DIY Anti-vibration pads?

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DIY Anti-vibration pads?

#1

Post by pakarinen »


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 I've started to notice vibrations while observing at higher powers. It's particularly noticeable if I tap my foot for example.

I'm loathe to spend $80 or whatever on commercial anti-vibe pads, so I'm wondering if anybody has made their own.

Thanks!
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Re: DIY Anti-vibration pads?

#2

Post by UlteriorModem »


How about a set for 12 bucks?

Tom

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Re: DIY Anti-vibration pads?

#3

Post by pakarinen »


Even better - Amazon can do the work!
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Re: DIY Anti-vibration pads?

#4

Post by Bigzmey »


UlteriorModem wrote: Wed Oct 02, 2019 2:38 pm How about a set for 12 bucks?

Interesting. How they compare to the typical astro pads?

BTW. These for $24 are identical to more expensive Orion etc. re-brands. I wish they were pink like in the pic, but the set I got from them was with red inserts. Still works. :)

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Re: DIY Anti-vibration pads?

#5

Post by UlteriorModem »


No idea how they compare. I don't use them ;)
Tom

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Re: DIY Anti-vibration pads?

#6

Post by fatboy1271 »


Haha, UM! I was just wondering if I should replace my Celestron pads with those. Mine are getting pretty worn. Maybe for $12 what's to lose?
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Re: DIY Anti-vibration pads?

#7

Post by fatboy1271 »


Bigzmey wrote: Wed Oct 02, 2019 7:37 pm
UlteriorModem wrote: Wed Oct 02, 2019 2:38 pm How about a set for 12 bucks?

Interesting. How they compare to the typical astro pads?

BTW. These for $24 are identical to more expensive Orion etc. re-brands. I wish they were pink like in the pic, but the set I got from them was with red inserts. Still works. :)

Nice find! One reviewer said his dad has the Celestron set and he can't find a difference, other than color.
OTAs: Explore Scientific ED80 Essential Edition / The Little Guy (Celestron 90SLT)
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Software: CPWI / PHD2 / N.I.N.A / Stellarium/StellariumScope/Remote Control / PI / RegiStax 6 / AutoStakkert!2 / PIPP | Retired? BackyardEOS Premium
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Re: DIY Anti-vibration pads?

#8

Post by UlteriorModem »


I had some of the expensive ones at one time. The weight of the CGX-L and scope, plus the fact I leave it set up 24-7 365, all the gel squished out of them :D
Tom

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Scope: 130mm f7 APO
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Re: DIY Anti-vibration pads?

#9

Post by Chich »


You could try making them out of used plastic food containers filled with silicone sealant.

https://astromart.com/reviews-and-artic ... ation-pads
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Re: DIY Anti-vibration pads?

#10

Post by pakarinen »


Chich wrote: Thu Oct 03, 2019 1:06 am You could try making them out of used plastic food containers filled with silicone sealant.

https://astromart.com/reviews-and-artic ... ation-pads


Actually, the bathtub *is* due for a recaulking and I have a balance left on a HoPo gift card.
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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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Re: DIY Anti-vibration pads?

#11

Post by Intrepid »


3 Hockey pucks are often used for this purpose. They seem to work quite well.
Intrepid,



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Re: DIY Anti-vibration pads?

#12

Post by OzEclipse »


pakarinen wrote: Wed Oct 02, 2019 2:07 pm 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 I've started to notice vibrations while observing at higher powers. It's particularly noticeable if I tap my foot for example.

I'm loathe to spend $80 or whatever on commercial anti-vibe pads, so I'm wondering if anybody has made their own.

Thanks!

Do you mean tap your feet something like this??

Must be hard to observe while doing tap?? :Astronomer1:

A friend of mine replaced a pier mounted 16" newt and now has a C14 on a field tripod sitting on the concrete floor of his observatory.
He glued two of these -
https://www.bunnings.com.au/whites-50-x ... k_p3961977

to one of these-
https://www.bunnings.com.au/macsim-50-x ... r_p1101092

Drilled a bit of a depression in the top pad to make a locating hollow for the feet and he says it works fine.

Joe
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Re: DIY Anti-vibration pads?

#13

Post by pakarinen »


OzEclipse wrote: Fri Oct 11, 2019 10:01 am
Do you mean tap your feet something like this??
My wife and I used to do competitive ballroom dancing - much more like this than Fred and Ginger ;) :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laJYC-fvUBM

Interestingly though Ginger and I share a birthday and my wife and Fred share theirs.
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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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Re: DIY Anti-vibration pads?

#14

Post by OzEclipse »


I'm a street latin dancer from way back. Salsa, bachata, merengue!

Though I don't go every week these days, you never really stop being a dancer.

Dancing aside, my friend says that the $4 hardware anti-vibration pads work fine. He lives in Brisbane so I haven't seen them in operation.

I found this picture and excerpt from a piece he wrote in our astronomy club newsletter.
anti-vibration.jpg
I observe from a quiet rural property on soft earth so I have no need for this type of thing for myself.

cheers

Joe
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Amateur astronomer since 1978...................Web site : http://joe-cali.com/
Scopes: ATM 18" Dob, Vixen VC200L, ATM 6"f7, Stellarvue 102ED, Saxon ED80, WO M70 ED, Orion 102 Maksutov, ST80.
Mounts: Takahashi EM-200, iOptron iEQ45, Push dobsonian with Nexus DSC, three homemade EQ's.
Eyepieces: TV Naglers 31, 17, 12, 7; Denkmeier D21 & D14; Pentax XW10, XW5, Unitron 40mm Kellner, Meade Or 25,12
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Re: DIY Anti-vibration pads?

#15

Post by pakarinen »


We do a little salsa and bachata now and then at social dances. Good stuff.
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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.
=============================================================================
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: DIY Anti-vibration pads?

#16

Post by GCoyote »


I save the dense grey or black foam that cosmetics and jewelry come packed in. I've been using it to make custom storage for my instruments but I imagine it would work for pads as well.
Any metaphor will tear if stretched over too much reality.
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Re: DIY Anti-vibration pads?

#17

Post by Steve »


I like the idea of moulding your own,very interesting and cheap.It might just work....Steve.
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Re: DIY Anti-vibration pads?

#18

Post by MistrBadgr »


I cut up cheap mouse pads in two inch squares. I put a thin bead of silicon window caulk a little inboard of the perimeter and glue a stack together on a roughly three inch square of wood (normally 3/4" plywood). Three layers of pad on each works for small scopes like a yoke mounted 60mm refractor. Four squares works for my Polaris 114, 4.5 inch f/8 reflector. I think five pads would work for my 20 pound equatorial scopes, but I have not tried it yet.
The pad material is black, so I have been painting the wood white before the glue job, for visibility in the dark.
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Re: DIY Anti-vibration pads?

#19

Post by GCoyote »


Interesting. Did you put a hole in the plywood to keep the feet from slipping off?
Any metaphor will tear if stretched over too much reality.
Gary C

Celestron Astro Master 130mm f5 Newtonian GEM
Meade 114-EQ-DH f7.9 Newtonian w/ manual GEM
Bushnell 90mm f13.9 Catadioptric
Gskyer 80mm f5 Alt/Az refractor
Jason 10x50 Binoculars
Celestron 7x50 Binoculars
Svbony 2.1x42 Binoculars
(And a bunch of stuff I'm still trying to fix or find parts for.)
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Re: DIY Anti-vibration pads?

#20

Post by pakarinen »


Yeah, the mouse pad idea sounds interesting - I must have a dozen of them lying around the house and office.
=============================================================================
I drink tea, I read books, I look at stars when I'm not cursing clouds. It's what I do.
=============================================================================
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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