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SDB777
member
Reged: 05/24/09
Posts: 19
Loc: Cabot, Arkansas USA
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Seems the new addition is okay...other then missing a "foot" on one of the legs. The the tripod in general feels sort of ah.....wimpy, I guess that's the word for it?
Is there a topic(I did a search but found nothing) about making the tripod perform a little better? Don't really want to interest in a $200 Meade upgraded tripod....
What else is available? Anyone build one? Anyone planning on building one? Anyone just have a set of plans for a sturdy tripod?
Scott (I'm full of questions) B
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Treehopper
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/29/08
Posts: 582
Loc: Upstate NY
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Not sure on the diameter of the legs on your tripod, but I'd be willing to bet they're pretty close to the same size as cane / walker / crutch tips that can be found at better medical supply stores. As far as making it a little sturdier, some folks have filled their legs with sand or similar material, making it a bit heavier and more stable. Yet others have hung weights from the center of the tripod, which also helps improve stability.
If you're adept at woodworking, I'd recommend one made out of wood. Wood tends to dampen movements much better than metal, giving more of a jitter-free experience at the eyepiece.
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Tim
Champion of small aperture scopes everywhere!
Meade ETX-125PE
Meade ETX-80
Celestron FirstScope 76mm Mini-dob
 Updated: 09/16/2009
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SDB777
member
Reged: 05/24/09
Posts: 19
Loc: Cabot, Arkansas USA
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The legs don't really have tubes...look like a smashed triangle{not sure as to the correct description}, so I don't think sand is going to be a do-able thing.
This is probably a stupid question, but how does the scope come off the tripod? I've unscrewed the two plastic covered rods(no joy there), and the "D"-ring on top doesn't unscrew at all.... I'd like to disassamble the tripod to figure out exactly I can put some oak/ash legs on it.
This is what I see when looking from the floor upward:
I'd like to strip away anything that is plastic off the tripod and replace with something that has some 'guts' to it. And this happens to be a very cheap tripod/scope(at least for me), and I could 'cut-my-teeth' on something easier on the wallet! I have some dried ash, maple, oak, and something else(think it's walnut) laying around in the garage, and I believe that the ash is 4"x4"{maybe to large}, the maple is 2-1/2"x2-1/2"{better}, and the oak is 2"x2", and what I believe is walnut is 6"x6"{way to big}! So maybe a combination of the maple and the oak, some wood glue and screws......should equal very sturdy! But not light weight....
Scott (can't get the scope off = stupid...grrrr) B
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brianb11213
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 02/25/09
Posts: 2106
Loc: 55.215N 6.554W
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It looks as though the "smashed triangle" leg sections are screwed to the top casting with cross headed screws. Try undoing those, you should be able to get access to the inside of the leg section for filling with sand if you want to try that.Or use the top of the leg section as a basis for wooden legs - if you have the existing metal section legs but only unsupported for an inch or two the thing should be reasonably rigid, and wooden legs will absorb vibration nicely.
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Treehopper
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/29/08
Posts: 582
Loc: Upstate NY
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Not entirely sure how to take the scope off the mount from your picture Scott. Some are attached with retaining bolts on the underside. Usually these are just "finger tight" and can be loosened by hand, although if they've been on for a while, you may need a "persuader." On several of my scopes, once you loosen the retaining bolts, if you twist the base of the scope then lift, it comes right up. The bolts fit through "keyholes" in the mount and help prevent the scope from accidentally slipping off.
As far as the legs, it appears from your photo that you could either unscrew the three "Phillips" screws at the top of each leg, which is probably the easiest route. Or you could attempt to remove the hinge pins which actually attach the legs to the mount base.
Hmmm...just looked again...what are those to black knurled knobs for? Have you tried turning those? It almost looks at second glance that those might be holding your scope on the mount, maybe?
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Tim
Champion of small aperture scopes everywhere!
Meade ETX-125PE
Meade ETX-80
Celestron FirstScope 76mm Mini-dob
Updated: 09/16/2009
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oldsalt
Astro Philosopher
Reged: 02/12/05
Posts: 8672
Loc: Pa - between starparties
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Unscrew the two knurled knobs, and the scope lifts right off the tripod base.
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There are no winners in war, only bigger losers.
Jim
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Joe Lalumia
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/24/07
Posts: 3606
Loc: Rockwall, Texas, USA
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Hang a heavy weight from the center of the tripod underneath.
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LX90 8" LNT, SV Nighthawk & TelePOD, SV 80/9D & M4 mount, ETX 90, Orion XT10i, 20x80 binoculars, SV-BV3s-- www.texasastro.org
"Great minds discuss ideas;Average minds discuss events;Small minds discuss people." Unknown
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