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dymy24
member
Reged: 07/28/08
Posts: 41
Loc: Fayetteville, NC
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I'm starting the planning for a backyard observatory. I've staked out a spot and found the beginings of a fine pier - a galvanize steel light post that already has a base plate with 4 large holes to mount to a concrete base. Th post is 8" in diameter at the base and tapers to 5 inches at the top. It's 10 feet long. Cut to length, it'll be more than 6" in diameter where it will accept the mount.
From reading on here (and everything else I can find online), I know that I'll have to replicate the top of the tripod in order to attach the mount. Does anyone know of an off the shelf solution to attaching the mount to the pier, or will I need to machine something to replicate the point of attachment from the tripod?
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Astrophotograhphy novice
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Restricted
member
Reged: 08/21/09
Posts: 10
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If this is a DIY project and you have to weld to the galvanized for a mount adapter, you will have to grind all of the coating off at the attach point so as not to produce poisonous fumes from the galvanic coat in the weld process. Be careful. Other than that, it sould be easy.
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RobVG
professor emeritus
Reged: 01/09/06
Posts: 741
Loc: Seattle Washington
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What kind of mount do you have?
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C11 SGT(XLT)CG-5
Observatory (page 5)
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dymy24
member
Reged: 07/28/08
Posts: 41
Loc: Fayetteville, NC
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I am a passingly good welder, my brother and father are much better. We are okay with mating galvanized metal to other steels.
I have a Skywatcher EQ5Pro mount. It looks like the tripod has a pass-thru hole for the bolt that screws into the botto of the mount, an indent for the raised lip on the bottom of the mount to rest in, and a raised "nipple' that sits between the two azimuth bolts and provides azimuth fine adjustment.
If all I have to do is fabricate these features, I can probably do so - I was just hoping for an off the shelf solution.
Thanks for your help, both of you.
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Astrophotograhphy novice
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GeorgeDuke
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/24/03
Posts: 1592
Loc: PARADISE! (So.Florida)
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Try www.kendauzat.net
Ken has or makes adapters of every sort and is very helpful in these areas.
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George
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SkyShed POD XL-3
LX200GPS 203mm f10
StellarVue SV102ED2 Feathertouch Ser#0018
LXD75 GOTO with Orion 16" pier extension
Baader Hyperion 8mm ,13mm, 21mm + FTRs
2" GSO ED barlow, 2" SV Dielectric and Orion Prism Diagonals
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dymy24
member
Reged: 07/28/08
Posts: 41
Loc: Fayetteville, NC
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That's just what I was looking for. I'll email him with the question. Thanks, all.
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Astrophotograhphy novice
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