Other "Do It Yourself" projects

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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...

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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

3951 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

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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...

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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

1559 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...

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

5 Replies

8055 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

3940 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
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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...

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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

26597 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

3948 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

6398 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

7996 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

3503 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

4358 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

2477 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

3188 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

5341 Views

Last post by chris_g
Thu May 20, 2021 4:30 am
Need to Make a Dew Shield for my Telrad finder.

Last post by Graeme1858 « Sat May 15, 2021 7:41 am
Replies: 10
by GCoyote » Wed Sep 02, 2020 5:32 pm

First post

The humidity has been so bad I'm prioritizing dew shields for gear that doesn't already have them.

Has anyone made a shield for a Telrad finder? How...

Last post

A quick blow of a hair drier before use might be an alternative option?

Regards

Graeme

10 Replies

7800 Views

Last post by Graeme1858
Sat May 15, 2021 7:41 am
DIY Anti-vibration pads?

Last post by GCoyote « Fri Apr 09, 2021 3:13 am
Replies: 22
by pakarinen » Wed Oct 02, 2019 2:07 pm
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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

Good to know. Four more days of rain forecast so still not getting the gear out.
22 Replies

20230 Views

Last post by GCoyote
Fri Apr 09, 2021 3:13 am
Cheap cloud cam?

Last post by chris_g « Mon Mar 01, 2021 3:25 am
Replies: 3
by pakarinen » Sun Dec 27, 2020 4:01 pm

First post

Any suggestions for a cheap WiFi camera to monitor cloud cover in real time, preferably on a cell phone app? Tnx.

Last post

Camera time,check out AM Crest IP cameras, they support open standards ONVIF for third party control and have been around for a while, I've owned...

3 Replies

3761 Views

Last post by chris_g
Mon Mar 01, 2021 3:25 am
DIY.

Last post by pakarinen « Thu Feb 04, 2021 10:30 pm
Replies: 6
by Steve » Wed Dec 16, 2020 4:36 pm

First post

Hi every one, I,m thinking of making some tripod suppressing stands to go underneath the legs of the tripod.What,and how, and which materials do I...

Last post

The thick packing foam pads are way too springy - the pads are worse than no pads. Maybe a single layer - they're about 5mm thick.

6 Replies

4578 Views

Last post by pakarinen
Thu Feb 04, 2021 10:30 pm
Heated rain sensor

Last post by UlteriorModem « Thu Dec 31, 2020 2:40 pm
Replies: 7
by KathyNS » Sat Dec 26, 2020 7:17 pm

First post

Objective: a rain sensor that will not trigger on dew.

I have looked at the Kemo M152 rain sensor, but its heater only comes on after it has made a...

Last post

Let us know how it works out.

7 Replies

5238 Views

Last post by UlteriorModem
Thu Dec 31, 2020 2:40 pm
DIY scope dolly

Last post by Greenman « Mon Nov 09, 2020 9:34 pm
Replies: 11
by Larry 1969 » Sun Sep 06, 2020 5:17 pm

First post

Good day all!
I had been trying to find plans to make your own scope dolly and wasn't having much luck...
I looked into the scope buggy and was put...

Last post

Inventive and practical, I like the end product.

11 Replies

9038 Views

Last post by Greenman
Mon Nov 09, 2020 9:34 pm
Center of Mass

Last post by GCoyote « Tue Nov 03, 2020 2:21 pm
Replies: 26
by GCoyote » Fri Aug 14, 2020 1:09 pm
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First post

Plan: Build this DIY wedge for my ~ 5 lb Mak to sit on.

EQ Wedge DIY.jpg

Qptions

a. Just center everything and hope for the best.
b. Try to...

Last post

n.b. Browsing the Web, EBay suggested a Meade wedge for $289. At the least, this project is helping me understand all the components, how they...
26 Replies

15434 Views

Last post by GCoyote
Tue Nov 03, 2020 2:21 pm
Dew Shield for my 90 mm Mak

Last post by GCoyote « Mon Oct 12, 2020 3:21 pm
Replies: 11
by GCoyote » Sat Oct 03, 2020 9:22 pm

First post

I need to get better at documenting what I'm doing so this is as much for me to practice as for the value of the project itself.

As someone else...

Last post

Heh, I sometimes use friction tape to mount my TelRad to a random OTA. Nice thing about this hobby, very few witnesses!

11 Replies

7240 Views

Last post by GCoyote
Mon Oct 12, 2020 3:21 pm
Mirror Temperature Monitor

Last post by Piet Le Roux « Tue Oct 06, 2020 7:18 am
Replies: 1
by Piet Le Roux » Tue Oct 06, 2020 2:00 am

First post

Seeing conditions has a huge effect on how well your reflector telescope preforms, Much of the atmospheric seeing problem, however, arises...

Last post

Just to clarify the sensor placement.....
mirror_image_for_seeing_m.jpg

1 Replies

2952 Views

Last post by Piet Le Roux
Tue Oct 06, 2020 7:18 am
MacGyvering my SW AZ5

Last post by pakarinen « Tue Aug 25, 2020 6:10 pm

by pakarinen » Tue Aug 25, 2020 6:10 pm

So far, I really like the look and feel of my Skywatcher AZ5, but I've lamented the lack of encoders for push-to. I don't want to disassemble the...

0 Replies

2864 Views

Last post by pakarinen
Tue Aug 25, 2020 6:10 pm
Best cheap paint for your OTA - chalkboard black

Last post by Kanadalainen « Sat Aug 15, 2020 2:35 pm
Replies: 10
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

I'm making a dew shield out of a section of plastic bleach bottle. The chalkboard black looks grest but is not adhering well. What should I prime the...

10 Replies

8939 Views

Last post by Kanadalainen
Sat Aug 15, 2020 2:35 pm
From an EQ to an Alt-Az

Last post by Lowjiber « Fri Aug 14, 2020 1:08 pm
Replies: 3
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...

Last post

I love it, Mark!

We've all made Frankenscopes, but that is truly a Frankenmount. Very clever.

As an aside, if you notice astronomers at public...

3 Replies

4654 Views

Last post by Lowjiber
Fri Aug 14, 2020 1:08 pm

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