· Get a Cloudy Nights T-Shirt · Submit a Review / Article Click here if you are having trouble logging into the forums Privacy Policy | Please read our Terms of Service | Signup and Troubleshooting FAQ | Problems? PM a Red or a Green Gu… uh, User You are not logged in. [Login] Entrance · Main Index · Search · New user · Who's Online FAQ · Calendar Equipment Discussions >> Mounts Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Pages: 1 orlyandico Carpal Tunnel Reged: 08/10/09 Loc: Singapore New uses for an old Celestron tripod       #5609410 - 01/06/13 10:59 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I got this old Celestron adjustable tripod (I think from a Powerstar.. 1980s vintage) off the classifieds for 75 bucks (plus shipping). I asked the seller the diameter of the top plate and he said it was 6.5 inches in diameter. I thought I would be able to adopt this to my application by drilling and tapping some new holes because I'm too cheap to buy a Rob Miller tripod and my 30-lb home-made wooden tripod is getting annoying to haul around. The tripod has some existing through-holes and (tapped) blind holes in the base plate, which match to bosses on the back of the base: The seller did say that the base plate was only 0.125" thick, so I thought I'd have to epoxy some aluminum backing plates or fender washers to the underside to strengthen the base around the new holes I'd drill. To my great surprise.. these holes are an exact fit for my application (no drilling required!): In fact the mount looks like it belongs on this piece of 1980s technology: Post Extras:       Agatha professor emeritus Reged: 06/04/12 Loc: Minneapolis, MN Re: New uses for an old Celestron tripod [Re: orlyandico]       #5609576 - 01/07/13 01:39 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   That's amazing. What a neat tripod. Does it have a leg spreader of some sort? Does it seem solid? I sure like the look of it. Best, Linda B. Post Extras:       orlyandico Carpal Tunnel Reged: 08/10/09 Loc: Singapore Re: New uses for an old Celestron tripod [Re: Agatha]       #5609586 - 01/07/13 01:53 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   It does have a leg spreader.. this is the actual tripod that i bought (more pictures) - http://www.cloudynights.com/classifieds/showproduct.php?product=71240 the problem i see with the spreader is that the end-clamps are plastic. but heck it's lasted 25 years... and supposedly Celestron sold them underneath the C11. That said, this one's not as solid as my 30-lb wood tripod. But I think its due to the crumbling 25-year-old rubber feet. Post Extras:       korborh professor emeritus Reged: 01/29/11 Re: New uses for an old Celestron tripod [Re: orlyandico]       #5611086 - 01/07/13 10:45 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   wicked latitude angle Post Extras:       orlyandico Carpal Tunnel Reged: 08/10/09 Loc: Singapore Re: New uses for an old Celestron tripod [Re: korborh]       #5611104 - 01/07/13 10:54 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Yeah, I'm learning to use the Quick Drift align because Polaris is invisible and a regular drift align takes forever... Post Extras:       korborh professor emeritus Reged: 01/29/11 Re: New uses for an old Celestron tripod [Re: orlyandico]       #5611114 - 01/07/13 10:58 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   QDA needs practice. I used to be able do it earlier but now use PemPRO drift align so have forgotten it. QDA works well but is easy to forget without practice. Post Extras:       orlyandico Carpal Tunnel Reged: 08/10/09 Loc: Singapore Re: New uses for an old Celestron tripod [Re: korborh]       #5611139 - 01/07/13 11:14 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I thought you just find a star near zenith, recalibrate on it, then set meridian delay, force the mount to flip and point at it again.. it will be off (by some amount) depending on how far off you are from the pole. Well at least I thought that's how it is... might explain why my attempts haven't been so good. I will try using PEMPro as well, but it requires access to much of the sky and my balcony has a fairly limited view. Post Extras:       CJK professor emeritus Reged: 12/05/12 Loc: Scenic SE TN Re: New uses for an old Celestron tripod [Re: orlyandico]       #5611189 - 01/07/13 11:55 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I love the juxtaposition of a $6000 mount with a $75 tripod! -- Chris Post Extras:       orlyandico Carpal Tunnel Reged: 08/10/09 Loc: Singapore Re: New uses for an old Celestron tripod [Re: CJK]       #5611197 - 01/07/13 11:58 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   hahaha that's the idea Post Extras:       CJK professor emeritus Reged: 12/05/12 Loc: Scenic SE TN Re: New uses for an old Celestron tripod [Re: orlyandico]       #5611202 - 01/08/13 12:01 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   -- Chris Post Extras:       Geo. Carpal Tunnel Reged: 10/01/08 Loc: Upstate NY Re: New uses for an old Celestron tripod [Re: CJK]       #5620927 - 01/13/13 02:30 PM Attachment (8 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I was looking through my '80s Celestron product guide and came across the description of this model. They called it the "Adjustable Tripod." Guess because it replaced the fixed height "locked triangle" model. It has a center post with a sliding collar that has a spreader set up like an upside down umbrella. The center post has an inner section (omitted on the economy version) that can be pulled up and used as a camera mount. Another coincidence, notice the line up of the holes on the Losmandy G9 adapter plate line up with those on the Adjustable Tripod. Post Extras:       Geo. Carpal Tunnel Reged: 10/01/08 Loc: Upstate NY Re: New uses for an old Celestron tripod [Re: Geo.]       #5620933 - 01/13/13 02:33 PM Attachment (7 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   And with the G0 aboard. Post Extras:       orlyandico Carpal Tunnel Reged: 08/10/09 Loc: Singapore Re: New uses for an old Celestron tripod [Re: Geo.]       #5621381 - 01/13/13 06:20 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Curious coincidences.. I just loaded mine up with the C9. Its stable enough to have round stars at 10 minutes (guided of course). Post Extras:       Pages: 1 Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Extra information 21 registered and 35 anonymous users are browsing this forum. 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