rboe
Reged: 03/16/02
Loc: Phx, AZ
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Re: Surplus Shed 127mm cell/tube kits :Group purchase
[Re: KeithSmith]
#4845925 - 10/05/11 07:50 PM
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My guess, and it's only a guess, is that your lenses are a wee bit smaller than the norm so some shimming is in order. I'd use cork, others may have better ideas.
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KeithSmith
member
Reged: 10/21/07
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Re: Surplus Shed 127mm cell/tube kits :Group purchase
[Re: rboe]
#4846456 - 10/06/11 03:13 AM
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That was my guess also, I just figured that the lens would have been manufactured to way tighter tolerances then that. My plan is to buy a o-ring or make one out of a sheet of rubber or plastic.
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Tom McDonald
sage
Reged: 12/19/06
Loc: No where man!
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Re: Surplus Shed 127mm cell/tube kits :Group purchase
[Re: KeithSmith]
#4850852 - 10/08/11 05:18 PM
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I mailed my order for the Hastings tube last Sunday. I know it takes awhile for them to ship, but has anyone here dealt with them and could give me a time frame of when I might expect to get it?
I seem to recall someone somewhere saying it took 3 weeks. Is that a realistic expectation? 
I ordered a 6 foot piece. That will enable me to build the 700mm, and if I cave in I'll be building the 1200mm. I'm leaning towards buying another cell from Danny, then if he has any left I'll order the focuser kit. 
Tom
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rboe
Reged: 03/16/02
Loc: Phx, AZ
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Re: Surplus Shed 127mm cell/tube kits :Group purchase
[Re: Tom McDonald]
#4850907 - 10/08/11 05:45 PM
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I want to say three weeks myself. My check went in Friday so it will be a while for me.
Anyone design their scope for binoviewing? I need to figure out if I want to go that route.
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Tom McDonald
sage
Reged: 12/19/06
Loc: No where man!
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Re: Surplus Shed 127mm cell/tube kits :Group purchase
[Re: herrointment]
#4852567 - 10/09/11 06:33 PM
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Quote:
The tube length on my wooden 700 build measures 16 and 1/2 inches.
I did a more thorough test on my "scope-on-a-stick" and your 16 1/2 inches looks like the magic number.  So that's what I'm going to use.
Tom
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mikey cee
Postmaster
Reged: 01/18/07
Loc: bellevue ne.
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Re: Surplus Shed 127mm cell/tube kits :Group purchase
[Re: rboe]
#4852671 - 10/09/11 07:36 PM
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Well I'm about a 125 miles east of Hastings and I got my 10" x 30" tube undamaged in about a week.  Mike
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Tom McDonald
sage
Reged: 12/19/06
Loc: No where man!
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Re: Surplus Shed 127mm cell/tube kits :Group purchase
[Re: mikey cee]
#4852724 - 10/09/11 08:05 PM
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Quote:
Well I'm about a 125 miles east of Hastings and I got my 10" x 30" tube undamaged in about a week. Mike
That's good to know!
However, I'm not going to get upset if it goes to two, three, four weeks! 
At this point it doesn't matter. I got what I paid for, thanks Danny!
Tom 
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SeaRefractor
member
Reged: 02/26/11
Loc: SeaTac, WA, USA
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Re: Surplus Shed 127mm cell/tube kits :Group purchase
[Re: Tom McDonald]
#4852769 - 10/09/11 08:37 PM
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Tom,
What size mirror or dielectric diag did you use in your scope on a stick? I'm still awaiting my 2" diag. Is the 16.5" test based on a 2" diag?
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Tom McDonald
sage
Reged: 12/19/06
Loc: No where man!
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Re: Surplus Shed 127mm cell/tube kits :Group purchase
[Re: SeaRefractor]
#4853359 - 10/10/11 06:39 AM
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Quote:
Tom,
What size mirror or dielectric diag did you use in your scope on a stick? I'm still awaiting my 2" diag. Is the 16.5" test based on a 2" diag?
I used both. An Orion 1.25" Dielectric and a 2" Astronomics dielectric. Didn't have to adjust the position of the focuser at all. It stayed at 16 1/2 inches.
Tom
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SeaRefractor
member
Reged: 02/26/11
Loc: SeaTac, WA, USA
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Re: Surplus Shed 127mm cell/tube kits :Group purchase
[Re: Tom McDonald]
#4855644 - 10/11/11 12:15 PM
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Perfect! That's the same 2" dielectric I have on order.
I've also decided to go the carbon fiber route in order to better match the build quality of the kit. I've purchased a 6" sonotube form (I know, the interior diameter is the 6", not the OD). I'll then slice this into four sections (think of pie slices) that are also reduced in size to have the interior diameter matching the size needed for the cell and focuser. This will also allow me to "collapse" the mandril when I'm completed rather than trying to figure out how to "pull" it out. If it works out as I hope, I'll be able to "reproduce" the process. I'll update with photo's as I progress.
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Tom McDonald
sage
Reged: 12/19/06
Loc: No where man!
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Re: Surplus Shed 127mm cell/tube kits :Group purchase
[Re: SeaRefractor]
#4855804 - 10/11/11 01:49 PM
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Yes, please post pics of your progress!
I'll be very interested to see how you make out, and also the processes involved.
Tom
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pbunn
super member
Reged: 09/29/10
Loc: SC, USA
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Re: Surplus Shed 127mm cell/tube kits :Group purchase
[Re: Tom McDonald]
#4861195 - 10/14/11 04:55 PM
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I have both the 700mm and 1200 mm objective.
I received a 48 " long piece of 6" .083" aluminum tubing today from Global Technology and Engineering. It came in about the same condition as Hastings tube (the cut was a little rougher (square but with a few burrs) but it was very nicely packaged in a square cardboard box. The last Hastings tube I got had a address label stuck on the side with no packing and got some shipping dents via the ups trip.
The tube will still require some substantial sanding to smooth it up.
I also have a price to get it powder coated for $40 which is much less than I have paid in the past.
Is anyone building a 1200 mm fl scope. Any ideas on trimming the al tube to length? I am thinking table saw but I don't like that idea all that much.
Pat Bunn
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herrointment
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 03/12/11
Loc: North of Hwy. 64
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Re: Surplus Shed 127mm cell/tube kits :Group purchase
[Re: pbunn]
#4861234 - 10/14/11 05:15 PM
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Hey, I'm building a 1200 and as soon as my focuser ships I'll start on it.
I believe the thread by Mel on an SS build had a good trick for cutting aluminum tubing. I think you can find it in the ATM stickies.
Pretty vague help but it's all I've got.
Good Luck!
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pbunn
super member
Reged: 09/29/10
Loc: SC, USA
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Re: Surplus Shed 127mm cell/tube kits :Group purchase
[Re: herrointment]
#4861286 - 10/14/11 05:55 PM
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Have you mounted the objective. If so , any problems?
Pat
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herrointment
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 03/12/11
Loc: North of Hwy. 64
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Re: Surplus Shed 127mm cell/tube kits :Group purchase
[Re: pbunn]
#4861312 - 10/14/11 06:12 PM
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It sits in the unopened box next to the cell. Sorry.
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pbunn
super member
Reged: 09/29/10
Loc: SC, USA
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Re: Surplus Shed 127mm cell/tube kits :Group purchase
[Re: herrointment]
#4861318 - 10/14/11 06:19 PM
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Mine too - I may wait for your to give it a try - never built a refractor.
Are you going to baffle yours?
Pat
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Tom McDonald
sage
Reged: 12/19/06
Loc: No where man!
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Re: Surplus Shed 127mm cell/tube kits :Group purchase
[Re: pbunn]
#4861327 - 10/14/11 06:30 PM
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I just placed an order with Danny (Crawmach) for another lens cell. So yes, I too will be building the 1200 as well as the 700. Still waiting for my tube from Hastings. I ordered a six foot piece. That will cover both scopes. Just need to order the focuser kit from Danny if he has any left.
Cutting the tube to length is not the problem, it's cutting it SQUARE! A table saw will do the job if done slowly and carefully, but I think a regular hand held hacksaw used as Mel did in his build report is the safest way to do it. Less chance of a catastrophe! I know table saws, never had a problem myself, but I would be leary of using one to cut an aluminum tube. One "grab" and blood and broken bones (or worse!) are the result!
Slow and steady is the way I'll be doing it!
Tom
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herrointment
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 03/12/11
Loc: North of Hwy. 64
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Re: Surplus Shed 127mm cell/tube kits :Group purchase
[Re: pbunn]
#4861358 - 10/14/11 06:54 PM
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I baffled my wooden 700.
After reading that TV flocks their tubes I wonder if I want to do it again.
I jumped into this group build for the simple fact that I could build a 5 INCH REFRACTOR. I was out of the hobby for 30+ years and in 1973 a scope like that was an impossible dream.
Times have changed. My Celestron 8SE (impossible dream #2} has been a great scope to jump back in with.
I had fun building my wooden 700 SS and really enjoy using it. The previous SS build threads have a wealth of info in them. Anything I know came from those generous folks. They are all good reads and I recommend them. Also, I got over my fear of wrecking something building my 700. I've wasted lots more money on lots worse things. My 700 has had 2 lens cells built so far....#1 was really bad and the present one, while much better is nothing I'd show to the neighbors. I am planning cell #3....and I'll admit the lens is a bit worse for the wear.....but how else will I learn?
Finally I'll add that while waiting for our parts I bought a Orion 120 F/8.3 Achro OTA right here in the S and S section. It works well....but it isn't a C8.
So maybe the shine has worn off a bit. For me at least.
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herrointment
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 03/12/11
Loc: North of Hwy. 64
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Re: Surplus Shed 127mm cell/tube kits :Group purchase
[Re: herrointment]
#4861386 - 10/14/11 07:21 PM
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Also...I'm seriously considering shortening my 700 tube to try with my new WO binoviewers.
My tiger maple tube was dyed orange by some idiot and I've never liked it much, so what have I got to lose?
Heating season is here and the shop is gettin' cold.
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rboe
Reged: 03/16/02
Loc: Phx, AZ
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Re: Surplus Shed 127mm cell/tube kits :Group purchase
[Re: herrointment]
#4861412 - 10/14/11 07:59 PM
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Mine is the 1200mm version, no tube, no flocking yet. I have a delta mitre box saw to try the cut with. 6" may be too much so I may buy a new mitre saw (I've been looking for several years so this is as good a time as any to get one).
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