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sage
Reged: 11/13/07
Posts: 230
Loc: Eastern Long Island, NY
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BANG! That's the sound I heard coming from the basement this morning. Upon investigation I was mortified to see my telescope flat on the concrete floor. It's a 5" Jaegers f/5 on an Edmund Scientific equatorial mount (with clock drive) on the wooden tripod from a 3" Sears refractor, all circa 1960s.
Here's a picture of what I initially saw. Notice that one leg is collapsed. The spreader/accessory tray had not been in use. The scope was more or less free-standing on the three legs, which was okay since they didn't slide on the rough concrete floor.
As I recall, the legs have been in the same position for about 30 years, but yesterday morning the temperature outside was -6° and the oil burner has been working overtime. My guess is the wood shrunk, leading to one leg sliding up.
If anyone has a wooden tripod, they might want to check on it.
Jono
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sage
Reged: 11/13/07
Posts: 230
Loc: Eastern Long Island, NY
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When I dared pull back the sheet that had covered the scope, it didn't look so bad.
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Exit-pupil
sage
Reged: 11/13/07
Posts: 230
Loc: Eastern Long Island, NY
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The vintage clock was a different matter - it took the brunt of the fall.
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Exit-pupil
sage
Reged: 11/13/07
Posts: 230
Loc: Eastern Long Island, NY
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One last shot.
Jono
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neo
professor emeritus
Reged: 02/12/08
Posts: 611
Loc: Iasi, Romania
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Oh man! That hurts! It's a good thing though the svope is OK. After 30 years, it's wood after all, so I guess you're right.
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Russian 15x50 binos
Home made 8" f/5 Newton on eq mount
Home made 70mm f/6 (Rodenstock Rotelar lens) Apo refractor
www.astronomy.ro
Edited by neo (01/19/09 10:46 AM)
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paul hart
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 06/01/04
Posts: 1052
Loc: Lawn Guyland, New Yawk, Earth
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I better check my scope right now!
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Paul
Long Island, New York
Orion Starmax 127 Mak
TScope 14" f/4.7 dob w/ F80 finder
10" f/4.8 dob
Orion 10x50 Ultraview Binoculars
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Phil Frederick
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 12/19/05
Posts: 844
Loc: Seattle, WA & La Paz MX
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Jono,
So sorry about your crash. What we all fear.
I'm assuming the cause was the lower leg collapsing between the upper legs as a result of the lower temperature. I had this concern and devised a solution. At least it worked with an Oberwerk tripod and might work with others.
I drilled a series of 2" spaced holes in the outer leg of each tripod leg (on the side facing the inner portion of the leg) and inserted a bolt attached to the inner portion of the tripod leg with a small chain into the hole.) If the main connection of the tripod leg failed (temp or whatever) the bolt would stop the leg from sliding further down.
I'm down at our place in Mexico right now and don't have pic's of the mod right now but if anyone is interested I'd be happy to send pics when I'm back in Seattle after Jan 25.
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Phil
Intes M500 MCT (Teton Mods)
Stellarvue SV115EDT
Stellarvue SVR70ED Raptor
Orion ST80 f/5 w/Crayford
SV F50 Sparrowhawk
SV F60 Biggerhawk
Tak Teeguls, SV MG, SV Stablelock tripod, TV Gibraltar tripod, a rebuilt TV Gibraltar tripod with fixed Walnut/Oak legs, M1 on Bogen475
... Naglers, Panoptics, Stratus'
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DennisF
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 03/03/06
Posts: 1184
Loc: Northern IL
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Boy, this is something I never even considered. Thanks to the OP.
Phil, why don't you post the pic on this thread so it's preserved for posterity.
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10" XTi
C6 SE
C8 SE
C8 (late 90's?)
SV80ED
SV102ED
SV M1
Original AYO EzTouch mount
LM Teegul
Gone-ETX 125, C80, ED80SF, PortaMount
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Phil Frederick
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 12/19/05
Posts: 844
Loc: Seattle, WA & La Paz MX
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Quote:
Phil, why don't you post the pic on this thread so it's preserved for posterity.
I'll do that when I get back to Seattle later this month. Don't have access to a photo right now.
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Phil
Intes M500 MCT (Teton Mods)
Stellarvue SV115EDT
Stellarvue SVR70ED Raptor
Orion ST80 f/5 w/Crayford
SV F50 Sparrowhawk
SV F60 Biggerhawk
Tak Teeguls, SV MG, SV Stablelock tripod, TV Gibraltar tripod, a rebuilt TV Gibraltar tripod with fixed Walnut/Oak legs, M1 on Bogen475
... Naglers, Panoptics, Stratus'
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bluestar
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 11/06/05
Posts: 1123
Loc: Maryland Eastern Shore
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Quote:
...yesterday morning the temperature outside was -6°...the wood shrunk
I'm sure we all (well, guys on the List at least) can relate      
Sorry...I couldn't resist. Glad the scope was't a total mess
I had an old Astro-Physics wood tripod that had a similiar problem...over the years the wood shrank and it was difficult to keep extended...good food for thought!
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D&G refractors 5" f/12 & f/15; 6" f/15; 8" f/12...
Royce Dall-Kirkham Cass 10" f/20
Epoch Instruments Parsec/12, Astro-Physics 1200 DA, AP800 HDA mounts...
Previous telescopes A-Z...Astro-Physics to Zeiss
Old school @ BlueStar Observatory...this is how we do it.
D&G Optical Telescope Users Group ...D&G/long focus Yahoo refractor Group...back up and running
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Exit-pupil
sage
Reged: 11/13/07
Posts: 230
Loc: Eastern Long Island, NY
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I guess I did sound a little like George Costanza ("the water was cold!"). Funny thing is, that episode was set in the Hamptons, which is where I live. Ha!
To clarify, however, this is only indirectly a result of cold temperatures. It's the heat battling the cold that dries out the air and causes the wood to shrink. We all see it happen to furniture and such, but I never stopped to think about the wooden tripod.
Just thought I'd mention it here so others might give the thumbscrews a twist or two. Phil's idea of drilling holes and inserting bolts is even better. I did something similar with a cheap aluminum tripod when the knurled brass inserts worked their way loose and the legs wouldn't stay put.
Thanks for all the comments. If I helped anyone avoid a catastrophe, I'm happy.
Jono
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Phil Frederick
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 12/19/05
Posts: 844
Loc: Seattle, WA & La Paz MX
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Quote:
I'm down at our place in Mexico right now and don't have pic's of the mod right now but if anyone is interested I'd be happy to send pics when I'm back in Seattle after Jan 25.
Sadly, I'm back in the frigid north now and can post a few pics of the mod I've made to my Oberwerk to assure it doesn't slip. I'm sure this would be easily adaptable to lots of other tripods.
Basically, it just involves drilling a series of evenly spaced holes along the inner surface of the outer member of each tripod leg. Then a small bolt that will just fit into the holes is attached with a small chain to the moveable portion of the leg. When the tripod height is adjusted, you just insert the bolt into the hole just above the top of the moveable portion of the leg and that will catch the leg should the lower leg-locking fail. Definitely increases my comfort level on a tripod with only one leg-locking screw. 
And yah, I know I have no business complaining about cold in Seattle when our poor Canuck friends in Edmonton or Winnepeg are REALLY freezing their tutus. But, nonetheless, whine, whine, whine. 
Hope the pics help.
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Phil
Intes M500 MCT (Teton Mods)
Stellarvue SV115EDT
Stellarvue SVR70ED Raptor
Orion ST80 f/5 w/Crayford
SV F50 Sparrowhawk
SV F60 Biggerhawk
Tak Teeguls, SV MG, SV Stablelock tripod, TV Gibraltar tripod, a rebuilt TV Gibraltar tripod with fixed Walnut/Oak legs, M1 on Bogen475
... Naglers, Panoptics, Stratus'
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Phil Frederick
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 12/19/05
Posts: 844
Loc: Seattle, WA & La Paz MX
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another...
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Phil
Intes M500 MCT (Teton Mods)
Stellarvue SV115EDT
Stellarvue SVR70ED Raptor
Orion ST80 f/5 w/Crayford
SV F50 Sparrowhawk
SV F60 Biggerhawk
Tak Teeguls, SV MG, SV Stablelock tripod, TV Gibraltar tripod, a rebuilt TV Gibraltar tripod with fixed Walnut/Oak legs, M1 on Bogen475
... Naglers, Panoptics, Stratus'
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Phil Frederick
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 12/19/05
Posts: 844
Loc: Seattle, WA & La Paz MX
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and another...
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Phil
Intes M500 MCT (Teton Mods)
Stellarvue SV115EDT
Stellarvue SVR70ED Raptor
Orion ST80 f/5 w/Crayford
SV F50 Sparrowhawk
SV F60 Biggerhawk
Tak Teeguls, SV MG, SV Stablelock tripod, TV Gibraltar tripod, a rebuilt TV Gibraltar tripod with fixed Walnut/Oak legs, M1 on Bogen475
... Naglers, Panoptics, Stratus'
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Phil Frederick
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 12/19/05
Posts: 844
Loc: Seattle, WA & La Paz MX
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last one.
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Phil
Intes M500 MCT (Teton Mods)
Stellarvue SV115EDT
Stellarvue SVR70ED Raptor
Orion ST80 f/5 w/Crayford
SV F50 Sparrowhawk
SV F60 Biggerhawk
Tak Teeguls, SV MG, SV Stablelock tripod, TV Gibraltar tripod, a rebuilt TV Gibraltar tripod with fixed Walnut/Oak legs, M1 on Bogen475
... Naglers, Panoptics, Stratus'
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Exit-pupil
sage
Reged: 11/13/07
Posts: 230
Loc: Eastern Long Island, NY
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Phil, thanks for the pictures, and might I say you did a very nice, neat job. I assume they are on all three legs?
Jono
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Phil Frederick
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 12/19/05
Posts: 844
Loc: Seattle, WA & La Paz MX
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Thanks Jono, and, yes they are on all legs. No buckin' the odds on this one!
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Phil
Intes M500 MCT (Teton Mods)
Stellarvue SV115EDT
Stellarvue SVR70ED Raptor
Orion ST80 f/5 w/Crayford
SV F50 Sparrowhawk
SV F60 Biggerhawk
Tak Teeguls, SV MG, SV Stablelock tripod, TV Gibraltar tripod, a rebuilt TV Gibraltar tripod with fixed Walnut/Oak legs, M1 on Bogen475
... Naglers, Panoptics, Stratus'
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