hickeydp
super member
Reged: 06/14/09
Posts: 128
Loc: Ireland
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Recently bought a Skywatcher EQ6 Pro mount and finally got to take it out briefly when the skies finally cleared for a bit over the weekend. All in all I was happy with it, the mount handled my 10" Meade SCT and necessary 3 counterweights with ease.
One thing I noticed when setting up was that the tripod seemed somewhat under par for the mount in terms of flexing in the legs. I don't have enough experience with it to make the call but I'm thinking some degree of instability will come from this especially for AP work. Having said this it does settle quickly enough when tapped, 3-4 seconds.
Just curious, what are people's opinions on the standard tripod supplied and has anyone upgraded to a better tripod? If so what?
As always, your help and opinions are gratefully received.
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Clear skies
Damien
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Meade LX200 10 Classic (Re-forked and for sale!!)
Celestron C9.25 on a NEQ6 Pro
William Optics Megrez 110ED
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Eddgie
Post Laureate
Reged: 02/01/06
Posts: 3279
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I wrote a review on the EQ6 about two years ago, and the tripod was one of my biggest complaints.
Many find it acceptable if you use it with the legs fully retracted, but if you extend them any length (like for a 6" refractor) it is very prone to what I call "Guitar String" vibration in the legs.
The problem to me is the spreader geometry. The spreader simply rides too high on the tripod.
I did a modificaiton (posted it on Yahoo group) where I replaced the stock spreader with the plastic spreader from a CGE. I had to replace the threaded rod in the mount to do this, but this lowerd the spreader down about 6 inches which made a very big improvement in the reduction of the guitar string vibration in the legs.
Still, the tripod was a bit wiggly, but the spreader was a big improvement.
And vibration suppression pads.
You may want to check the EQ6 User's Group. There are a couple of other people that also provided stiffening mods, and if you like the mount otherwise, it may be something you would want to consider.
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Celestron C14, CGE (Big Al)
Astro-Physics 6" f/8 (Buffy)
Celestron EdgeHD C8 (Lil' Eddgie)
Celestron C5 (Tiny Tiger)
Vixen Ed100sf
The night sky is my mistress. She seduces me away from all other lovers.
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Eddgie
Post Laureate
Reged: 02/01/06
Posts: 3279
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Pic shows the standard spreader in my hands, and the CGE srpeader installed on the mount. The CGE spreader was from a NexStar 11. It had a little crack in the corner of one of the molded ends, so I had replaced it and happened to have a spare lying around.
The newer CGE spreader will work too, but I have had trouble buying one from Celestron. I want to use one on my LXD750 (where I basically did the same mod to lower the spreader down, but more to narrow the angle of the legs because that tripod is SOLID!
Good luck.
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Celestron C14, CGE (Big Al)
Astro-Physics 6" f/8 (Buffy)
Celestron EdgeHD C8 (Lil' Eddgie)
Celestron C5 (Tiny Tiger)
Vixen Ed100sf
The night sky is my mistress. She seduces me away from all other lovers.
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Bill Cowles
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 04/16/06
Posts: 1093
Loc: Utah
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I use a small pier and extend the legs only a couple of inches. Don't know if this would work with a SCT. I also tried to find or buy the CGE spreader and didn't have much luck. I think the larger spreader is the best and cheapest solution, just hard to get one.
Bill
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Lunt LS60TS50DS/B1200/FT (on order)
TV Gensis/Solarmax 60 filter
PST DS/Herschel Wedge/C4-R
C6-R /Atlas Goto/Moonlite CF2
12" LightBridge/Round Table
MCHP/8" Orion OTA/Ultima 2000
10" Discovery /Celestron SE-4
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Sky Captain
Metal Whisperer
Reged: 11/07/04
Posts: 7770
Loc: Issaquah, WA.
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Quote:
Just curious, what are people's opinions on the standard tripod supplied and has anyone upgraded to a better tripod? If so what?
For me, the stock tripod wouldn't give me the height or stability when running heavy loads or long OTA's like the 4" f15 and a 6" f8 refractors. I found a used Losmandy G-11 tripod and machined the top plate to accept the EQ6/Atlas head. I also made a 6" diam. extension to raise the EP height on long refractors.
Rock solid stability is an understatement. I sure don't know of any other option on the market that even comes close, other than a super giant tripod from Meade. Adapters would have to be fabricated though.
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12" Lightbridge : SC 8" f4 : 12.5" f2.35 Astrograph : TAL RS 4" f10 : WO EZT : Atlas EQ6
35 & 22 Panoptic : 14 & 8.8 Meade UWA : 8 to 12 Speers Variable : Antares 1.6x Barlow
Kerry
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Bill Cowles
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 04/16/06
Posts: 1093
Loc: Utah
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Kerry, you sure are the "Metal Whisperer" , you are always showing some fantastic machined item. Hope members have been able to see some of your creations. 
Bill
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Lunt LS60TS50DS/B1200/FT (on order)
TV Gensis/Solarmax 60 filter
PST DS/Herschel Wedge/C4-R
C6-R /Atlas Goto/Moonlite CF2
12" LightBridge/Round Table
MCHP/8" Orion OTA/Ultima 2000
10" Discovery /Celestron SE-4
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Chris243
newbie
Reged: 07/01/09
Posts: 2
Loc: Charleston, South Carolina
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One way to make your tripod much steadier is to replace the legs with heavy wall al. tubing. I used a 2" outside tubing diameter with a 1/2 " wall thickness. Removes all the flexing in the tripod. Cost was not bad at about $140. including shipping.
Chris
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Atlas EQ mount, modified
Meade 10" LX200R OTA
66mm Astro Tech APO
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Steve Fisher
"Curmudgeon in Training"
Reged: 08/12/06
Posts: 1912
Loc: Utah
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Quote:
Quote:
Just curious, what are people's opinions on the standard tripod supplied and has anyone upgraded to a better tripod? If so what?
For me, the stock tripod wouldn't give me the height or stability when running heavy loads or long OTA's like the 4" f15 and a 6" f8 refractors. I found a used Losmandy G-11 tripod and machined the top plate to accept the EQ6/Atlas head. I also made a 6" diam. extension to raise the EP height on long refractors.
Rock solid stability is an understatement. I sure don't know of any other option on the market that even comes close, other than a super giant tripod from Meade. Adapters would have to be fabricated though.
Sweet!!!
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Steve
8" f/12 D&G Achromat Refractor Delivered 08/27/09
6" D&G f/12 Achromat Refractor
66mm f/6.1 William Optics Petzval
6" f/8 Celestron Starhopper
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"Never try to teach a pig to sing, It wastes your time and it annoys the pig". (Robert Heinlein)
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Eddgie
Post Laureate
Reged: 02/01/06
Posts: 3279
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That is a BEAUTIFUL setup.
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Celestron C14, CGE (Big Al)
Astro-Physics 6" f/8 (Buffy)
Celestron EdgeHD C8 (Lil' Eddgie)
Celestron C5 (Tiny Tiger)
Vixen Ed100sf
The night sky is my mistress. She seduces me away from all other lovers.
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hickeydp
super member
Reged: 06/14/09
Posts: 128
Loc: Ireland
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Thanks for all the comments. Much appreciated.
Kerry, that is a sweet setup and was something I had in mind when writing the original post. Was there much machining involved? Was thinking of getting the 8" extension tube and modifying it to sit on the Losmandy tripod when finances allow. In the meantime Bill's solution of using the extension tube and not extending the legs so much will probably be my stop gap measure. Will definitely investigate some extra bracing.
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Clear skies
Damien
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Meade LX200 10 Classic (Re-forked and for sale!!)
Celestron C9.25 on a NEQ6 Pro
William Optics Megrez 110ED
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Nebhunter
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 10/04/03
Posts: 1323
Loc: Frostbite Falls
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I had an EQ6, and a 150 f8 refractor at the time. It was OK, and fine for visual. Then I did the 8" extension thing as well to raise the scope. I put down heavy concrete blocks, and then put the tripod on them, raising the scope even more. I could then leave the tripod legs completely retracted, extending only the level it. Spend a bit of time to level the blocks in the ground, and you don't need to extend the legs at all.
These two items - the blocks and extension made all the difference. The extension worked as long as the legs were completely retracted. If you use the extension with legs extended - it can cause more jiggles when focusing etc, as you have just raised the centre of gravity.
If you don't have a long scope, and clearance of the tripod is not much of an issue, then try the blocks first without the extension. Build up the blocks with wood 2x6 or 2x8" and stack whatever you need to raise it up. Screw the wood planks together.
Just be aware - that the spread of the tripod is reduced which is many ways lessens it's stability in that regard. Once I got the Tec 140 I found other problems - the head of the mount was just too small. I exchanged that with the ADM saddle (7" long) and mounting adapter for the EQ6. That was a huge improvement for additional stability, and greatly reduced the jiggles during focusing. Once I got into astro photography, it was game over for the EQ6. For visual - the blocks, ADM saddle worked extremely well at minimum cost with the extension being optional.
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StarGeezer
Elemental nature must be approached with a reverential lens ~ Ansel Adams
http://www.nightfly.zoomshare.com/ www.pbase.com/pentax67
TEC 140 (Katyusha) & F/F - Equinox 80 - Losmandy G11/Gemini - ST-4 guider. PENTAX 67ii - 400(EDif) & siblings. I shoot FILM.
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Sky Captain
Metal Whisperer
Reged: 11/07/04
Posts: 7770
Loc: Issaquah, WA.
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Quote:
Was there much machining involved?
There sure was Damien, especially the legs. The Losmandy tripod I got used had fixed legs with little to no adjustment for leveling. Newer ones are more adjustable.
But as far as getting it to mount on to the top plate...thats fairly easy. The top needs a small lip for the Atlas head to sit into and then I just machined a simple aluminum block with a hole in the middle and a matching metric bolt to hold it in place. Very, very easy stuff for any machine shop. If you were handy with tools, I could conceivably see someone doing it in their garage if they were carefull.
Here is a shot of the top plate and the peice I'm talking about.
If you have any other questions or want to see any other parts, just let me know. 
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12" Lightbridge : SC 8" f4 : 12.5" f2.35 Astrograph : TAL RS 4" f10 : WO EZT : Atlas EQ6
35 & 22 Panoptic : 14 & 8.8 Meade UWA : 8 to 12 Speers Variable : Antares 1.6x Barlow
Kerry
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hickeydp
super member
Reged: 06/14/09
Posts: 128
Loc: Ireland
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That's great Kerry, thanks so much!
If I do manage to get my hands on one of these tripods I'd definitely appreciate the help. I'm reasonably handy with DIY so would enjoy the challenge.
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Clear skies
Damien
-------------------------
Meade LX200 10 Classic (Re-forked and for sale!!)
Celestron C9.25 on a NEQ6 Pro
William Optics Megrez 110ED
-------------------------
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