electra glider
super member
Reged: 08/05/06
Posts: 164
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Heres my first attempt at a p-mount. Its foundation is a CST/BERGER 60wdf surveyors tripod(southern tool.com $160.00) Then I fabricated a custom adapter from the 5/8 thread of the tripod to a removable plate and sleeve setup that has thumbscrews that allow my P-mount to swivel 360 or lock in place. The p-mount has a vertical range of 4 feet, it can inclinate to full zenith or lock at any angle and also pan left to right about 30 degrees, all with teflon washered thumbscrews. When I lock it in the horizontal balanced position and remove the 25x100 Oberwerks I can simply lift the P-mount out of its sleeve and replace it with a sleeve that has a Bogen 501 head(thanks edz).The p-mount has a dampening time of about 5-6 seconds on my deck and even less time when I set the tripods legs into the ground with its chains tight. It has 18 and a half pounds of counterwieght and more can be added under the tripod to really make it solid. I hope to have more pictures for everyone very soon but i had to borrow a friends camera to get this(next purchase!!)I really enjoyed building this and this one is my prototype I hope to improve on it on my next one. As far as material i believe I spent about $70.00 but I still have some parts I didnt use to return. If ya have any questions feel free to ask Id be happy to help you on your own mount. Thanks everyone and this site for encouraging this amatuer binocular astronomer!! 
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Mark9473
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/21/05
Posts: 2699
Loc: 51°N 4°E
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Good work; looks well made. The 5-6 seconds dampening time, is that from swaying, or from a higher-frequency vibration that really affects the viewing?
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Mark
Leica 8x20; Vixen 8x42; Swift 8.5x44, 10x50 and 20x80; TS 7x50; Orion 15x63
WO Megrez II 80 FD + Baader 90° T2 Amici
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electra glider
super member
Reged: 08/05/06
Posts: 164
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That is the total time that my field of view is affected
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electra glider
super member
Reged: 08/05/06
Posts: 164
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I was really surprised how quick it dampens considering how long this mount is. I believe the double arm design helps with that. Now all I need is a great comfortable lounge chair to relax in while viewing.
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ZachK
professor emeritus
Reged: 08/21/05
Posts: 667
Loc: Israel
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Do you have some plans you can share? I've been meening to build one of these. How much al tubing did it take. Or would wood be better?
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Zach Kessin
Yesha Israel
Meade ETX 127 Mak-Cass
15x70 Celestron Skymaster Binoculars
Sinar F 4x5 view camera
Rolliflex Camera 80mm F2.8
Pentax K-1000 Camera 35,50 and 60--300mm zoom
3 kids, Large cat, small dog
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Glassthrower
Vendor - Galactic Stone & Ironworks
Reged: 04/07/05
Posts: 14686
Loc: Hurricane Alley
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That's a fine looking p-mount. Now you can forget ever going back to regular camera-style tripods. One you get spoiled on a parallelogram, it really makes binocular observing more enjoyable.
And that is a very good dampening time, given that the mount is metal and the arms are quite long. But you also have a very stout tripod there, and that also figures into the equation. Well done.
Clear dark skies...
MikeG
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Michael Gilmer - Member of the Meteoritical Society & Collector of Falling Stars.
Galactic Stone & Ironworks - Buy/Sell/Trade Meteorites, Moon Rocks, Mars Rocks, & 35 different falls and types!
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Scott Beasley
member
Reged: 07/23/06
Posts: 10
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Very nice!
I think if you put a few small pieces of hardwood in between the members, it would cut the damp time to nothing.
scott
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Glassthrower
Vendor - Galactic Stone & Ironworks
Reged: 04/07/05
Posts: 14686
Loc: Hurricane Alley
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Or insert some slick plastic washers between the members and joints. That might help. But his stated dampening time of 5-6 seconds is pretty darn good already. With those long metal arms, you probably won't get too much better than that.
Clear dark skies...
MikeG
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Michael Gilmer - Member of the Meteoritical Society & Collector of Falling Stars.
Galactic Stone & Ironworks - Buy/Sell/Trade Meteorites, Moon Rocks, Mars Rocks, & 35 different falls and types!
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mplkn1
sage
Reged: 08/28/05
Posts: 393
Loc: Centrally Inaccessible, PA
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Looks really nice!
If I was looking at it in person, I'd ask lots of questions about how you made it. I'm looking at the photos now and have just a few...
Are those square aluminum extrusions or L-shaped?
What is the thickness of the metal?
What is the length of the arms and of the cross pieces, and what is the distance between bolt holes on the arms and between bolt holes on the cross pieces?
Can you post a closer photo of the head and its attachment to the vertical cross piece?
Nice work!
Best wishes,
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Michael -
"I am obliged to confess that I should sooner live in a society governed by the first two thousand names in the Boston telephone directory than in a society governed by the two thousand faculty members of Harvard University."
William F. Buckley, 1963.
Orion (Celestron) 8" SCT on SkyView Pro, Telrad.
Garrett Optical Gemini 25x100 WP IF,
Bogen 3051 tripod w/ 3063 head.
Oberwerk 10x60 Mariner.
Palm Planetarium.
Stellarium on a Motion Computing tablet PC.
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electra glider
super member
Reged: 08/05/06
Posts: 164
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Hello everyone. Im glad to see interest in the mount I made.Id be more than glad to share the details so that others my enjoy their binoks as much as I do.First of all, yes they are square aluminuim tubing from home depot, I puchased four of their 4ft peices($8each). They are 1/16 thick.The main vertical beam is 2ft total(8inches inserted into a 1-1/4 pipe nipple and coupling,shimed with fitted hardwood spacers and then bolted in place. The bottom 2 horizontal runners are 4ft in total length with nylon washered bolts offset 1 inch from centerand spanning 2ft ...continued.........
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EdZ
Professor EdZ
Reged: 02/15/02
Posts: 12581
Loc: Cumberland, R I , USA42N71.4W
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Quote:
They are 1/16 thick.
Significantly thinner material than a Universal Astronomics parallelogram mount.
edz
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Teach a kid something today. The feeling you'll get is one of life's greatest rewards.
member#21
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electra glider
super member
Reged: 08/05/06
Posts: 164
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2 ft to the end vert pieces. ^ inches up run the other horizontal runners 28inches total with a 2ft span to end vert piece. I used nylon nuts also and torqued them all evenly. The main beam sleeve(nipple) slides into a alum camlock fitting which is threaded into a 2inch coupling welded to a 6inch wide 1/4 in steel plate. I had to use (1) 5# and (3) 2.5# wieghts to counterbalance. Hers another pic. I keep running out of room on this Quick reply.
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electra glider
super member
Reged: 08/05/06
Posts: 164
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This is true but I paid $70 for everything.....I think the mount they have that is equal to mine (the millinium I believe) is $629 and you still have to buy an adapter and pay shipping........What is their dampening time on their mount. using their $260 tripod vs my $160 Robotics tripod.....Im quite satisfied with mine.
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electra glider
super member
Reged: 08/05/06
Posts: 164
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Its all about the tripod...I work in construction and my tripod is use to hold $30,000 gps robotic heads used in surveying, and my adapter is 6inch plate steel welded ...Whats thiers....2inch aluminuim....much thinner than mine
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EdZ
Professor EdZ
Reged: 02/15/02
Posts: 12581
Loc: Cumberland, R I , USA42N71.4W
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Nope, sorry.
If you choose to, you can by a standard surveyor's tripod just like your CST Berger. Tripod choice is up to the consumer although recommendations are made.
edz
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Teach a kid something today. The feeling you'll get is one of life's greatest rewards.
member#21
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electra glider
super member
Reged: 08/05/06
Posts: 164
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When I really want to get back to rock solid though Edz I cant go wrong with the bogen 501 head mounted on my aux sleeve...but my neck still hurts from last Sat night.Sure is smooth though,I have to elevate the tripod but it still gives me plenty of room to stand near it without disturbing it.
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electra glider
super member
Reged: 08/05/06
Posts: 164
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The cst has a 60# capacity....this is not standard. UAs standard is more like half that capicity isnt it? Actually Home Depot even carried a light surveyours tripod that I seen online fo $39 but your right it all depends on what an individual wants. I really took EDZ advice on the bogen 501 head though and Im glad I did.
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EdZ
Professor EdZ
Reged: 02/15/02
Posts: 12581
Loc: Cumberland, R I , USA42N71.4W
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Actually CST makes dozens of different tripods, even the light weight aluminum ones. I put the Link to the CST Berger site up in the mounts forum a long time ago as a recommended place to shop for a tripod. I was a surveyor.
edz
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Teach a kid something today. The feeling you'll get is one of life's greatest rewards.
member#21
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electra glider
super member
Reged: 08/05/06
Posts: 164
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Im very happy with this one. I like the fact its main struts are hardwood and the center strut is reinforced fiberglass. Its large head platform is great and the safty chains work fantastic. All im missing now is a comfy lounge chair and some dark skies....
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SkyArcher
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/12/06
Posts: 2028
Loc: 9545' in Colorado
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Good Job, EG. That is a very nice p-mount. I've also just built a p-mount out of wood and uses braided Dacron line for the moment "arm". I like mine but it is not as nice as yours. I'm still tweeking mine.
:thumbsup:
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An 8" Deep Space Hunter
4.5 w/ GOTO
4.5 newt w/ home built Dob mount
Omphaloskepsis - I didn't realize that there is a word for what I do while waiting for web pages to download 
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electra glider
super member
Reged: 08/05/06
Posts: 164
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Thanks Skyarcher, This was my first attempt and I already have ideas on improving this one. I think im gonna change the alt mount part of it so it encompasses the binoks for more support. This weekend Im getting a digital camera and ill take some more pics and show my imorovements.I appreciate the compliment.........EG
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NeoDinian
Experienced Postmaster
Reged: 10/05/05
Posts: 12070
Loc: Rockford Illinois
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So.. Is having double arms better then single arm? I'm thinking of making one also, but my design only has single arms...
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Neo... (Jeff)
-=-=-=-=-=-=-
10" LX200-GPS/SMT UHTC "Draco"
 Rockford, Il.
NeoDinian's Eye on the Sky!
Coming soon:
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dgs©
Postmaster
Reged: 03/29/04
Posts: 13903
Loc: West Monroe, Louisiana
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With a single arm, it wont be a parallelogram. The parallelogram of the bolted pivot points is what makes it hold the binoculars at the same angle as you move them up and down. A single arm will swing the binoculars in an arc, constantly changing their angle as it goes.
Unless I just don't have a mental image of what you mean by single arm.
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- david
8"Ø Newtonian on SVP, Moonlite CR2, Telrad
PST Oberwerk Ultra 15x70 Orion Ultraview 10×50
Hand-me-down Sears Refractor (Discoverer) 60mm×900mm
"What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world, remains and is immortal." --Albert Pike
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electra glider
super member
Reged: 08/05/06
Posts: 164
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I think Neo is talking about thr upper and lower horizontal struts. Mine actually has a total of 4 horizontal arms.....2 on top and 2 on the bottom. I believe this design to be sturdier than single arm mounts
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dgs©
Postmaster
Reged: 03/29/04
Posts: 13903
Loc: West Monroe, Louisiana
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Ah! That makes sense. 
I was wondering if an extra strut across, between the two horizontal tubes, might help stiffen the structure and help damping times. I'm thinking of more bolts like the pivot bolts, with a piece of tube for a spacer. Add one in the middle, or better yet, bust that span into three. These wouldn't interfere with any movements and could be made quite tight (could even be welded as far as that goes).
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- david
8"Ø Newtonian on SVP, Moonlite CR2, Telrad
PST Oberwerk Ultra 15x70 Orion Ultraview 10×50
Hand-me-down Sears Refractor (Discoverer) 60mm×900mm
"What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world, remains and is immortal." --Albert Pike
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electra glider
super member
Reged: 08/05/06
Posts: 164
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In between the arms on mine I used Blue anadized(cool looking)hardened bolts with nylon washers between each arm and a SS nylon inserted stop nut so that I could torque them to a specific tightness without a lockwasher which would grab at the arm and cause frition. At the counterwieght end there is a 6inch piece of tubing which my wieghts float on till tightened in place with a large thumbscrew and it is spaced with nylon washers too.
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nodaknewbie
super member
Reged: 03/31/05
Posts: 197
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If you have a chance to do a starparty at a school, be sure to take it with you. It is so cool to raise the binos to your height and focus it on an object then lower it to the kid's height to show them and know it is still focused on that object. The parents get a kick out of it too, when they don't have to get on their knees to view. (The Coat Hanger is a fun object to use for demo.)
Mine I built with oak for the mount and a 3 inch pipe for the pier stand.
Gary
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10x50,16x50, & 25x100 binos
C102GT refractor
Orion StarMax 127mm Mak
C8N reflector on Home made dob
C6-R on CG-5 goto mount/concrete pier
New Orion 4 1/2" Starblaster
7x7 Suncast Observatory "Quest"
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electra glider
super member
Reged: 08/05/06
Posts: 164
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Everyone really seems to enjoy using the p-mount,I cant wait to find a chair that will recline or lay flat so I can use it to its full comfortable potential
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NeoDinian
Experienced Postmaster
Reged: 10/05/05
Posts: 12070
Loc: Rockford Illinois
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Quote:
Ah! That makes sense.
I was wondering if an extra strut across, between the two horizontal tubes, might help stiffen the structure and help damping times. I'm thinking of more bolts like the pivot bolts, with a piece of tube for a spacer. Add one in the middle, or better yet, bust that span into three. These wouldn't interfere with any movements and could be made quite tight (could even be welded as far as that goes).
I'm thinking that too.. However, when you have double horizontal members, you then have single vertical members. So you'd think you still have the same stability issues, wouldn't you?
I'm also thinking of the weight issue, both ways... Using single horizontal members would lighten the P-Mount a bit, however, you'd actually lower your capacity weight??? But dual horizontal members would allow for a beefier load, but also add weight to the P-Mount...
Kind of a catch-22 I think.
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Neo... (Jeff)
-=-=-=-=-=-=-
10" LX200-GPS/SMT UHTC "Draco"
Rockford, Il.
NeoDinian's Eye on the Sky!
Coming soon:
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