Jaxdialation
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/01/07
Posts: 2448
Loc: Northeast, FL
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Thanks guys, I'm headlong into this project - go the setting circle from Kinkos today. How do we make the base-leveling process as pain free as possible? I have a Zuhmell was thinking of getting a small "+" shaped double level and mounting it permanently to the base. Even then I'm usually on concrete driveway at my house so what is an easy way to level the whole thing ?
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John
Stuff: TSA102 & EM400, RCOS 10RCA, STL- 6303, AP 1200GTO, too much software to list
My Image Gallery
My Weather
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coopman
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/23/06
Posts: 1539
Loc: South Louisiana
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How about using some small leveling wedges under the feet of the scope?
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Regards,
Clay
"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." Psalms 19:1
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Jaxdialation
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/01/07
Posts: 2448
Loc: Northeast, FL
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Thanks, great idea, but my azmuth movement is not the smoothest in the world. Maybe rubber wedges/doorstops would work though ??
Quote:
How about using some small leveling wedges under the feet of the scope?
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coopman
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/23/06
Posts: 1539
Loc: South Louisiana
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I found both steel and wooden leveling wedges on the internet when I did a search earlier today. Unless you use leveling screws of some sort, how else do you propose to get your scope level?
Edited by coopman (06/20/07 07:40 PM)
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Jaxdialation
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/01/07
Posts: 2448
Loc: Northeast, FL
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LOL, I don't have a proposal. I was hoping I was once again missing an obviously superior solution. Happens all the time to me.
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BradC
sage
Reged: 01/31/07
Posts: 446
Loc: St. Louis, MO
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THIS is the superior solution:
New Lightbridge Mods (see the first 5 or 6 posts to see Sky Captain's custom hand-machined leveling platform.)
Try not to drool too much.
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My God! It's full of stars!
Zhumell 10" dob - First Light Report
Celestron OptiView 10x50 LPR Binoculars
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Tom Andrews
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 01/25/07
Posts: 1000
Loc: Albuquerque, NM
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Quote:
Maybe rubber wedges/doorstops would work though ??
I've been using rubber door stops and they work great. I also bought a rubber floor mat (for vehicles) that I put down on the ground first then my base. It keeps dirt and moisture away plus helps keep the base from shifting. Rubber door stops under the wood feet of my base don't slip and the rubber stops sitting on the rubber floor mat don't slip.
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Tom
The Secret To Life:
Focus on what you have, not on what you don't;
Focus on what you can do, not on what you can't.
************************************************
2007 Discovery 12.5" PDHQ Split-Tube Dob w/manual setting circles/Telrad/Zhummel 8x50 RACI finder scope (*For Sale*)
Coulter Odessey 8" Dob
Celestron C11-SGT
Garrett Optical 15x70 Gemini Binoculars on homemade Parallelogram w/Setting Circles
The Albuquerque Astronomy Society (TAAS)
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Sky Captain
Metal Whisperer
Reged: 11/07/04
Posts: 7109
Loc: Issaquah, WA.
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Can anyone recommend a good place in the USA to pick up a Wixey digital. My local wood working shop is out till the end of July.
Thanks! 
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Equipment Overload!
Kerry
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BradC
sage
Reged: 01/31/07
Posts: 446
Loc: St. Louis, MO
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You could order it directly from the manufacturer. $40 and free shipping.
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My God! It's full of stars!
Zhumell 10" dob - First Light Report
Celestron OptiView 10x50 LPR Binoculars
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Jaxdialation
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/01/07
Posts: 2448
Loc: Northeast, FL
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Thanks Tom. Sounds like my plan "A" where did you get the mat ?
Quote:
Quote:
Maybe rubber wedges/doorstops would work though ??
I've been using rubber door stops and they work great. I also bought a rubber floor mat (for vehicles) that I put down on the ground first then my base. It keeps dirt and moisture away plus helps keep the base from shifting. Rubber door stops under the wood feet of my base don't slip and the rubber stops sitting on the rubber floor mat don't slip.
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Sky Captain
Metal Whisperer
Reged: 11/07/04
Posts: 7109
Loc: Issaquah, WA.
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Quote:
You could order it directly from the manufacturer. $40 and free shipping.
Thanks Brad!
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Equipment Overload!
Kerry
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justabob
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 05/05/07
Posts: 1635
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Quote:
Justabob,
Dave is right, a tilted base using a digital inclinometer will not cause the altitude reading to be off - level is level, 90 degrees is 90 degrees, etc.
Of course level is level, my point is the wixey is not that accurate. I have zeroed it on my work bench with a very large expensive level then checked it the next day to find it off .2 deg.
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http://www.pbase.com/rkn/astro&page=all
Vixen Sphinx SXW
Meade sn6
Canon EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM Lens
Hutech 1000d
Self modded 350d
DSI PRO II
Bob
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rnabholz
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 07/25/04
Posts: 897
Loc: Iowa
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Justabob,
Perhaps I misunderstood what you wrote which was:
"If your base is not spot on level the wixey will be off,"
The digital level's accuracy is not affected by the tilt of an unlevel base - it is that azimuth accuracy that will be affected. The Wixey will still show the correct altitude in spite of a leveling error in the base. That was the basis for my comment regarding level being level etc.
Rod
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Rod Nabholz
Home Built Astronomy Projects
Wild Bird Photography
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Tom Andrews
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 01/25/07
Posts: 1000
Loc: Albuquerque, NM
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Quote:
Thanks Tom. Sounds like my plan "A" where did you get the mat ?
Walmart.
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Tom
The Secret To Life:
Focus on what you have, not on what you don't;
Focus on what you can do, not on what you can't.
************************************************
2007 Discovery 12.5" PDHQ Split-Tube Dob w/manual setting circles/Telrad/Zhummel 8x50 RACI finder scope (*For Sale*)
Coulter Odessey 8" Dob
Celestron C11-SGT
Garrett Optical 15x70 Gemini Binoculars on homemade Parallelogram w/Setting Circles
The Albuquerque Astronomy Society (TAAS)
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coopman
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/23/06
Posts: 1539
Loc: South Louisiana
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I ordered my Wixey digital inclinometer today and bought a PDA last week, so I'm working my way towards getting my Dob ready to try this degree circle thing out. I have a concern though: How do I cut decent looking, accurate circles out of plywood sheet when I go to redo my Dob mounting? No matter what I do, I always seem to botch up the circles that I try to cut with my electric handheld jig saw. Is there a more accurate way to do this, short of having some fancy table saw gadget that I can't afford? Thanks for any advice.
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Regards,
Clay
"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." Psalms 19:1
Edited by coopman (06/26/07 06:26 PM)
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kwalker
sage
Reged: 08/22/06
Posts: 293
Loc: Oklahoma City, OK
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if you know of someone with a band saw there are alot of those people that have a template that they lay on the saw and will cut perfect circles.
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Keith
Zhumell 10" dobsonian with $12 "Push-To"
4mm & 9mm BO/TMB Planetary, 13mm Stratus, 17mm Stratus, 32mm Widefield
Orion shorty plus 2x barlow
Catseye Xl Triple Pro Pack
Glatter Laser
Celestron 15x70
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Tom Andrews
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 01/25/07
Posts: 1000
Loc: Albuquerque, NM
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Quote:
I have a concern though: How do I cut decent looking, accurate circles out of plywood sheet when I go to redo my Dob mounting? No matter what I do, I always seem to botch up the circles that I try to cut with my electric handheld jig saw. Is there a more accurate way to do this, short of having some fancy table saw gadget that I can't afford? Thanks for any advice.
Do you have to use plywood? I used foam board with self-adhesive...easy to cut.
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Tom
The Secret To Life:
Focus on what you have, not on what you don't;
Focus on what you can do, not on what you can't.
************************************************
2007 Discovery 12.5" PDHQ Split-Tube Dob w/manual setting circles/Telrad/Zhummel 8x50 RACI finder scope (*For Sale*)
Coulter Odessey 8" Dob
Celestron C11-SGT
Garrett Optical 15x70 Gemini Binoculars on homemade Parallelogram w/Setting Circles
The Albuquerque Astronomy Society (TAAS)
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Gigatron
professor emeritus
Reged: 12/10/05
Posts: 650
Loc: Staten Island, N.Y.
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Quote:
I ordered my Wixey digital inclinometer today and bought a PDA last week, so I'm working my way towards getting my Dob ready to try this degree circle thing out. I have a concern though: How do I cut decent looking, accurate circles out of plywood sheet when I go to redo my Dob mounting? No matter what I do, I always seem to botch up the circles that I try to cut with my electric handheld jig saw. Is there a more accurate way to do this, short of having some fancy table saw gadget that I can't afford? Thanks for any advice.
Depends on the size of the circle. If you're talking small size holes (up to about 4"), you can get a hole saw attachment for your drill at any decent hardware store.
For larger (like alt bearing cutouts), use a jig saw to cut close to the line, but not exact. This way if it's all jagged, it won't matter. Then, use a drum sander attachment for the drill to smooth out the cut up to the line. It's a little more work, but you'll get a better finish.
-Fred
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Meade ETX-90 UHTC, AutoStar 497,
Right angle viewfinder
Deluxe field tripod
Zhumell 10" dob
Telrad finder
GSO 8x50 RACI finder
Too many special modifications to list
2" 32mm GSO,
9mm GSO,
26mm,15mm,12.4mm,6mm Meade SP,
5mm,7mm,9mm Burgess/TMB planetary
Meade 2X Barlow
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rnabholz
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 07/25/04
Posts: 897
Loc: Iowa
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Not knowing much about your scope design, I can't say that this will work for sure in your plan, but I'll throw it out.
On my scope the scale is sandwiched between the groundboard and the rocker box. I had the scale printed on a translucent mylar using a xerographic process which makes it waterproof. I then mounted that to a circle that I cut out of countertop laminate.
I was able to cut the laminate with a tin snip, so getting a accurate cut was easy using scissor skills that I learned in Kindergarten - which is good because they haven't progressed much since that point 
Good Luck with the Project.
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Rod Nabholz
Home Built Astronomy Projects
Wild Bird Photography
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Bill Kocken
super member
Reged: 08/07/04
Posts: 192
Loc: Coon Rapids, MN
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The best way to cut circles in plywood is with a router mounted on a trammel. (I think that's what yuou call it.) Here's a photo of me cutting semi-circles into my old Meade's base. The router pivots around a screw which goes through the plastic square, I used a big 1/2" straight router bit because the MDF cuts easily The two bars are adjustable so I can easily adjust the circle size. Router cost $90, bit cost $25, parts to make trammel $10. If you're cutting that stuff, wear a dust mask!
Next to my table saw and drill press, the router is my most used ATM tool.
Edited by Bill Kocken (06/27/07 10:06 PM)
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