Sky Captain
Metal Whisperer
Reged: 11/07/04
Posts: 10375
Loc: Loc: Loc:
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First up was to stamp the poles so they would go back the same way each time it is set up. Hopefully aiding in consistant collimation. The others are stamped "3" and "1".
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Kerry
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Sky Captain
Metal Whisperer
Reged: 11/07/04
Posts: 10375
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Next is a new counter weight system to help balance those heavy loads.
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csa/montana
Den Mama
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 76331
Loc: montana
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Kerry: Nice job, & great mods! Thanks for posting them; I'm sure other LB owners will be interested.
Carol
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
Vixen 80MF
Masayumas 7.5,15,25W,35
Pentax XW5,10; XL7
TV22Pan
ES30
Paradigm 8,12,18
DreamCatcher Dobservatory
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Sky Captain
Metal Whisperer
Reged: 11/07/04
Posts: 10375
Loc: Loc: Loc:
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#2
Center posts are 1.5" diam. by 2" long stainless steel. Add on weights are 3" diam. by 1.5001 ID.
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Sky Captain
Metal Whisperer
Reged: 11/07/04
Posts: 10375
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It takes all three extra weights to balance the scope with the 35mm Stratus, 9x50mm RA finder, and Telrad. Movement is fantastic! Very smooth.
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Sky Captain
Metal Whisperer
Reged: 11/07/04
Posts: 10375
Loc: Loc: Loc:
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Want more?
How about a new adjustable base for uneven ground situations. All aluminum and stainless, drilled legs to lighten the base.
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Sky Captain
Metal Whisperer
Reged: 11/07/04
Posts: 10375
Loc: Loc: Loc:
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Wide foot bases that pivot with easy to adjust over size aluminum knobs. Bolts are 1\2 x 13. Still needs a little more work and maybe a polish job. It has 1.25 inches of adjustment depending on the ground.
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csa/montana
Den Mama
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 76331
Loc: montana
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Wow! I jumped in after only 2 modifications! Those weights are great! Very professional looking.
The adjustable base is really the ultimate!
Carol
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
Vixen 80MF
Masayumas 7.5,15,25W,35
Pentax XW5,10; XL7
TV22Pan
ES30
Paradigm 8,12,18
DreamCatcher Dobservatory
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Sky Captain
Metal Whisperer
Reged: 11/07/04
Posts: 10375
Loc: Loc: Loc:
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Last one Carol. 
Here it is ready to go outside for a peek at the clouds! 
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miniventures
Something Else
Reged: 09/13/03
Posts: 11259
Loc: Powell Butte, Central Oregon
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Wow, Kerry, those mods are fantastic!!!! Movement is great, scope is balanced and presumably collimated but you live in Seattle area---what's wrong with this picture?
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LarryC
Volunteer
http://www.sunrivernaturecenter.org
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Sky Captain
Metal Whisperer
Reged: 11/07/04
Posts: 10375
Loc: Loc: Loc:
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Quote:
Movement is great, scope is balanced and presumably collimated but you live in Seattle area---what's wrong with this picture?
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LarryC
Yeah, tell me about it Larry.  
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Trombone
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 07/11/05
Posts: 794
Loc: Canadian west (and north!)
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Who made the base? Very professional! Got one for sale?
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DS PST, Inspiration 6" travel dob, CPC110, 12"LightBridge,Round Table platform, 8"F6 dob, LXD75, SkyshedPOD, Canon 12x36IS, Mallincam...
Today anyway!
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Jim7728
Postmaster
Reged: 04/10/05
Posts: 7284
Loc: Stoop Landing Observatory, NYC
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Very nice, Kerry! 
Those LightBridge designers should be taking notes. 
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<Jim>15x70-Ultra~TV-85/SM-60~MN-66
Unistar Deluxe~Unimount Light~DM-6
 
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Sky Captain
Metal Whisperer
Reged: 11/07/04
Posts: 10375
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Quote:
Who made the base? Very professional! Got one for sale?
My design and use\choice of materials, but my friend at the machine shop drilled the holes...I finished it.
Sorry, you could buy a fully loaded 8 in. dob for the price of that base.
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Kerry
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Hal Pollner
Reged: 08/30/05
Posts: 6567
Loc: Southern California Desert
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HEY SKY CAP:
The beauty of the Dobsonian mount is that it doesn't have to be level. You can park your Dob on the side of a hill, and you can manually track objects just as nice as if you were on a perfectly level base!
A level base is required ONLY if you're converting your Dob to an EQ tracker!
ALT-AZ is different than EQ!
HAL
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Edited by Hal Pollner (04/21/07 07:59 PM)
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Sky Captain
Metal Whisperer
Reged: 11/07/04
Posts: 10375
Loc: Loc: Loc:
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Quote:
A level base is required ONLY if you're converting your Dob to an EQ tracker!
ALT-AZ is different than EQ!
HAL
Thanks Hal, but I'm certainly aware of all that...I don't own 12 telescopes for nothing. 
The base is as stated for uneven ground which also means that at times I may need additional height to clear obsticals. It will also be the base for tracking platform that I am looking at buying currently.
Have you used a tracking platform before? Any recommendations? I'm still trying to figure out which one to buy.
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Kerry
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miniventures
Something Else
Reged: 09/13/03
Posts: 11259
Loc: Powell Butte, Central Oregon
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Kerry, Im not Hal but, are you planning on doing photography with your scope?
If so buy or build one of Tom O's design. If not, go with Brian's. I have used both and the work well. Brian's are considerable less expensive.
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LarryC
Volunteer
http://www.sunrivernaturecenter.org
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Sky Captain
Metal Whisperer
Reged: 11/07/04
Posts: 10375
Loc: Loc: Loc:
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Quote:
Kerry, Im not Hal but, are you planning on doing photography with your scope?
If so buy or build one of Tom O's design. If not, go with Brian's. I have used both and the work well. Brian's are considerable less expensive.
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LarryC
Thanks Larry, I definitly want to build one as opposed to buying a completed one. Instead of wood, it will be all aluminum and stainless and will be modular with the new base and the Lightbridge.
Not sure about AP, but video astronomy for sure.
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miniventures
Something Else
Reged: 09/13/03
Posts: 11259
Loc: Powell Butte, Central Oregon
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I don't need to tell you that there are lots of places online where you can find plans, instructions, and ideas. Tom Hole started an Equatorial Platform group on Yahoo several years ago and it is still active.
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LarryC
Volunteer
http://www.sunrivernaturecenter.org
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Sky Captain
Metal Whisperer
Reged: 11/07/04
Posts: 10375
Loc: Loc: Loc:
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Quote:
I don't need to tell you that there are lots of places online where you can find plans, instructions, and ideas.
Actually you can tell me Larry...I don't have much saved as far as reflectors goes.
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