Relativist
Post Laureate
Reged: 10/11/03
Posts: 3301
Loc: OC, CA, USA
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I used to use a hydraulic shop stool I bought at Pep Boys. The only thing I did not like about it was that it did not go high enough for people that were much shorter than I. Still have not decided on what I will be replacing it with.
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.......Curtis
20mm T2 Nagler, 10mm SW 82degrees, 5-8 SW Zoom:
All of the above replaced with WO Binoviewers!!!
Siebert OCA 1.25x-3.5x
10" OPT Starhunter (flocked & upgraded focuser)
10x50 & 15x70 Celestron Bino's
2" 2x GSO Barlow
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Tom Andrews
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 01/25/07
Posts: 1413
Loc: Albuquerque, NM
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I use a drummer's throne: 12" of height adjustment in one inch increments, a good cushion, very light to move around and folds down like a tripod only smaller and the pad comes off for storage. By the way, the pad spins on top of the base like an office chair.
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Tom/K5TBA
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Our Secret To Life:
Focus on what you have, not on what you don't;
Focus on what you can do, not on what you can't.
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Coulter 8" dob w/Push-To finder system
Meade 8" EMC SCT/Celestron CG-5GT mount
Mallincam Xtreme
GO Gemini 15x70 binoculars/parallelogram mount w/Push-To finder system
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The Albuquerque Astronomy Society (TAAS)
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gimmeabeer
super member
Reged: 03/10/07
Posts: 170
Loc: Rockford, Illinois
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You people are gettign high tech on me here. I use a lawn chair if im home, but when i go for a drive i bring a trusty 5 gallon bucket, and a milk crate LOL... needless to say i plan on building a chair soon
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Brian
Rockford Illinois
Zhumell 10" DOB
William Optics Megrez 90 FD
Vixen Porta Mount
Full line of Baader Hyperion's
10X50 Binoculars
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Jon Isaacs
Postmaster
Reged: 06/16/04
Posts: 32442
Loc: San Diego, California
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>>>I would hate to not bother viewing an object because of the conscious effort required to adjust and move a clunky heavy adjustible seat.
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It only requires a second to adjust the height of a Starbound chair. It is not the effort to adjust the chair that keeps one from viewing a target, rather it is the fact that the viewing position is awkward, your back can only adapt so much.
Have you ever used a dedicated Astro-Chair like the Starbound? Cheap as I am, I drove up to OPT the next morning and paid top dollar after I tried one belonging to a friend.
Jon
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hokie1525
sage
Reged: 03/15/07
Posts: 459
Loc: Light Laden Northern Virginia
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After a weekend of rainy weather, I built the simple stool mentioned above. It didn't take too long, maybe a few hours after purchasing the supplies (cost about $50). Thanks for all the advice.
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Celestron CPC 1100
20x80 Barska Binos
30mm Meade UWA (Big Boy!)
21mm Pentax
TV 12mm T4, 7mm T1
Baader Hyperion 17mm
Crockett Park
Camp High Road
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smitty
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 07/27/04
Posts: 776
Loc: Georgia, USA
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Quote:
My back becomes the height adjuster. If I'm viewing near zenith the stool will be closer to the scope and my back more vertical. If viewing at lower angles the stool will be back a bit and I'll view bending over with hands or elbows on my knees.
I agree with Geoff. My 10 inch is f4.5 and with a fixed height folding stool I found at a department store I need nothing more. It has served me very well over the years. For Dobsonians with focal lengths of 45 to 50 inches a non-adjustable seat may suit many observers. 
Of course for longer focal lengths something adjustable is just about a must have.
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Steven "Saratoga Smitty" Smith
10" & 16" Dobsonians
Coronado PST
10x40 & 11x70 "opera glasses"
2 ton eyepiece case
http://www.saratogamuseum.org
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proud uncle
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/22/07
Posts: 1688
Loc: Central Texas
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A couple weeks ago I saw this chair/stool at Sears, and have wondered how it would work. I have sat in it, and it seems plenty comfortable. The only disadvantage I can see is not being very collapsable for storage or transport. Also, it does not have wheels/castors, but since I set up on grass most of the time, I don't think casters would work well.
I have only had my Z10 for about a week. So far I have switched between an old plastic outdoor stackable chair and a wooden stool my dad used in his wood-working shop. Those two seem to comfortably handle most viewing heights. I need to measure their seat heights to get an approximate range.
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Kenneth
Nikon 10x50 binocular
Zhumell 10" Dobsonian (f/5)
eyepieces: 32mm (2" WA), 20mm, 12.5mm, 9mm (EWA), 6mm (TMB/BO Planetary), and 2X Barlow
Wratten filters: #21, 25A, 47, 56, 80A, and ND13
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danner
super member
Reged: 02/27/07
Posts: 141
Loc: Bay Area, Cali
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I built a denver observing chair from plans off the internet. Works great.
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XT8
Custom 10" f/4.5 Dob
Nagler's dot the i and cross the t.
 Coe
 Montebello
 Coyote
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stevek
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 04/16/06
Posts: 1310
Loc: west michigan
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I bought and use a pneumatic automechanic's swivel/roller chair 10"-24" at Harbor Freight (cheap tool place) for $18. I think they were about $25 at Walmart. I am 6' tall and it works ok for me - too short for my kids @ 5'4" when at zenith.
Steve
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DSO 8" f6 DOB w/ 8x50 RACI & 2"Crayford
1958 Sears Discoverer 76mm Refractor
GSO SV 30mm 2",21mm Hyp,13mm Strat,BO/TMB 6mm&4mm
1.25"Filters: DGM-NPB, 25%ND
1.25" plossls: 25mm,20mm,15mm,9mm
Orion 2X Shorty Barlow
Garrett Gemini LW 11x56mm binocs
cheap $10 green laser pointer(hongkong express)
"What is that burning in the sky? Tell me y'all..." Jeff Beck/Jan Hammer
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proud uncle
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/22/07
Posts: 1688
Loc: Central Texas
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For those who use either the Starbound or Denver Observing Chair, how sturdy are these (at the lowest seat height adjustment) to double as a step stool for children to step up to the eyepiece?
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Kenneth
Nikon 10x50 binocular
Zhumell 10" Dobsonian (f/5)
eyepieces: 32mm (2" WA), 20mm, 12.5mm, 9mm (EWA), 6mm (TMB/BO Planetary), and 2X Barlow
Wratten filters: #21, 25A, 47, 56, 80A, and ND13
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DennisF
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 03/03/06
Posts: 1199
Loc: Northern IL
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Quote:
>>>Cheap as I am, I drove up to OPT the next morning and paid top dollar after I tried one belonging to a friend.
You can still be cheap IF you're patient. Took me 6 months of looking/waiting but I recently bought a Starbound chair in very good condition for $40. 
Very happy with it. Even use it in my workshop.
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10" XTi
C6 SE
C8 SE
C8 (late 90's?)
SV80ED
SV102ED
SV M1
Original AYO EzTouch mount
LM Teegul (2)
Gone-ETX 125, C80, ED80SF, PortaMount
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danner
super member
Reged: 02/27/07
Posts: 141
Loc: Bay Area, Cali
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Quote:
For those who use either the Starbound or Denver Observing Chair, how sturdy are these (at the lowest seat height adjustment) to double as a step stool for children to step up to the eyepiece?
I would not use my denver chair for a child's step stool.
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XT8
Custom 10" f/4.5 Dob
Nagler's dot the i and cross the t.
Coe
Montebello
Coyote
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DennisF
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 03/03/06
Posts: 1199
Loc: Northern IL
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Don't use the Starbound chair as a step stool either. It will tip forward if you stand on it.
You want something like this (the one in the middle):
http://www.cloudynights.com/documents/chairs.pdf
or this:
http://www.starmastertelescopes.com/html/chair.htm
You can make one a lot cheaper than $139.
It's perfect for kids because it gives them something to hold on to beside the scope.
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10" XTi
C6 SE
C8 SE
C8 (late 90's?)
SV80ED
SV102ED
SV M1
Original AYO EzTouch mount
LM Teegul (2)
Gone-ETX 125, C80, ED80SF, PortaMount
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hansolo
professor emeritus
Reged: 12/10/05
Posts: 608
Loc: lebanon,pa
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would not use my denver chair as a step stool either wasnt designed for that and just wouldnt be safe either
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cory
Zhumell 10" dob
6,9 tmb/bo planetaries
15,20,30,42 superview
12.5 lanthanum
swa 10,26
wa 8, 17
1.25 short barlow, 2xed barlow 2"
hyperion 8,17,21
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Albie
Post Laureate
Reged: 02/22/05
Posts: 4638
Loc: Alberta,Canada
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I don't like the Denver in it's lowest position,it's prone to tipping forward.The Denver is pretty sturdy for use as an observing chair not a stool and IMO best bang for your buck as far as observing chairs go.
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Orion Starblast6
Meade 5k SWA 24mm,20mm and 16mm,Antares Speers Waler Series2 9.4mm, 7.2mm and 4.9mm.Meade 5k 2x TeleXtender.
Astro Physics 15x70,Garrett Signature 10x50,Celestron Regal LX 8x42,Bushnell Elite Custom 7x26,Pentax Papilio 6.5x21
Garrett 2000 Grip-Action Monopod,Velbon Sherpa crank elevator tripod(for pap's)
Edited by Albie (04/19/07 10:20 AM)
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MarkVA
super member
Reged: 04/16/07
Posts: 185
Loc: Northern VA
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Another vote for the Denver Chair, mine looks identical to Alan's minus the cushion. Great chair, great price, and a fun little woodworking project too!
What is everyone using to add padding to their Denver chairs?
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Zhumell 10" Dob
Orion ED80 SVP
40mm SWAN, 22 LVW, N17T4, 13 Hyperion, N7T6, 5 Planetary
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Albie
Post Laureate
Reged: 02/22/05
Posts: 4638
Loc: Alberta,Canada
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I used some leftover 1" foam from a halloween costume(dragon) for the cushion and some leftover corduroy to cover it.In fact everything except the hardware was stuff I had lying around.One thing I didn't do and should have was fold the foam around the edges of the seat so that the corduroy doesn't wear out quickly on the sharp edges.
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Orion Starblast6
Meade 5k SWA 24mm,20mm and 16mm,Antares Speers Waler Series2 9.4mm, 7.2mm and 4.9mm.Meade 5k 2x TeleXtender.
Astro Physics 15x70,Garrett Signature 10x50,Celestron Regal LX 8x42,Bushnell Elite Custom 7x26,Pentax Papilio 6.5x21
Garrett 2000 Grip-Action Monopod,Velbon Sherpa crank elevator tripod(for pap's)
Edited by Albie (04/20/07 01:09 AM)
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Holst
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 03/13/07
Posts: 1351
Loc: Portland, OR
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Thanks to others of your posts about viewing chairs, these are the ones I'm deciding between (assuming I don't get just your basic step stool):
http://www.handsonoptics.com/gen_stardust.html
http://yhst-1469288697390.stores.yahoo.net/smsmch.html
http://yhst-1469288697390.stores.yahoo.net/smartseatii.html
http://telescopes.com/products/starbound-deluxe-quick-adjust-observers-chair-white-54270.html
I might have missed something...you may have asked about building your own (?) but if not necessarily, the above are some more choices that many others apparently really like (and I apologize if someone else here has already mentioned any of them)...
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Marya
10" f/5, 1250 FL Hardin Optical dob named "Clifford the Big Red Dob"; *6.0mm Orion Expanse; 7mm Pentax XW; 9.0mm Orion Expanse; 9.0mm Optical plossl; 14mm Meade 4000 UWA, *26mm 1.25" Meade super plossl; 32mm 2" GSO; 2x 2" Powermate; *Swift "Sea Wolf" 10x50 binoculars
(*gifts from very kind and generous CN members! :-)
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Beri
sage
Reged: 06/29/05
Posts: 306
Loc: Croatia
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Maybe something like this? :
Particulary usefull for uneven ground
More images and a description here
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15x70 Binoculars
No scope right now 
http://www.scopemaking.net
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lerock
sage
Reged: 03/23/06
Posts: 324
Loc: Arizona Coast
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Good looking chair Beri & a neat idea, but I hope you kept the 3rd leg of that beautiful tripod!
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Mike
18" f4.5 Obsession #1377
W/Argo Navis DSC
6" f/10 ANRA Canopus
If you don't make dust, You eat it.....
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