traveling

Last post by Graeme1858 « Sun May 23, 2021 8:10 am
Replies: 1
by SkyHiker » Sat May 22, 2021 9:15 pm

First post

With my upcoming GC trip with a friend I decided to use the 14 cylinder of my 12 Newt for storage. For that I made a lid that can be lowered on a...

Last post

That's quite ingenious Henk!

Regards

Graeme

1 Replies

2684 Views

Last post by Graeme1858
Sun May 23, 2021 8:10 am
Extra Counterbalance for Guidescope

Last post by chris_g « Thu May 20, 2021 4:30 am
Replies: 3
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

I just bought mine from B&H Photography . They offer free expedited shipping on most orders over $49. I added a pack of lens cleaners, good for eye...

3 Replies

4732 Views

Last post by chris_g
Thu May 20, 2021 4:30 am

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Other "Do It Yourself" projects

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