Longer Thumb Screws

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Don Quixote
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Longer Thumb Screws

#1

Post by Don Quixote »


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 little knurled thumb screws never seemed long enough and at times collided with one attachment or another.
I found a source of various lengths of assorted screws designed for the several thread combinations on my kit.
These screws are much easier to work with now and in cold weather with gloves they will become even more user friendly.
I can hear someone say, "they are way too long". Well...I have the next size shorted if these get in the way, but even the next size shorter is much better than the little fiddly ones that came with the original equipment.

I found these screws on "Scopestuff" for a few dollars. To me they are worth every penny.

Picture attached with red circle around my new thumb screws.

Cheers.
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Bigzmey United States of America
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Re: Longer Thumb Screws

#2

Post by Bigzmey »


Thanks for the tip Mark! I will check them out.

P.S. Your BBHS is looking good! :D
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
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Juno16 United States of America
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Re: Longer Thumb Screws

#3

Post by Juno16 »


Yes, thanks Mark!

Those screws would really help me get a good snug grip on my camera. I just checked it out and it should work well.
That is an ES compression ring, right? Can you send me a part#?

Thanks!

Jim
Jim

Scopes: Explore Scientific ED102 APO, Sharpstar 61 EDPH II APO, Samyang 135 F2 (still on the Nikon).
Mount: Skywatcher HEQ5 Pro with Rowan Belt Mod
Stuff: ASI EAF Focus Motor (x2), Orion 50mm Guide Scope, ZWO 30 mm Guide Scope, ASI 220mm min, ASI 120mm mini, Stellarview 0.8 FR/FF, Sharpstar 0.8 FR/FF, Mele Overloock 3C.
Camera/Filters/Software: ASI 533 mc pro, ASI 120mm mini, Orion SSAG, IDAS LPS D-1, Optolong L-Enhance, ZWO UV/IR Cut, N.I.N.A., Green Swamp Server, PHD2, Adobe Photoshop CC, Pixinsight.
Dog and best bud: Jack
Sky: Bortle 6-7
My Astrobin: https://www.astrobin.com/users/Juno16/
Don Quixote
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Re: Longer Thumb Screws

#4

Post by Don Quixote »


Juno16 wrote: Tue Sep 10, 2019 2:38 am Yes, thanks Mark!

Those screws would really help me get a good snug grip on my camera. I just checked it out and it should work well.
That is an ES compression ring, right? Can you send me a part#?

Thanks!

Jim
Yes. And camera set up was one of the areas I found frustrating.

Part number for the ES thread is

SK4M4X25SS.

THEY ALSO HAVE SOME A BIT SHORTER.
BUT THESE REALLY LET ME GET A GRIP BEYOND THE CLOSE CAMERA MOUNTING.
Here is the link.
These are nice quality. The threads fit very nicely.

ScopeStuff
http://www.scopestuff.com/ss_scr1.htm
Don Quixote
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Re: Longer Thumb Screws

#5

Post by Don Quixote »


Bigzmey wrote: Tue Sep 10, 2019 1:50 am Thanks for the tip Mark! I will check them out.

P.S. Your BBHS is looking good! :D
I put the link up for the thumb screws Andrey.

Yes the Baader diagonal is a piece of fine work.

It adds just a mm or two to optical train but everything comes to focus. And if I find one that needs a bit more in focus I will get a bit shorter extension tube to accommodate. So far no issue there.

This "click lock" mechanism has completely spoiled me. 😊
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Juno16 United States of America
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Re: Longer Thumb Screws

#6

Post by Juno16 »


A big thank you Mark!

Funny that sometimes you don’t know what you are missing until someone shares a helpful tip!

Ordered this morning. I also ordered a ES finder to dslr mount adapter that I’ve been looking at for awhile.

Thanks again Mark!

Jim
Jim

Scopes: Explore Scientific ED102 APO, Sharpstar 61 EDPH II APO, Samyang 135 F2 (still on the Nikon).
Mount: Skywatcher HEQ5 Pro with Rowan Belt Mod
Stuff: ASI EAF Focus Motor (x2), Orion 50mm Guide Scope, ZWO 30 mm Guide Scope, ASI 220mm min, ASI 120mm mini, Stellarview 0.8 FR/FF, Sharpstar 0.8 FR/FF, Mele Overloock 3C.
Camera/Filters/Software: ASI 533 mc pro, ASI 120mm mini, Orion SSAG, IDAS LPS D-1, Optolong L-Enhance, ZWO UV/IR Cut, N.I.N.A., Green Swamp Server, PHD2, Adobe Photoshop CC, Pixinsight.
Dog and best bud: Jack
Sky: Bortle 6-7
My Astrobin: https://www.astrobin.com/users/Juno16/
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pakarinen United States of America
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Re: Longer Thumb Screws

#7

Post by pakarinen »


Looks like one or two would be a good addition to my compression ring back. I'm always confusing the compression screw with one of the two screws that hold the back in - Es no bueno.
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I drink tea, I read books, I look at stars when I'm not cursing clouds. It's what I do.
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AT50, AT72EDII, ST80, ST102; Scopetech Zero, AZ-GTi, AZ Pronto; Innorel RT90C, Oberwerk 5000; Orion Giantview 15x70s, Vortex 8x42s, Navy surplus 7x50s, Nikon 10x50s
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Re: Longer Thumb Screws

#8

Post by Don Quixote »


Juno16 wrote: Tue Sep 10, 2019 1:16 pm A big thank you Mark!

Funny that sometimes you don’t know what you are missing until someone shares a helpful tip!

Ordered this morning. I also ordered a ES finder to dslr mount adapter that I’ve been looking at for awhile.

Thanks again Mark!

Jim
I am glad this was useful, Jim.
Scopestuff has an amazing variety of "stuff"...😊
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Juno16 United States of America
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Re: Longer Thumb Screws

#9

Post by Juno16 »


Got the screws in today and they sure make a big difference in a secure camera mount!

I also ordered a ESFinder bracket to dslr shoe adapter. It also works well. Unfortunately, I can’t go under about 50 mm without starting to see the scope in the view. I will just have to try some wider field with my 55-200 zoom. Looking forward To trying it.

Thanks again!

Jim
Jim

Scopes: Explore Scientific ED102 APO, Sharpstar 61 EDPH II APO, Samyang 135 F2 (still on the Nikon).
Mount: Skywatcher HEQ5 Pro with Rowan Belt Mod
Stuff: ASI EAF Focus Motor (x2), Orion 50mm Guide Scope, ZWO 30 mm Guide Scope, ASI 220mm min, ASI 120mm mini, Stellarview 0.8 FR/FF, Sharpstar 0.8 FR/FF, Mele Overloock 3C.
Camera/Filters/Software: ASI 533 mc pro, ASI 120mm mini, Orion SSAG, IDAS LPS D-1, Optolong L-Enhance, ZWO UV/IR Cut, N.I.N.A., Green Swamp Server, PHD2, Adobe Photoshop CC, Pixinsight.
Dog and best bud: Jack
Sky: Bortle 6-7
My Astrobin: https://www.astrobin.com/users/Juno16/
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Ozypic
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Re: Longer Thumb Screws

#10

Post by Ozypic »


Yes their pretty crappy on my skywatcher. I put a slot in them and nip them up with a screwdriver but I just know I'll strip the thread eventually if I'm not carefull... that damn 2 inch diagonal weighs a bit and I just dread the thought of it dropping out Ha Ha ... Phill
Phill. Dreaming of Clear Skys .... :D :D :D
SCOPE : Skywatcher 120X600 ST Achromatic Refractor. 
EP's : 25mm & 10mm Plossl , Celestron 8/24mm Zoom EP,
Filters : Solar filter, Badder Fringe Killer & Moon/Skyglow. 
MOUNT : Skywatcher Star Discovery goto Mount.
CAMERAS : ZWO 120 asi MC. / Sony HX400V 50X Zoom.
Binoculars : Saxon 10x50
Don Quixote
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Re: Longer Thumb Screws

#11

Post by Don Quixote »


Ozypic wrote: Fri Sep 13, 2019 11:43 pm Yes their pretty crappy on my skywatcher. I put a slot in them and nip them up with a screwdriver but I just know I'll strip the thread eventually if I'm not carefull... that damn 2 inch diagonal weighs a bit and I just dread the thought of it dropping out Ha Ha ... Phill
I am ready for this Phill. I have some fine taps used in modeling. When the threads get wobbly I will tap to an M5 thread. 😊
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gregl
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Re: Longer Thumb Screws

#12

Post by gregl »


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, knobs and handles. reidsupply.com
Also, there is the inimitable McMaster Carr, the mother of all hardware and industrial suppliers: mcmaster.com
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