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FirstSight
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/26/05
Posts: 2514
Loc: Raleigh, NC
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I have two VERY sturdy eyepiece cases that I've got my collection of Naglers and Ethoi divided between.
- Storm 2400 case, which contains seven of my Naglers plus Parcorr, 2.5x Powermate, my filters and some other supporting equipment;
- LowePro Nova case, containing my "minimalist" set of 31 Nagler, 13 Ethos, and 8 Ethos.
Each individual eyepiece, Parcorr, Powermate, etc. is kept in its own sturdy plastic bolt case, nested inside the Storm or LowePro case.
TONIGHT the sort of accident happened to me that could happen to any of us, and demonstrates why this extra layer of protection is a terrific idea. I was viewing in my driveway using just the 'minimalist" set in the LowePro case, when I decided to also use a couple of the EP from the Storm case. The Storm case was still back in the garage on a table, where I'd earlier set it to take the Parcorr stored inside out to the driveway with me, and then closed the Storm Case and turned the inside garage light out. UNFORTUNATELY, I'd neglected to snap the latches closed, and so when I returned to fetch it in the dark and picked it up by the handle - EVERYTHING inside the main compartment spilled out and dropped three feet onto the cement garage floor. All seven Naglers went thudding onto the concrete.
DISASTER? NO - JUST AN ANNOYANCE picking up the spilled contents. All my eyepieces were perfectly safe - the bolt cases (slightly padded on each end, and screwed shut to hold each ep snugly inside) did their job, and none of my Naglers suffered so much as the tiniest of cosmetic scratches.
By contrast, one painful evening many months ago I dropped my 17 Nagler onto the same concrete garage/driveway from about the same height, and suffered $125 worth of damage to the barrel, insta-adjust, and eyepiece cup (that was what TeleVue charged me to restore it to like-new condition, plus shipping). It was only a miracle that the optics didn't suffer any impact, scratching, or other damage.
SO - keeping your EPs naked in foambed cutouts inside your case may well protect them just fine so long as the case stays securely latched closed. But it won't help you a bit if your case spills open off a table while you've got it open.
They're your ep, your money spent for 'em not mine, so whatever you think is good enough for you to protect 'em - fine with me. But just saying, bolt cases are LOTS cheaper than Naglers, Pentaxes, Ethoi, etc.
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Chris M., aka "First Sight"
Orion XT12i Dob with Moonlite CR-2 focuser
WO Megrez 90 refractor on UniStar Light mount
Nikon 10x50 Binoculars
Edited by FirstSight (08/06/08 11:19 AM)
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Brooklyn
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 07/24/08
Posts: 870
Loc: Central New Jersey
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heres the difference between you and me.
I am too much of an OCD-paraniod about my telescope and equipment FREAK to ever not close at least ONE of the latches on my eyepiece case.
As long as i close ONE of the latches, 99% chance that the thing will never open even if i pick it up clumsily. 
Also, I would never be caught dead trying to put in or put away an expensive eyepiece if my eyes aren't 100% adapted to darkness.
Some people call this paranoia or OCD, i call it taking care of my 3 thousand + dollar investment 
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Meade 8.25"(209.55mm) LX-90 EMC (SCT)
Albert Einstein =>
“Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death.”
“If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough.”
Edited by Brooklyn (08/06/08 02:02 AM)
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naglertized
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/10/07
Posts: 1515
Loc: Jacksonville Florida
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IMHO YMMV
When I had $XXXX.xx of Naglers and Panoptics stored in a Pelican 1500 I ALWAYS would at least close one latch when I was done with an EP change. I also would cap my EP's between changes. I was absolutley PARANOID of anything happening to my "babies".
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Clinton
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Swamp Fox
member
Reged: 12/26/06
Posts: 65
Loc: Goose Creek, South Carolina
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I am in the market for a better case, but am still using a low-quality plastic case with the foam inserts. All of my eyepieces are in the plastic bolt cases as well, mostly to try to keep them clean. Overall, this works pretty well for me. I also close at least one of the latches, and most of the time, both of them since I don’t trust them. But I recommend, and like, the bolt cases as a 2nd “insurance policy” against disaster.
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Meade ETX 125PE
Tele Vue Pronto
Celestron 8x56 and 12x80 Binos
Meade 4000 9.7mm, 15mm, 26mm SP; 24.5mm SWA; 8.8mm, 14mm UWA; #140 2x Barlow
Tele Vue 26mm Pl; 4.8mm, 12mm, 17mm Nagler; 35mm Panoptic
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Paul G
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 05/08/03
Posts: 1751
Loc: Freedonia
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Quote:
IMHO YMMV
When I had $XXXX.xx of Naglers and Panoptics stored in a Pelican 1500 I ALWAYS would at least close one latch when I was done with an EP change. I also would cap my EP's between changes. I was absolutley PARANOID of anything happening to my "babies".
Same here. The bolt cases take up too much room and I would need four Pelicans to hold what fits in two now.
Edit: I just unsnapped the latches and picked up my case by the handle (over carpeting just to be safe) and the lid won't flop open because the Pelicans have a stiffer lid hinge. I then opened the lid all the way and picked it up, nothing fell out because the eyepieces are held in place by the foam.
Edited by Paul G (08/06/08 07:49 AM)
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cuir
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 03/03/07
Posts: 835
Loc: 45° 1'12. N, 73°56'12. W (Qc)
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I don't bother with the plastic bolt cases. I do cap both ends on everything, but I trust my case. It's an old Dewalt powertool case, and it's latches are made of metal, and there's a full length hinge, so i'm not too worried.
I'm more worried about thieves on the roads while i'm observing, coming up to me and insisting I turn my stuff over, then of forgetting to close my case.
Perhaps it is because I have a whole ritual around the closing of my case. It's a bit fastidious, but everything gets dried with a towel if thee's dew, all eyepiece get re-alinged, filter boxes get double checked, and my finderscope finally come to rest with my eyepieces. Once the findersope is in, then the case gets closed, and put away.
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Seb
Latest eyepiece spreadsheet
Choosing the right eyepiece
Main scope: 150mm Skywatcher Maksutov
Favorite ep: 24 Panoptic
Pref'ed filters: Lumicon 0III and UHC
Mounts: EQ6-Pro and Skyview AZ
Just in: C8-S-XLT
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FirstSight
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/26/05
Posts: 2514
Loc: Raleigh, NC
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Y'all suit yourselves on bolt cases or not, I'm not your mother. I'm more OCD-fastidious about following safe EP handling and storage rituals than anyone, and I never make mistakes. Whups, make that one in the dark, last night, after many perfect OCD-happy months. It only takes one blunder to put all or part of an expensive ep collection at risk, and the blunder may not even be your own.
Bolt cases are ridiculously cheap compared to Naglers, and the cost of even two Storm 2400 cases + the bolt cases combined is less than any single one of my Naglers.
I only raised this incident as a precautionary tale to spur everyone out of complacency, to think through how well your EPs are actually protected against accidents. Whether you think bolt cases are worth the extra step is entirely up to you - they're your EPS and it's your money invested. If you can keep 'em safe and yourself feeling comfortable without the extra step of double-nesting in bolt cases - fine, I'm not scolding anyone.
But OTOH, neither am I crying this morning over any broken or scratched-up Naglers.
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Chris M., aka "First Sight"
Orion XT12i Dob with Moonlite CR-2 focuser
WO Megrez 90 refractor on UniStar Light mount
Nikon 10x50 Binoculars
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Rick Woods
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/27/05
Posts: 4262
Loc: Inner Solar System
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Better to be safe than sorry. (Hey - did I just make that up?)
I'm pretty fastidious about my EPs and latching the case every time. But there's always going to be that *one* time you screw up...
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- Rick
14" LX200GPS
8" Meade 826C
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scopethis
sage
Reged: 05/30/08
Posts: 239
Loc: Kingman, Ks
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All of my EP's are in bolt cases--a few bucks for prevention can save hundreds for the cure.
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Psyire
sage
Reged: 06/24/07
Posts: 353
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Bolt cases inside the Storm case.
That's the way I roll.
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Celestron CPC 1100 XLT, Sky-Watcher Equinox 80ED
TV 31T5-Nagler, 8&13mm-Ethos
EarthWin Binoviewers w/ 24mm Panoptics
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DeepSpaceTour
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 10/25/05
Posts: 2993
Loc: In the dark and"WAY"out there!
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I don't need bolt cases,like the others,I know how much I have invested in eyepieces,I always,"ALWAYS"!!!!! Do at least one latch up on the ep case,when running back and forth from the scope to the ep case,like in the backyard....at dark sky sites the case stays in the back of the vehicle,where I work out of,and there is absolutely "0" chance of this happening.Been doing it this way for years,I kinda got it down to a routine now.
Clear skies.
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-------------------------
Bill
-17.5"F/5 Discovery"Truss" Dob/Dob driver/ArgoNavis
Kendrick dew control/Obsession Alt bearings
-Antares 152-F/6.5 refractor on HEQ-5 Pro
-15x70 Binocs
-Collimating tools "LOTS"
- TV ep's *8-Ethos*13-Ethos*31T-5*
- 2" Barlows
- Pelican1600
Edited by DeepSpaceTour (08/06/08 04:40 PM)
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Bob Griffiths
Post Laureate
Reged: 10/10/05
Posts: 4130
Loc: Frederick Maryland
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Whatever suits your personality I guess....Chris I have ABSOLUTELY nothing against how you protect and store your eyepieces...
90 percent of my viewing is done inside my observatory with a carpeted floor and I just do not use the bolt cases ..darn things are HUGE when you have something like a 35 mm Pan or some of the Pentax XW's
In my small EP case that travels with me to Star parties I also do not have Bolt Cases inside...BUT I' do not carry high end glass to star parties...
Bob G.
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CPC1100
Nexstar 8i + GPS & Rays Brackets
Denk S1 power switch
Orion 100 mm Refractor
Meade LXD 55 ...AR-5 127 mm Refractor
Exploradome Observatory S.I.E. (Smiling Irish Eyes)
39*21'03" N
77*28'12" W
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Nick Lloyd
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 10/24/06
Posts: 1624
Loc: cincinnati
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Bolt cases and a fishing tackle box. Strong, lightweight, affordable.
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"The best scope is the one you use." -rcg
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naglertized
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/10/07
Posts: 1515
Loc: Jacksonville Florida
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Firstsight,
Did not mean to criticize, just gave my own commentary on how I kept my stuff. I got all my big expensive glass when I was an older teenager to young adult and realized that if something broke I would be spending another 6 months to save up to buy an EP. At that time in my life my EP case was my most valued possession both sentimentally and financially.
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Clinton
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csa/montana
Astro Ambassador
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 28272
Loc: montana
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I also just keep my eyepieces in my case, with end caps. My case now never leaves the Observatory, & I don't even move it around in there.
When I was observing from my deck however, with a less expensive case, I was always worried of an accident happening, so can definitely understand the extra protection of bolt cases when moving the case around.
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
AstroTech 66ED / Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Tak LE 5mm B/TMB 3.2
7mm Pentax XL, 10mm Pentax XW
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
22mm Pan, 35mm Pan
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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Brooklyn
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 07/24/08
Posts: 870
Loc: Central New Jersey
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I observe in my backyard which is 95% patio pavers, so its a nice surface to setup on, esp with my lx200 mount.
For my eyepiece case, flashlight, compass, and starcharts, I pull up one of those lie down lawn chains that u can fit a 7 footer on, and i use part of it to just put down the star charts or papers, and on top of that i rest the eyepiece case.
I do all eyepiece and filter transfers over this lawn bed (only 1 person can fit on it lying down), and so far nothing has ever fallen down. If by some freak accident i dropped an eyepiece, it would fall onto the cushion of the lawn chair/bed.
I suggest yall try something similar. It doesnt take much effort to pull up a chair. This outdoor furniture that i use is by no means clean, as it gets rained on all day, and gets baked by the sun. It is made of a thin layer of some material which is flexible. Its not as cushioned as an indoor chair, but it would still serve its purpose in saving any items that would drop.
My eyepiece kit is a small, simple metal case w/ padded rubber foam on the inside. It has rubber/plastic guards on all of the edges to protect the case in a scenario of impact. It came with the zhummel eyepiece and filter kit. I remove the slot where the barlow is and can store a large meade 4000 26mm super plossl.
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Meade 8.25"(209.55mm) LX-90 EMC (SCT)
Albert Einstein =>
“Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death.”
“If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough.”
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Albie
Post Laureate
Reged: 02/22/05
Posts: 3513
Loc: Alberta,Canada
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Like this at least.
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Skywatcher 10" f/4.7 Dob with Moonlight CR1
Televue 2x barlow and 5T6,7T6,9T6,16T5 and 26T5 Televue Naglers.
SkyMaster 15x70,Regal LX 8x42 and Noble 10x28
Edited by Albie (08/07/08 01:37 PM)
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KWB
Postmaster
Reged: 09/30/06
Posts: 7619
Loc: Westminster,Co Elev.1646Meters
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I'd say bolt cases are quite an ingenious little innovation,whether you use them or not. Cheap insurance that does a good job of protecting an eyepiece. Last month I removed one of my eyepieces from my eyepiece case and proceeded to loose grasp of it. It hit the floor but because of it being inside a bolt case,no harm,no foul.
I say let Jesse rob the train however he wants to. When it comes to eyepiece protection,it's your money. Protect them however you like.
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Kenny
"When dealing with a mystery,choose the most unlikely of the likely possibilities"-Sherlock Holmes
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FirstSight
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/26/05
Posts: 2514
Loc: Raleigh, NC
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Quote:
I'd say bolt cases are quite an ingenious little innovation,whether you use them or not. Cheap insurance that does a good job of protecting an eyepiece. Last month I removed one of my eyepieces from my eyepiece case and proceeded to loose grasp of it. It hit the floor but because of it being inside a bolt case,no harm,no foul.
I say let Jesse rob the train however he wants to. When it comes to eyepiece protection,it's your money. Protect them however you like.
This two-paragraph post captures EXACTLY what I have been trying to accomplish:
1) Suggest that EP bolt cases are a cheap form of extra insurance for valuable premium eyepieces;
2) Provide a real-world example of how even someone like me who is *extremely* OCD and meticulously, methodically careful in handling my EPs, and spent extra for really high-quality padded cases to keep them in, was nevertheless saved from disaster by the extra step of double-nesting my EPs in bolt cases, on the rare night when s*** happened and the EPs spilled out of the case and took a hard impact;
3) Leave it up to each of you whether you want to adopt this idea or not, given your own situation and inclinations. I take no offense whatever at anyone declining to adopt this idea, for whatever reason.
In fact, if any unfortunate future event were to happen (that you happen to mention in some future CN thread), I won't scold you with any sort of "I told you so" post. You'll remember this thread quite well on your own and probably be annoyed enough at yourself (and whomever else might be responsible) for a variety of reasons, without need for anyone nagging at you.
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Chris M., aka "First Sight"
Orion XT12i Dob with Moonlite CR-2 focuser
WO Megrez 90 refractor on UniStar Light mount
Nikon 10x50 Binoculars
Edited by FirstSight (08/07/08 08:25 PM)
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Jan Owen
sage
Reged: 02/12/06
Posts: 216
Loc: Sun City West, Arizona
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I don't worry about thieves...
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Keep on looking up...
Meade 60mm f/15 achro refractor from WAY back...
Vernonscope 94mm f/7 Brandon triplet APO
Orion EON ED 120mm f/7.5
Celestron 5.5" f/3.6 Comet Catcher Schmidt-Newt
8" f/6 Newtonian w/Spooner optics on Atlas G mount
Meade 10" f/10 SCT
12" f/5 Meade LightBridge Dob/Newt
13.1" f/4.5 Coulter Odyssey early Dob/Newt
Many eyepieces and accessories
Always lusting after large MCT, but never buy one
Edited by Jan Owen (08/07/08 04:00 PM)
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