A different type of eyepiece adapter

Discuss any astro equipment that does not have its own forum, such as focusers, finders, chairs, etc.
Post Reply
User avatar
Lady Fraktor Slovakia
Co-Administrator
Co-Administrator
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 9863
Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2019 9:14 pm
4
Location: Slovakia
Status:
Offline

A different type of eyepiece adapter

#1

Post by Lady Fraktor »


Brass Eyepiece Adapter 1.jpg
Brass Eyepiece Adapter 2.jpg
If you have ever used a long focal length refractor with a EQ mount you will understand that the eyepiece can end up in some fairly low places when viewing if the tripod is not raised fully.

There are a few ways to raise refractors further into their rings such as lighter dewshields, heavier focusers, solid metal focuser knobs made of brass or stainless steel, counterweight systems (external and internal) and larger finderscopes such as the Antares 12x80mm RACI.

In the early 2000s a small mill company named Mercury Systems Support started making several different upgrade components for the influx of Chinese refractors, mostly the “new style” brass compression ring visual backs for refractors and Newtonian focusers draw tubes.

One of their products was designed for the long focal length refractor called “The Heavy Hitter”.
A 2”- 1.25” brass smooth barrelled eyepiece adapter weighing 0.453kg (1lb or 16oz).
Designed to help push the telescope up a bit more or to offset the weight difference between lightweight 0.965” or 1.25” eyepieces when switching to larger 2” eyepieces.

Machined tolerances are tight, more a wiggle fit than drop in and eyepiece centering is excellent.
The brass compression band sits a bit higher than standard adapters which normally lets it grab above the safety undercut of most eyepiece barrels.
The lower section is blackened and also threaded for standard 2” filters.
Unfortunately the company now seems to be out of business, though occasionally Scopestuff seems to magically get a small amount into stock.

I like using this in my larger refractors and have had two more made by a local mill shop at home.

The only other company that I know of that makes something similar is TeleVue with their brass “Equalizer” 2”- 1.25” eyepiece adapter that weights 0.34kg (0.75lb or 12oz)
http://televue.com/engine/TV3b_page.asp ... Tab=_equil

I hope you enjoyed the discussion of a small bit of my eclectic telescope equipment collection.
See Far Sticks: Antares Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser BV 127/1200, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885
EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, AXJ, AXD
Az/Alt: AYO Digi II/ Argo Navis, Stellarvue M2C/ Argo Navis
Tripods: Berlebach Planet (2), Uni 28 Astro, Report 372, TAL factory maple, Vixen ASG-CB90, Vixen AXD-TR102
Diagonals: Astro-Physics, Baader Amici, Baader Herschel, iStar Blue, Stellarvue DX, Takahashi prism, TAL, Vixen flip mirror
Eyepieces: Antares to Zeiss
The only culture I have is from yogurt
My day was going well until... people
Image
User avatar
Bigzmey United States of America
Moderator
Moderator
Articles: 8
Offline
Posts: 7551
Joined: Sat May 11, 2019 7:55 pm
4
Location: San Diego, CA USA
Status:
Offline

TSS Awards Badges

Re: A different type of eyepiece adapter

#2

Post by Bigzmey »


1lb - quite hefty! I guess glass pineapples could serve the same function. Recently I have considered Meade UWA 30mm 82 deg, but then decided to pass because it weights 3lb. :lol:
Scopes: Stellarvue: SV102ED; Celestron: 9.25" EdgeHD, 8" SCT, 150ST, Onyx 80ED; iOptron: Hankmeister 6" Mak; SW: 7" Mak; Meade: 80ST.
Mounts: SW: SkyTee2, AzGTi; iOptron: AZMP; ES: Twilight I; Bresser: EXOS2; UA: MicroStar.
Binos: APM: 100-90 APO; Canon: IS 15x50; Orion: Binoviewer, LG II 15x70, WV 10x50, Nikon: AE 16x50, 10x50, 8x40.
EPs: Pentax: XWs & XFs; TeleVue: Delites, Panoptic & Plossls; ES: 68, 62; Vixen: SLVs; Baader: BCOs, Aspherics, Mark IV.
Diagonals: Baader: BBHS mirror, Zeiss Spec T2 prism, Clicklock dielectric; TeleVue: Evebrite dielectric; AltairAstro: 2" prism.
Filters: Lumicon: DeepSky, UHC, OIII, H-beta; Baader: Moon & SkyGlow, Contrast Booster, UHC-S, 6-color set; Astronomik: UHC.

Observing: DSOs: 3106 (Completed: Messier, Herschel 1, 2, 3. In progress: H2,500: 2180, S110: 77). Doubles: 2382, Comets: 34, Asteroids: 255
User avatar
Lady Fraktor Slovakia
Co-Administrator
Co-Administrator
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 9863
Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2019 9:14 pm
4
Location: Slovakia
Status:
Offline

Re: A different type of eyepiece adapter

#3

Post by Lady Fraktor »


I have no eyepieces that weigh close to that, I would have to find a way to double up on the adapters :lol:
See Far Sticks: Antares Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser BV 127/1200, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885
EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, AXJ, AXD
Az/Alt: AYO Digi II/ Argo Navis, Stellarvue M2C/ Argo Navis
Tripods: Berlebach Planet (2), Uni 28 Astro, Report 372, TAL factory maple, Vixen ASG-CB90, Vixen AXD-TR102
Diagonals: Astro-Physics, Baader Amici, Baader Herschel, iStar Blue, Stellarvue DX, Takahashi prism, TAL, Vixen flip mirror
Eyepieces: Antares to Zeiss
The only culture I have is from yogurt
My day was going well until... people
Image
User avatar
Bigzmey United States of America
Moderator
Moderator
Articles: 8
Offline
Posts: 7551
Joined: Sat May 11, 2019 7:55 pm
4
Location: San Diego, CA USA
Status:
Offline

TSS Awards Badges

Re: A different type of eyepiece adapter

#4

Post by Bigzmey »


I think making EPs in that weight category is borderline ridiculous. I almost got it as a conversation piece: "this is not EP, THIS is EP!". But then decided that I get more use out of a premium UHC filter.
Scopes: Stellarvue: SV102ED; Celestron: 9.25" EdgeHD, 8" SCT, 150ST, Onyx 80ED; iOptron: Hankmeister 6" Mak; SW: 7" Mak; Meade: 80ST.
Mounts: SW: SkyTee2, AzGTi; iOptron: AZMP; ES: Twilight I; Bresser: EXOS2; UA: MicroStar.
Binos: APM: 100-90 APO; Canon: IS 15x50; Orion: Binoviewer, LG II 15x70, WV 10x50, Nikon: AE 16x50, 10x50, 8x40.
EPs: Pentax: XWs & XFs; TeleVue: Delites, Panoptic & Plossls; ES: 68, 62; Vixen: SLVs; Baader: BCOs, Aspherics, Mark IV.
Diagonals: Baader: BBHS mirror, Zeiss Spec T2 prism, Clicklock dielectric; TeleVue: Evebrite dielectric; AltairAstro: 2" prism.
Filters: Lumicon: DeepSky, UHC, OIII, H-beta; Baader: Moon & SkyGlow, Contrast Booster, UHC-S, 6-color set; Astronomik: UHC.

Observing: DSOs: 3106 (Completed: Messier, Herschel 1, 2, 3. In progress: H2,500: 2180, S110: 77). Doubles: 2382, Comets: 34, Asteroids: 255
User avatar
Lady Fraktor Slovakia
Co-Administrator
Co-Administrator
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 9863
Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2019 9:14 pm
4
Location: Slovakia
Status:
Offline

Re: A different type of eyepiece adapter

#5

Post by Lady Fraktor »


A good more useful choice :)
See Far Sticks: Antares Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser BV 127/1200, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885
EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, AXJ, AXD
Az/Alt: AYO Digi II/ Argo Navis, Stellarvue M2C/ Argo Navis
Tripods: Berlebach Planet (2), Uni 28 Astro, Report 372, TAL factory maple, Vixen ASG-CB90, Vixen AXD-TR102
Diagonals: Astro-Physics, Baader Amici, Baader Herschel, iStar Blue, Stellarvue DX, Takahashi prism, TAL, Vixen flip mirror
Eyepieces: Antares to Zeiss
The only culture I have is from yogurt
My day was going well until... people
Image
Lola Bruce United States of America
Moon Ambassador
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 67
Joined: Sat Jun 22, 2019 9:05 pm
4
Location: So Cal USA
Status:
Offline

Re: A different type of eyepiece adapter

#6

Post by Lola Bruce »


First thought I also tagged large eyepieces as ludicrous until I purchased a Nagler22 then a Panoptic 41. As far as the heavy 2 to 1.25 adapter T.V. makes one called the equalizer. I copied the idea and made my own to help offset the weight differences of my eyepieces, works great. My Equalizer knockoff is much heavier than Al's.

Bruce
User avatar
10538 United States of America
Pluto Ambassador
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 476
Joined: Wed May 15, 2019 10:11 am
4
Location: Fairfield N.C. USA
Status:
Offline

TSS Awards Badges

Re: A different type of eyepiece adapter

#7

Post by 10538 »


Bigzmey wrote: Tue Jul 23, 2019 6:22 pm 1lb - quite hefty! I guess glass pineapples could serve the same function. Recently I have considered Meade UWA 30mm 82 deg, but then decided to pass because it weights 3lb. :lol:
Years ago when I wasted money on things that I would never use, I bought this eyepiece! HUGE! Sadly I used it about a year and the internal lens fogged up. Now it’s a conversation piece and paperweight. Just a good example of bad decisions I made when I was much younger and more stupid! :lol:
Ed :Astronomer1:
Scopes: Orion 14 inch f/4.6 Dobsonian w/MoonLite focuser. Meade LX200 Classic 10”w/AudioStar and MoonLite focuser, Criterion RV6, Orion ST80A w/2” GSO micro focuser.
Eyepieces: ES 5.5mm 100*, 6.7mm 82*, 11mm 82*, 14mm 100*, 18mm 82*, 20mm 100*, Meade 9mm XWA 100*, 24mm UWA 82*, 56mm 50*, TV Delos 6,8 & 10mm, Panoptic 24, 27 & 35mm, 17mm Nagler, Powermate 2X, Baader 6mm Ortho, Paracorr II.
MISC: William Optics Binoviewer, Revolution 2 Imager, Orion Skyview Pro Mount, Skymaster 15x70, 20x70, 25x100 Binos, HoTech Collimator, Kendrick Dew System,Catsperch Chair.
Messier 110 Complete/ Messier 110 Sketches Complete / Herschel 400 Complete / H-2 and H-3 Complete
Bortle 3 Skies in Down Eastern NC
“Starlight, I hear you calling out to me so far away” Jeff Lynne ELO.
Don Quixote
Articles: 0

Re: A different type of eyepiece adapter

#8

Post by Don Quixote »


You did a post somewhere, I cannot remember when, in which you describe the interior weighting system you installed and the back end of one of your fracs, Gabby.
I have always thought that was an elegant solution.
Do you still have that rig?
User avatar
Lady Fraktor Slovakia
Co-Administrator
Co-Administrator
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 9863
Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2019 9:14 pm
4
Location: Slovakia
Status:
Offline

Re: A different type of eyepiece adapter

#9

Post by Lady Fraktor »


I have done that with my 150mm f/8 at home and the Beefraktor that I refurbished while in Canada as well as a few other refractors over the years.
The Frankencanon is still at home and is my go to "lets modify something" telescope (there are still a few I want to do), the Beefraktor was given to a friend in Lethbridge, Alberta.
See Far Sticks: Antares Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser BV 127/1200, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885
EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, AXJ, AXD
Az/Alt: AYO Digi II/ Argo Navis, Stellarvue M2C/ Argo Navis
Tripods: Berlebach Planet (2), Uni 28 Astro, Report 372, TAL factory maple, Vixen ASG-CB90, Vixen AXD-TR102
Diagonals: Astro-Physics, Baader Amici, Baader Herschel, iStar Blue, Stellarvue DX, Takahashi prism, TAL, Vixen flip mirror
Eyepieces: Antares to Zeiss
The only culture I have is from yogurt
My day was going well until... people
Image
Post Reply

Create an account or sign in to join the discussion

You need to be a member in order to post a reply

Create an account

Not a member? register to join our community
Members can start their own topics & subscribe to topics
It’s free and only takes a minute

Register

Sign in

Return to “Other Accessories”