· 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 >> ATM, Optics and DIY Forum Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Pages: 1 Brent Campbell sage Reged: 02/09/10 Loc: Olympia, WA Has anyone buit an Alt Atz Mount before       #5639198 - 01/23/13 04:25 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I have a dilema: I have an Orion Express 80 and I am having trouble with it. I was planning on using the mount from a Celestron 102 GT (with beefed up tripod legs from a larger Celestron Nexstar mount) to use this thing. Trouble is the Nexstar mount broke down after about 5 minutes..I only had $30.00 into this mount so no foul for me! I am short of funds for astro toys right now. (Two brake jobs and a piano to buy for my little one) I have the following resources. 1) The large aluminum tripod from the Nexstar- similar to what would be on a nexstar 5 2) a couple of nice velbon camera tripods that are just too darn small. The one I can can use for canabilization has a geared center post. The tripod head is nothing to write home about however. 3) Dovetail bar for the Express 80 - although it natively accepts camera tripods 4) Parts from the 102 GT mount-most specifically the vixen saddle which is removable by using a bolt. Its a circular piece of metal with a center bolt with the saddle on it. 5) An extensive collection of woodworking tools 6) The scope which appears to be a beauty with excellent optics and is complete except for the mount. I need ideas....How can I shake real hard, add some work, and come up with a usable tripod. I have considered a pipe mount but I am afraid that it woudl be too heavy. Any mount pictures out there? Post Extras:       S.Boerner super member Reged: 04/29/10 Loc: Eastern Missouri Re: Has anyone buit an Alt Atz Mount before [Re: Brent Campbell]       #5639212 - 01/23/13 04:35 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Look at Berry Mounts (Richard Berry). One thread here: http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Number/4542136 Post Extras:       neo Carpal Tunnel Reged: 02/12/08 Loc: Iasi, Romania Re: Has anyone buit an Alt Atz Mount before [Re: S.Boerner]       #5639238 - 01/23/13 04:59 PM Attachment (47 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Here's my quick and dirty mount that I built a while back out of metal brakets (or whatever you call them) used for wood constructions and some teflon washers. Simple and cheap. Post Extras:       StarStuff1 Carpal Tunnel Reged: 04/01/07 Loc: South of the Mason-Dixon Line Re: Has anyone buit an Alt Atz Mount before [Re: S.Boerner]       #5639239 - 01/23/13 05:00 PM Attachment (39 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   A pipe mount doesn't have to be that heavy. Post Extras:       StarStuff1 Carpal Tunnel Reged: 04/01/07 Loc: South of the Mason-Dixon Line Re: Has anyone buit an Alt Atz Mount before [Re: StarStuff1]       #5639241 - 01/23/13 05:03 PM Attachment (33 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Lightweight tripods made out of wood can be very sturdy. Post Extras:       scopemankit sage Reged: 01/27/09 Loc: south africa Re: Has anyone buit an Alt Atz Mount before [Re: StarStuff1]       #5641120 - 01/24/13 05:34 PM Attachment (23 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Here is a simple but very effective alt-az mount. On the vertical down pressure are a teflon pad and a ball bearing and on the up pressure, a ball bearing. The alt bearings are three cd's bonded together running on a nylon friction pad. Post Extras:       Ed D Carpal Tunnel Reged: 04/30/10 Loc: Sunny South Florida Re: Has anyone buit an Alt Atz Mount before [Re: scopemankit]       #5641468 - 01/24/13 08:55 PM Attachment (25 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Here's my wood Alt-Az mount on a construction tripod. Ed D Post Extras:       Astrowood sage Reged: 04/02/05 Loc: New Brunswick, Canada Re: Has anyone buit an Alt Atz Mount before [Re: Ed D]       #5641588 - 01/24/13 09:52 PM Attachment (21 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Lots of good ideas in this thread. Here is the one I made Post Extras:       Pinbout Post Laureate Reged: 02/22/10 Loc: Montclair Re: Has anyone buit an Alt Atz Mount before [Re: Astrowood]       #5641642 - 01/24/13 10:22 PM Attachment (21 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I drew a alt az head with 4in round bearing surface and posted it to sketch-up site... Post Extras:       ed_turco Pooh-Bah Reged: 08/29/09 Loc: Lincoln, RI Re: Has anyone buit an Alt Atz Mount before [Re: Pinbout]       #5642390 - 01/25/13 11:35 AM Attachment (26 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   You could always try this; it is only a suggestion but ****ed sturdy and cheap. The tripod head and crutches weigh only 5 pounds and I sat on the thing to see if it would hold up. I think 200 pounds for a tripod that cost me next to nothing, has to be pretty good. Edited by ed_turco (01/25/13 11:38 AM) Post Extras:       Pages: 1 Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Extra information 2 registered and 18 anonymous users are browsing this forum. 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