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Pages: 1 James Cunningham Carpal Tunnel Reged: 08/07/10 Loc: Maryland Collimation screws       #5272574 - 06/15/12 10:25 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I installed Bob's knobs about 2 years ago. They have worked just fine but you can't turn them precisely enough to get near perfect collimation. I have long since discarded or can't find the original collimation screws. Does anyone know where I can find some. My original were metric with a slotted head (I think). I would love to get some with a hex head. Thanks. Jim Post Extras:       Peter in Reno Post Laureate Reged: 07/15/08 Loc: Reno, NV Re: Collimation screws [Re: James Cunningham]       #5272611 - 06/15/12 10:46 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Try www.mcmaster.com . Bring Bob's Knobs to Home Depot to determine the exact size of the screws and threads before ordering screws. Home Depot may have screws but I doubt it. The original screws were Philips head. Hex head screws would work better. Peter Post Extras:       James Cunningham Carpal Tunnel Reged: 08/07/10 Loc: Maryland Re: Collimation screws [Re: Peter in Reno]       #5272623 - 06/15/12 10:52 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Thanks. I also need to know the length of the original screws. I should be able to order a hex head stainless screw that is the right metric size and length as the original. Post Extras:       Bob Griffiths Getting Grouchy Reged: 10/10/05 Loc: Frederick Maryland Re: Collimation screws [Re: Peter in Reno]       #5272626 - 06/15/12 10:53 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Super glue a penny on each of the 3 bobs knobs...makes "grabbing them" easier and makes turning one a half a hair much easier.. Those of us with FAT fingers have a hard time knowing if we are actually turning one of the Bobs knows ..with the penny its easy.. Bob G Post Extras:       Peter in Reno Post Laureate Reged: 07/15/08 Loc: Reno, NV Re: Collimation screws [Re: Bob Griffiths]       #5272640 - 06/15/12 10:59 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   You should be able to know the length of the screws by removing one of Bob's Knobs screws and measure. You are going to remove them anyway so bring it to Home Depot to find out the thread size and diameter. I would order several sets of different lengths. Screws are cheap so you'll have extra parts. McMaster-Carr has very speedy delivery and you should get them in a few days. Peter Post Extras:       James Cunningham Carpal Tunnel Reged: 08/07/10 Loc: Maryland Re: Collimation screws [Re: Bob Griffiths]       #5272641 - 06/15/12 11:00 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Wouldn't a dime work better since it has ridges on the outside? Or even a quarter? Post Extras:       Peter in Reno Post Laureate Reged: 07/15/08 Loc: Reno, NV Re: Collimation screws [Re: James Cunningham]       #5272653 - 06/15/12 11:03 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Be extremely careful when handling super glue. Once it gets on the lens corrector you will never get the glue off. This is assuming gluing while the screws are still on the secondary mirror. Peter Post Extras:       Larry F Carpal Tunnel Reged: 05/24/04 Loc: Westchester, NY Re: Collimation screws [Re: Peter in Reno]       #5272927 - 06/15/12 02:16 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   How about emailing Celestron? How about someone with an 1100 that's in need of collimation simply remove one screw, measure it, post the information, replace the screw and get on with the collimation? I have an 800 and I don't know if the screws are the same, and anyway I'm in good collimation right now, so I can't help. But there's got to be one of you 1100 folks that's going to collimate soon and can help Jimmy out. Taking out one screw doesn't put your secondary at risk of crashing into the primary. Plus, this reminds you NEVER to throw anything away and label everything and go to Home Depot and get one of those plastic parts suppply drawer thingies to keep all your bits and pieces in. Post Extras:       brianb11213 Postmaster Reged: 02/25/09 Loc: 55.215N 6.554W Re: Collimation screws [Re: James Cunningham]       #5273247 - 06/15/12 04:57 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Wouldn't a dime work better since it has ridges on the outside? Or even a quarter? Heck, you must be rich. Most of would have difficulty finding even three pennies to rub together. We've spent the rest on scopes ;-) Post Extras:       James Cunningham Carpal Tunnel Reged: 08/07/10 Loc: Maryland Re: Collimation screws [Re: Bob Griffiths]       #5286736 - 06/24/12 01:13 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Thanks to Bob in Frederick, I superglued a dime on each of Bob's Knobs and the glue held and I was able to get more purchase with the dime. Then I started thinking. Why not super glue the heads off of a hex screw onto the top of the dime. It works! Last night, I was able to turn the collimation screws with the hex key and also can still turn the Bob's Knobs by hand. My only problem is that I used two different size hex heads so I need to keep two different hex keys hand for collimation. That is not a real problem. Post Extras:       gfeulner member Reged: 11/23/07 Loc: Bergen county, New Jersey Re: Collimation screws [Re: James Cunningham]       #5501621 - 11/02/12 09:42 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   This is a GREAT idea! I have to collimate my scope a lot and will give this a try. One thing though. Make sure to use dimes dated after 1965 because the ones prior to that date are 90 percent silver and are worth over $2.00 apiece!! Post Extras:       barbarosa professor emeritus Reged: 04/11/10 Loc: "lamorinda", CA Re: Collimation screws [Re: gfeulner]       #5502682 - 11/03/12 05:25 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: ...use dimes dated after 1964 because the ones prior to that date are 90 percent silver and are worth over $2.00 apiece!! A small price to pay for a top quality accessory. Go first cabin and get Mercury dimes. Ebay They cost a bit more but you deserve the very best. Get yours on Ebay but tell folks that they came from Arpiffle and van Clef. Post Extras:       Bob Griffiths Getting Grouchy Reged: 10/10/05 Loc: Frederick Maryland Re: Collimation screws [Re: barbarosa]       #5503693 - 11/04/12 10:25 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I used 1943 LEAD Pennies... (The only year that pennies were made of lead !) I was born in 1943 and have, over the years, pocketed every single one of those pennies that ever passed thru my hands.... You guys can use all the silver coins you want.. Bob G. Post Extras:       mclewis1 Thread Killer Reged: 02/25/06 Loc: New Brunswick, Canada Re: Collimation screws [Re: Bob Griffiths]       #5503892 - 11/04/12 01:00 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Lead, lots of lead in his hands and pockets over the years ... hmmmmm, this is starting to make sense. Mark Post Extras:       aamilo member Reged: 02/28/12 Loc: SF Bay Area, CA Re: Collimation screws [Re: Bob Griffiths]       #5505593 - 11/05/12 03:23 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: I used 1943 LEAD Pennies... (The only year that pennies were made of lead !) Umm... you mean steel, right? They never made lead pennies. I can only imagine all the "Lead Poisoning" lawsuits if they had. Post Extras:       faltered sage Reged: 04/01/05 Re: Collimation screws [Re: aamilo]       #5507187 - 11/06/12 04:30 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   yeah, the 1943 Pennies were made out of steel. A VERY small amount were made out of copper, and were a mistake. And are worth a LOT of money. Post Extras:       barbarosa professor emeritus Reged: 04/11/10 Loc: "lamorinda", CA Re: Collimation screws [Re: faltered]       #5508507 - 11/07/12 03:03 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Zinc plated steel, sooner or later turning a dull color. Some folks did and do call them lead pennies. Post Extras:       doctomster member Reged: 02/04/08 Loc: North Carolina Re: Collimation screws [Re: barbarosa]       #5579322 - 12/19/12 05:31 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   the screws are metric M3 .5 x 10mm Lowes hardware sells the pan head slotted screws. I was also able to go to specialty fastening shop and get a hex head version which makes for a better choice Post Extras:       KerryR Carpal Tunnel Reged: 12/05/07 Loc: SW Michigan Re: Collimation screws [Re: doctomster]       #5580738 - 12/20/12 01:45 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   The tall-headed hex screws with the knurled sides are nice because you can insert an Allen key into them, and the key will stay there if you're gentle. So, you can put one key in each screw and leave them there while you collimate. The length makes teeny adjustments a breeze. If you put a small rubber band around all three, the inward torque will help keep the keys in place even better. It's helpful to affix a small, colorful flag made from colored duct tape or colored electrical tape, so that you can find them should you dislodge one to the ground while collimating. Post Extras:       Pages: 1

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