tm3
journeyman
Reged: 06/18/07
Posts: 5
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i've seen several "reclining lawn chair" type chairs at REI, Cabela's, etc. that look like they would probably work. never having used one, however, i'm curious if anyone has found that a particular model works well and/or better than the competition.
current plan is to pair this with the binoculars on a P mount.
thanks!
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Gordon Rayner
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 03/24/07
Posts: 955
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Deja vu. There have been several shown and discussed here , and elsewhere on the internet. Perhaps a search will locate them. A maximum number of degrees of freedom in the p-mount motions is helpful when reclined, particularly with a straight view binocular.
For what you propose, the main problem is conflict between the tripod legs and the lawn chair. Use of a post, instead of a tripod, helps. To avoid leaving the reclining chair, two or three showed the chair and observer supported by a turntable, a less portable setup.
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edwincjones
Postmaster
Reged: 04/10/04
Posts: 5577
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consider the LaFumas, or their clones
I have one of the lafumas, plus a clone from Bed, Bath, and Beyond
the oversized clone is better for meteor watching, hand held binoculars
edj
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AlienFirstClass
professor emeritus
Reged: 02/13/09
Posts: 702
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Any special chairs that are comfortable and waterproof?
I find that chairs I use are many times soaking wet with dew by the time the observing is over.
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Robert A.
sage
Reged: 01/21/05
Posts: 290
Loc: Milwaukee, WI Northern USA
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Mesh can diminish dew on the fabric of the chair.
I see that La Fuma has four types of Batyline mesh. The mesh would not soak up much moisture.
From the ad "Batyline® mesh is a French made material used in the Flexy and Fusion Light collections. Batyline® is an extremely durable and high quality material consisting of a polyester fiber covered by a coating of PVC, making it nearly impossible to tear. It is 100% synthetic and resistant to rot and mildew."
Lafuma recliner link
Suntracker swivel chair also uses mesh.
Suntracker has Blue and Light Green Vinyl Mesh.
Suntracker swivel chair link
Has anyone used mesh and can tell us how it works?
I have the Suntracker chair wtih the "blue Marine polyester fabric". I have not had trouble with dew. However, if you are heavy like I am, the chair does not deal with plopping down without control. The Suntracker people did send me a couple of clips that made the chair like new. The chair is very low, about ten inches off the ground. It is an effort for an older person to get up from a low seat. The chair does recline and swivel very nicely! The arms of the chair are useful as a base with lifters, to support the arms holding the binoculars.
Rob.
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Oberwerk 11x56, Nikon 12x50se, Fujinon 16x70, Stellarvue 20x85, Oberwerk 25/40 45degree 100mm
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EdZ
Professor EdZ
Reged: 02/15/02
Posts: 14611
Loc: Cumberland, R I , USA42N71.4W
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As mentioned above, maximum degrees of motion are required for seated viewing. Straight on parallelograms are not suitable for seated viewing.
any type of reclining lawn chair will do.
With this set up, I've never had a problem with tripod legs in the way.
http://www.cloudynights.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=2843&password=&sort=7&thecat=500
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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tm3
journeyman
Reged: 06/18/07
Posts: 5
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thanks for the helpful suggestions!
i'll take a close look at the LaFuma and Suntracker options.
my viewing is restricted by trees so i'm trying for a setup that allows approaching the zenith without neck strain.
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EricP
member
Reged: 11/09/07
Posts: 84
Loc: Dallas, Texas
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Rob,
I've had my eye out for an outdoor chair that swivels AND reclines (to adapt for binocular astronomy), but can never find that combination. The Suntracker chairs don't look like they have the ability to recline very far back. What range of reclining motion does yours have? Or, in other words, what angle above the horizon can you see at maximum recline, without craning your neck?
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Garrett Optical 28x110HD Signature Series
Oberwerk 20x80 Standard
Garrett Optical 15x70WP-CF
Garrett Optical 10x50 Gemini
Bushnell 8x40 fitted w/solar filters
Celestron NexStar-11 GPS
SkyWatcher 120mm Equinox APO refractor
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AlienFirstClass
professor emeritus
Reged: 02/13/09
Posts: 702
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Quote:
Rob,
I've had my eye out for an outdoor chair that swivels AND reclines (to adapt for binocular astronomy), but can never find that combination. The Suntracker chairs don't look like they have the ability to recline very far back. What range of reclining motion does yours have? Or, in other words, what angle above the horizon can you see at maximum recline, without craning your neck?
I too have been looking for the same that swivel AND recline combination...no luck either.
If anyone has any suggestions, we are listening.
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Sgt
sage
Reged: 12/17/05
Posts: 465
Loc: Under the southern horn of the...
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There was a US company called suntracker which made such a chair. Don't know if they are still around - never replied to my email enquiry a few years ago.
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hallelujah
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/14/06
Posts: 2126
Loc: Rocky Mt. High Colorado
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Quote:
There was a US company called suntracker which made such a chair.
http://www.suntracker.com/
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Celestron Traveler 8x25 & B. & H. 8x40 FC JAPAN & Revue 10x50 CF Porro FC JAPAN &
Pentax 12x50 PCF WP II FMC & Pentax 16x60 PCF WP FMC &
Pentax 20x60 PCF WP II FMC & Orion 12x63 Mini Giant FMC JAPAN &
SPECTRUM I 20x65 FC JAPAN &
Orion 15x70 Little Giant II FMC JAPAN & Orion 20x70 Little Giant II FMC JAPAN
Orion 16x80 Giant FMC JAPAN & Orion 30x80 MEGAView FMC JAPAN
Barska 30x80 X-Trail LW FC & Burgess Optical Series II 20x90 FMC
Hallelujah! For the LORD God Omnipotent Reigneth
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Gordon Rayner
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 03/24/07
Posts: 955
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What is the length of the parallelogram, pivot to pivot, in your attached photo , to give you the adequate clearance you experience with the chair?
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eklf
professor emeritus
Reged: 05/12/07
Posts: 692
Loc: Carrboro, NC
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I did not find the suntracker to recline adequately for Zenith viewing. IIRC there were three positions only.
I bought a similar looking non-swivelling beach chair from walmart that recline to horizontal, and I was able to rig up a swivelling platform using lazy susan bearing. Toal cost was $25 for chair + $15 for hardware (compared to $90 for suntracker). 'will post picture soon.
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Clear Skies/Kumar
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Gordon Rayner
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 03/24/07
Posts: 955
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For use of a straight view binocular with a reclining lawn chair , one needs several axes of rotation in the mount. One of those is a hinge, with a vertical axis , as the first motion outboard of the p-gram. This axis is parallel to the azimuth axis , atop the tripod, around which the entire p-gram rotates.
As Rick Miseroy has pointed out, the starting torque for the azimuth axis should be larger than the starting torque for the hinge axis. Otherwise, one must grab the p-gram with one hand, while turning around the hinge axis with the other hand.
So, we should add starting friction to the azimuth axis, while tending to make the hinge move more freely. Perhaps Dobson az bearings should be squeezed together, or the screws or hose clamps surrounding a PVC C-tube around an aluminum pipe or shaft should be tightened.
One might examine the hybrid Dobson plate-bronze bushings az mount in AMATEUR TELESCOPE MAKING, edited by Stephen F. Tonkin, (Springer, 1999), in the chapter on a p-mount. One might increase the disc size and pad location radius, and/ or change to a less slippery combination than Teflon and pebbled Formica.
Consider the rudder on a small sailboat. Its fittings, such as pintles, may be useful for the hinge axis.
I coincidentally found yesterday 3 aluminum fittings, 2 inches long ,with 1/2 inch reamed holes lengthwise. One side is flat, parallel to the holes, and the other side is a half-cylinder, also parallel to the holes. The ends are milled flat. They seem to be good mates for some 1/2 inch shoulder bolts, threaded only at the end, titanium, which I have had for a long time. When I saw them, I thought "p-mount hinge!". I only need to drill and tap one or two mounting holes, perpendicular to the hinge hole axis. Has anyone seen an off-the -shelf equivalent to these fittings? Near equivalents could be made from rectangular aluminum bar, in a milling machine or in a lathe with a 4-jaw chuck. Making the half-cylinder side , for clearance, may not be necessary.
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EricP
member
Reged: 11/09/07
Posts: 84
Loc: Dallas, Texas
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Since Rob appears to have abandoned this thread, the link provided by Stan has proved very helpful. There is much more information here, than the first link. Even assuming the girl in the chair is at full recline, it looks like you could comfortably view to 60 degrees above the horizon without much neck-bending at all. A little neck craning could possibly take you to the zenith without much discomfort. I think I may try modifying one of these chairs with a binocular mount.
Quote:
I bought a similar looking non-swivelling beach chair from walmart that recline to horizontal, and I was able to rig up a swivelling platform using lazy susan bearing.
I've considered this also, but now that I know about the Suntracker, I think I'll try that first.
You guys are a valuable resource! Thanks.
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Garrett Optical 28x110HD Signature Series
Oberwerk 20x80 Standard
Garrett Optical 15x70WP-CF
Garrett Optical 10x50 Gemini
Bushnell 8x40 fitted w/solar filters
Celestron NexStar-11 GPS
SkyWatcher 120mm Equinox APO refractor
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EdZ
Professor EdZ
Reged: 02/15/02
Posts: 14611
Loc: Cumberland, R I , USA42N71.4W
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Quote:
For use of a straight view binocular with a reclining lawn chair , one needs several axes of rotation in the mount. One of those is a hinge, with a vertical axis , ......./
Let's try to let this thread remain as discussion about reclining chairs. This hinge discussion is better suited for the homemade Pgram thread.
thanks
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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Scanning4Comets
Postmaster
Reged: 12/26/04
Posts: 5637
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OMG !!! 
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Markus
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brocknroller
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 10/16/03
Posts: 1936
Loc: Vallée des nuages
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Quote:
OMG !!!
That is BIG. He even has an aircraft warning light on top of the mount! :-)
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B'rock, son of Grilka
Member of the House of Kozak
Klingon Poet-Warrior
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"The character of a Klingon poet-warrior is measured not only by the metal of his blade--but also by the mettle of his words."
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Joe Ogiba
Post Laureate
Reged: 02/14/02
Posts: 4027
Loc: NJ USA
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my reclining chair with Unimount and 25x100's
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Pentax PF-80ED,Meade 102ED APO,Orion EON 72,120ST
Apex 127,C6 XLT,CR150,C9.25,XT10
Zeiss 7x42 FL,Canon 10x42L IS WP,15x50 IS
12x36 IS II
Garrett Optical 28x110 HD-WP Signature Series
Oberwerk BT-80 45, Apogee RA-88-SA
Denk II Power x Switch binoviewer w/13mm Ethos, 20mm Pentax XW's, 20mm Widescan III's.
17mm Ethos, 22mm Nagler, 40mm Pentax XW, 14mm Pentax XL, 5.2mm Pentax XL, 8-24mm Pentax XL Zoom
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EricP
member
Reged: 11/09/07
Posts: 84
Loc: Dallas, Texas
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Quote:
I bought a similar looking non-swivelling beach chair from walmart that recline to horizontal, and I was able to rig up a swivelling platform using lazy susan bearing. Toal cost was $25 for chair + $15 for hardware (compared to $90 for suntracker). 'will post picture soon.
I'm looking forward to seeing that picture, Kumar! 
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Garrett Optical 28x110HD Signature Series
Oberwerk 20x80 Standard
Garrett Optical 15x70WP-CF
Garrett Optical 10x50 Gemini
Bushnell 8x40 fitted w/solar filters
Celestron NexStar-11 GPS
SkyWatcher 120mm Equinox APO refractor
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