Markus
Postmaster
Reged: 12/26/04
Posts: 5395
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Hi there CNer's  Just thought I would pass along my Idea that I had for a parallelogram mount for my 25x100 binocs.
I had a brainstorm yesterday and thought about using an existing dob mount I had for a 4.25" reflector a friend had given to me, (Ron, Greenglass), that held the actual f/11.7 scope for the p-mount stand. It's nothing elaborate, just something thrown together in 2 days so far and as long as it works, I'll be quite happy.
I wanted to put the dob stand on top of an end table and have it rotate right on the end table as if the end table were acting like the bottom of a dob mount. It turns out that the existing mount turns smoothly on three bearings so I decided to go ahead by attaching the parallelogram to the dob stand. After cutting and attaching some wood and a few holes and lag bolts later I am about half-way to completing the p-mount. When the mount is completed, I will be adding wheels to the bottom to save on dragging it in and out of the shed.
I need more lag bolts, washers and wingnuts and I have to make the rest of the parts for the 25x100 binocular to rest on. I have some pics of what is done so far and have attached the links for these pics instead of putting them here to save some bandwidth.
Here are a few pics of the progress. 
http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=35bihi8&s=2
http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=2q1s9i0&s=2
http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=25uics3&s=2
http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=de2wqv&s=2
http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=2cr8r9f&s=2
http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=2lxzcsl&s=2
http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=talmp1&s=2
http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=2qtiwd2&s=2
http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=25rhv8o&s=2
http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=15prfbl&s=2
http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=35cjuqo&s=2
http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=jioyee&s=2
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25X100 Skymasters
15X70 Skymasters
Home built Parallelogram Mount
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Dennis_Oz
sage
Reged: 08/20/06
Posts: 224
Loc: Brisbane, Australia
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Looks good so far – good job. I like the rather ornate stand! Look forward to 1st light photos.
Cheers
Dennis
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Markus
Postmaster
Reged: 12/26/04
Posts: 5395
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Thanks Dennis. So far, so good.
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25X100 Skymasters
15X70 Skymasters
Home built Parallelogram Mount
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Markus
Postmaster
Reged: 12/26/04
Posts: 5395
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I got more finished today. Got a bar and two counterweights on. I had to drill right through the steel bar to attach it and the counterweights on the top piece of wood. I need two more counterweights and a few more things to finish until I'm done.
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25X100 Skymasters
15X70 Skymasters
Home built Parallelogram Mount
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Markus
Postmaster
Reged: 12/26/04
Posts: 5395
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Got more done...and it is almost finished !!!
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25X100 Skymasters
15X70 Skymasters
Home built Parallelogram Mount
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Glassthrower
Vendor - Galactic Stone & Ironworks
Reged: 04/07/05
Posts: 14687
Loc: Hurricane Alley
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Cool.
And you can store stuff in the base.
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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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Markus
Postmaster
Reged: 12/26/04
Posts: 5395
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Yep...I plan on putting some weights in the bottom to make it more stable. I had to use 15 pounds of counterweights opposite the binoculars so that everything works right.  I finished it off today and have yet to try it out back tonight or tomorrow. Well....here's what it looks like with the binoculars on it now
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Gynomite
sage
Reged: 06/06/06
Posts: 245
Loc: Dallas Texas
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Okay...what's up with the pink walls and red velvet carpet?
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Celestron NexStar 6 SE SCT
Orion 12XTi Dob with COL (SOLD)
Celestron Sky Scout
Denk Big Easy
Denkmeier P x S Diagonal
Orion Stratus 68 5mm
Orion ED 2 12.3mm (paired)
Orion Lanthanum 21mm (paired)
Leupold 12x26 Binoculars (Hunting and Birding)
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Markus
Postmaster
Reged: 12/26/04
Posts: 5395
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 The walls aren't pink, the camera just picked it up like that and the carpet is an old red shag. If you like, you can view everything very close through the 25x100's right in my living room. 
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25X100 Skymasters
15X70 Skymasters
Home built Parallelogram Mount
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Dennis_Oz
sage
Reged: 08/20/06
Posts: 224
Loc: Brisbane, Australia
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Hi Markus
That is one heavy duty P mount! Can the mounted binocular swivel in azimuth on the right angled metal bracket? Please let us know how the set up works, it certainly looks impressive.
Cheers
Dennis
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Markus
Postmaster
Reged: 12/26/04
Posts: 5395
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Dennis, thanks for the kind words. As for the function, There are 4 motions. The green dob mount turns on the brown end table by way of a 5/8" bolt and locking nut 360°, the p-mount itself goes up or down, the C-Bracket goes left or right, and the binoculars themselves go up or down in an arc.
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25X100 Skymasters
15X70 Skymasters
Home built Parallelogram Mount
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stargazertony
super member
Reged: 09/25/07
Posts: 195
Loc: CA.
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Hey Mark,
That looks pretty darn good. 
I bet you won't get much sleep Sat. night !!
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Anthony Rogers 
12.5" Discovery PDHQ Dob."Aldebaran"
4" Mak w/Stellarvue Dielectric Diag.
20x80 Barska Binoculars Mounted
7X35 Simmons Wide Field Binoculars
My CN Photo Gallery
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Markus
Postmaster
Reged: 12/26/04
Posts: 5395
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Thanks Tony. I have to go over to the store and get four wheels for this mount because it is rather heavy having to pick it up and move it from the shed to the yard....then I'm good to go I think.
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25X100 Skymasters
15X70 Skymasters
Home built Parallelogram Mount
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Markus
Postmaster
Reged: 12/26/04
Posts: 5395
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OK..finally done. I had the mount all set up with me perched underneath them today....Just waiting for first light...I'll keep you all posted. Total cost for making the mount= $35.00
Cheers !!!
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25X100 Skymasters
15X70 Skymasters
Home built Parallelogram Mount
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Markus
Postmaster
Reged: 12/26/04
Posts: 5395
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Tried using the bins standing up...here's a pic of the mount to use when standing. I got a quick peek at the double cluster, the Dumbell Nebula, and M-31 tonight but I need an extension piece to bring in the eyepieces closer to my eyes for full illumination. 
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25X100 Skymasters
15X70 Skymasters
Home built Parallelogram Mount
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Astrowood
super member
Reged: 04/02/05
Posts: 161
Loc: New Brunswick, Canada
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Good to see the mount getting some "action". I see that you have added more hieght to the base. How do you find the mounts stability ? And how is that L bracket working ?
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Roy
22 X 100 Antares
20 x 80 Meade
couple of Pmounts
8" F/5 Dob
4" SkyWatcher
Observing Chair
Wooden gadgets to numerous to mention
Observing Buddies "Max & Sam"
www.astrowood.com
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Markus
Postmaster
Reged: 12/26/04
Posts: 5395
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Hello Roy. The mount's stability seems to be holding out rather good and the L-Bracket works fine but turning it up and down isn't as smooth as planned. I also notice that when pointing the binoculars close to zenith that they won't stay in place and want to shift back down again, which seems like a weight problem.
Other then those few things, I am pleased that I can view hands free now.
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25X100 Skymasters
15X70 Skymasters
Home built Parallelogram Mount
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stargazertony
super member
Reged: 09/25/07
Posts: 195
Loc: CA.
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Mark,
On my P mount where my L shaped bracket touches, I used 3 metal washers and tightened it down just tight enough so there is no sag and the movement shoothed out a alot.
Edited by stargazertony (10/21/07 03:31 PM)
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stargazertony
super member
Reged: 09/25/07
Posts: 195
Loc: CA.
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Here is a link to a pic....
http://www.cloudynights.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=12158
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Anthony Rogers
12.5" Discovery PDHQ Dob."Aldebaran"
4" Mak w/Stellarvue Dielectric Diag.
20x80 Barska Binoculars Mounted
7X35 Simmons Wide Field Binoculars
My CN Photo Gallery
Edited by stargazertony (10/21/07 01:56 PM)
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EdZ
Professor EdZ
Reged: 02/15/02
Posts: 12581
Loc: Cumberland, R I , USA42N71.4W
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We talked about this the other day. If the load is balanced in the axis of center of gravity, there would be no need to tighten things down to hold the binocular. they would stay put at whatever angle you pointed them.
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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