Starlighter
Post Laureate
   
Reged: 08/03/07
Loc: Sunny California
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Re: Oberwerk wooden tripod blem special
[Re: Jim7728]
#2884089 - 01/23/09 10:53 PM
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Quote:
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But is there a way to mount a standard dovetail bracket to the swivel base of the Hercules so I can attach my scopes using the rings and dovetail shoe?
Yes. I used this dovetail clamp on my Helix 8" fork.
http://www.scopestuff.com/ss_ds13.htm
Did you have to drill any additional holes?
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alanon
Nobody tells me anything
   
Reged: 06/29/07
Loc: Las Vegas
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Re: Oberwerk wooden tripod blem special
[Re: Starlighter]
#2884105 - 01/23/09 11:04 PM Attachment (74 downloads)
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I don't mean to answer for Jim, but I think that the holes are kind of universal. (see pic)
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Starlighter
Post Laureate
   
Reged: 08/03/07
Loc: Sunny California
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Re: Oberwerk wooden tripod blem special
[Re: alanon]
#2884124 - 01/23/09 11:13 PM
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Thanks. That appears to be a mount to consider. And with the tripod going for $75, adding the Hercules brings it to a total of $374.95. That's less than the Portamount originally listed for.
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Starlighter
Post Laureate
   
Reged: 08/03/07
Loc: Sunny California
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Re: Oberwerk wooden tripod blem special
[Re: Starlighter]
#2884128 - 01/23/09 11:15 PM
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Oh, I forgot. Plus the dovetail adaptor from Scopestuff that goes for $44. Still, it sounds like a good deal.
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Jim7728
Postmaster
   
Reged: 04/10/05
Loc: Stoop Landing Observatory, NYC
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Re: Oberwerk wooden tripod blem special
[Re: alanon]
#2884130 - 01/23/09 11:16 PM
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Thanks, Dan!
Yeah, holes of dovetail clamp should line up with the Helix cradle. Don't recall doing any mods to make it fit.
Not sure if Helix is still selling those mounts anymore, they do turned up for sale used.
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alanon
Nobody tells me anything
   
Reged: 06/29/07
Loc: Las Vegas
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Re: Oberwerk wooden tripod blem special
[Re: Jim7728]
#2884143 - 01/23/09 11:24 PM
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He better be in business after I spent all this time selling his mount! WHERE"S MY COMMISSION?
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alanon
Nobody tells me anything
   
Reged: 06/29/07
Loc: Las Vegas
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Re: Oberwerk wooden tripod blem special
[Re: alanon]
#2884146 - 01/23/09 11:26 PM
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His site is still up. He is out of 8" and I don't see the 5", but it looks like he is still in business.
All I can say is, give him a call.
Edited by alanon (01/23/09 11:27 PM)
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Ed Fortier
super member
   
Reged: 07/14/05
Loc: Massachusetts
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Re: Oberwerk wooden tripod blem special
[Re: alanon]
#2885227 - 01/24/09 02:57 PM
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My Oberwerk tripod arrived last month, along with an adapter for my Unistar Light alt-az. I'm still looking for blemishes but so far haven't found much of anything. It certainly was a bargain and I'm very happy with my new set-up.
Now, if only the snow and cold would go away. . .
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Ed Fortier
super member
   
Reged: 07/14/05
Loc: Massachusetts
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Re: Oberwerk wooden tripod blem special
[Re: Ed Fortier]
#2885239 - 01/24/09 03:00 PM Attachment (90 downloads)
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Here's a photo.
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Jim7728
Postmaster
   
Reged: 04/10/05
Loc: Stoop Landing Observatory, NYC
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Re: Oberwerk wooden tripod blem special
[Re: Ed Fortier]
#2886139 - 01/24/09 11:36 PM
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Nice setup!
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Carl M
scholastic sledgehammer
   
Reged: 02/21/07
Loc: Vermont, USA
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Re: Oberwerk wooden tripod blem special
[Re: Jim7728]
#2886190 - 01/25/09 12:23 AM
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I ordered one as well...
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The Night Sky
journeyman
Reged: 02/15/07
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Re: Oberwerk wooden tripod blem special
[Re: Jim7728]
#2922365 - 02/11/09 09:23 PM
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Quote:
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I'm in the process of ordering a Oberwerk 100mm Binocular Tripod Pier Extension and will try to convert it for use with my Telepod or Giro 3 alt/az head. I'am hoping the extra height will allow some of my telescopes to clear the Oberwerk wooden tripod legs when pointing near zenith.
Worked!,after some mods and a trip to the hardware store.
I just purchased the tripod and pier extension with the same idea. What did you do have to do exactly to mod the extension and mate it to the Telepod head? Thanks.
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Jim7728
Postmaster
   
Reged: 04/10/05
Loc: Stoop Landing Observatory, NYC
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Re: Oberwerk wooden tripod blem special
[Re: The Night Sky]
#2923000 - 02/12/09 07:18 AM
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Hi Nightsky.
First thing you need to do is remove the cone shaped bearing assembly from the tube by removing the 3 small screws along the circumference. The top part will then come out.(makes a nice paper weight )
Next, remove the 3/8" mounting plate from the Oberwerk tripod. Take the extension tube and line up the 2 tabs on the bottom with the slot openings of the tripod hub. Once set, it can be locked in by turning the tube left or right. It can be further secureded by dropping in and tightening the retaining ring that previously held the round plate with the small 3/8" stud.
Next, remove the small 3/8" stud that is screwed into the disk with a hex wrench. Put the disk on top of the extension tube, flipped over from it's original position or the smaller disk surface on the bottom. This is the position where the disk needs to be sucured to the pier extension which is now the hard part. I did this by purchasing 3' of 3/8"-16 threaded rod from a hardware store. Along with some oversided washers and a 3/8" butterfly nut. The threaded rod neds to be neatly cut down to 10-12" or so or long enough to go through the length of the pier tube top to allow for threading a mount head head and down on the bottom of the tripod hub where it can be tightened with a butterfly nut. Here's the tricky part. You'll need some kind bracket or washer to go beneath the tripod hub so the bottom of the threaded rod can be tighted. I used a 3" by 1" by 1/4" piece of aluminum from with a 3/?8" hole drilled in the middle to allow the threaded rod to pass through and be tightened with the butterfly nut, the 3" by 1" by 1/4" piece of aluminum will be grabbing hold of thebottom part of the tripod hub and prevent the treaded rod from pulling through.
I'll try and take some detailed pictures as soon as I can. Been working long hours and have not had much free time lately but think this mod is a nice feature to have for those with longer ota tubes that want to view object near zenith without interferring coming into contact with the tripod legs.
Sorry to over complicate steps, coffee has not kicked in yet , but hope this sheds some light.
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The Night Sky
journeyman
Reged: 02/15/07
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Re: Oberwerk wooden tripod blem special
[Re: Jim7728]
#2924600 - 02/12/09 10:57 PM
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Thanks! I managed to get the top part off of the pier by removing the three small screws, and from your pic figured to use the aluminum disc upside down with a threaded rod. I just wasn't sure how to secure it on the bottom.
The pier extension itself is quite impressive, and very well made for only $30. Strange that the little disc with the 3/8 stud costs $25.
When you place the little aluminum disc upsdie down on the top of the pier, it's not an exact fit. There is a little play, maybe 1/4" all around. Does the Telepod head shift or move at all when everything is tightened up?
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Jim7728
Postmaster
   
Reged: 04/10/05
Loc: Stoop Landing Observatory, NYC
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Re: Oberwerk wooden tripod blem special
[Re: The Night Sky]
#2924620 - 02/12/09 11:15 PM Attachment (75 downloads)
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It's pretty secure once you tighten up the 3/8 rod from the bottom with the wingnut.
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Jim7728
Postmaster
   
Reged: 04/10/05
Loc: Stoop Landing Observatory, NYC
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Re: Oberwerk wooden tripod blem special
[Re: Jim7728]
#2924628 - 02/12/09 11:20 PM Attachment (88 downloads)
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Underneath tripod hub, where you can see how the top disk is secured to the extension pier.
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The Night Sky
journeyman
Reged: 02/15/07
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Re: Oberwerk wooden tripod blem special
[Re: Jim7728]
#2924942 - 02/13/09 06:50 AM
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Great pics! Your solution is perfect, exactly what I was looking for. Thanks again!
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Manny Myles
Postmaster
   
Reged: 11/29/05
Loc: Far South of the flyover city ...
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Re: Oberwerk wooden tripod blem special
[Re: The Night Sky]
#2930014 - 02/15/09 09:19 PM
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I finally got around to making adaptors so I can now put my Voyager head on this tripod, should be a big improvement over the factory legs with the Oberwerk in place.
m2
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Phil Frederick
Pooh-Bah
   
Reged: 12/19/05
Loc: Seattle, WA & La Paz MX
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Re: Oberwerk wooden tripod blem special
[Re: Jim7728]
#2930871 - 02/16/09 11:42 AM
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This is getting a little off-topic but may be helpful to Oberwerk owners. I have two Oberwerks (a Jarrah and a blem) and encountered a similar problem on both.
If you look at the pic that Jim posted looking up at the underside of the tripod hub, you see six bolt heads, three on the hub and three that secure the hub to the tripod legs. On both my tripods, these bolts were just snug, but not tight. This allowed twisting and flex in the legs and in the hub. I used a socket to tighten these bolts up--very snug--and it made quite an improvement in the stability of the tripod.
Check your bolts!
Phil
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Jim7728
Postmaster
   
Reged: 04/10/05
Loc: Stoop Landing Observatory, NYC
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Re: Oberwerk wooden tripod blem special
[Re: Phil Frederick]
#2930900 - 02/16/09 12:00 PM
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Great tip, Phil! 
Quote:
I finally got around to making adaptors so I can now put my Voyager head on this tripod, should be a big improvement over the factory legs with the Oberwerk in place. m2
Looking forward to seeing that mod. I may also go with a Voyager head on the Oberwerk tripod for a FS-102.
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