csa/montana
Den Mother
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 39594
Loc: montana
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Drzeus: My degree circle was printed out on one large sheet of paper; the Altitude scale was in the middle. I had the entire sheet laminated at Staples, front & back for $2.
Then, I simply cut out the Altitude scale, affixed it w/ double-stick tape. Then I cut the Azimuth circle out (just cut the center portion up to the degrees), & again used double-stick tape to hold it in place. If you have the correct size for your base; there is no concern about error, when placing it.
I hope this helps you a little!  Just keep asking questions, believe me, I asked so many questions with this project, that it almost was embarrassing! 
I admire you for going ahead with this project, you will certainly gain much benefit when complete!
Carol
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Pentaxes; 5XW, 7XL, 10XW.
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
TV Panoptics; 22, 35
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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drzeus
member
Reged: 01/11/05
Posts: 84
Loc: Athens, Greece
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Brill thanks Carol, much as I thought. It will certainly be easier doing it that way than unscrewing everything.
I have a few improvements I want to make to my Skywatcher but I had to wait so so long to own a telescope I am really hesitant to get in there and get dirty in (unlike how I usually approach everything else!) in case something doesn't go right.
This is going to be so good  ! Thanks for all the encouragement - it's great when you read about things that can be done and, hey, other people are doing them why not me?!
Now ... if only we had Staples here!
Edited by drzeus (01/16/07 04:18 PM)
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csa/montana
Den Mother
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 39594
Loc: montana
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I'm like you, I don't want to mess with things, in case I can't get them back the way they should be
What you end up with is a "ring" with the center cut out; much easier!
Carol
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Pentaxes; 5XW, 7XL, 10XW.
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
TV Panoptics; 22, 35
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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spudrick
member
Reged: 10/22/06
Posts: 20
Loc: Melton, Victoria, Australia
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Update: trying the circles made me realize that without a light it is not too good to see the scale during the night. So after a bit of playing around with LEDs and how to mount it i decided to use the original plastic handle supplied with the scope. This has a natural 45 degree edge so i drilled a hole from the backside of the handle and threaded a LED through to where the handle bolt connects then drilled a smaller hole parallel to the bolt hole and threaded the wires though to the inside of the base, connected a 12V DC plug and as you can see from the photo lights up and right on target!.
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Terry
I come from the Land Downunder.....
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kestrel0222
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 05/21/06
Posts: 2338
Loc: Milford, Michigan
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That's a great idea!!! I'm going to look into that for my scopes. Thanks for shearing your idea and photos!
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Tom
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csa/montana
Den Mother
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 39594
Loc: montana
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What a fantastic idea! I always have to use my red flashlight; Don't know anything about wiring, but am going to try this!
Thanks so much, great photo!
Carol
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Pentaxes; 5XW, 7XL, 10XW.
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
TV Panoptics; 22, 35
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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drzeus
member
Reged: 01/11/05
Posts: 84
Loc: Athens, Greece
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Oh this thread is great! Spudrick that is so cool. I have seen a couple of people use led's like this - great idea.
I mananged to print my circles out on several A4 sheets ... bit floppy so i tracked down a printers that did it in one piece: even tho it was 52x52 cm he initially printed it out 58cm! (My print was much better quality too tho  ). I have since realised a slight problem in that I have got into the habit of moving my base around a fair bit whilst viewing (due to being on a balcony I have to get in close to the railings to go high and go back from the railings to go low), which will mean realigning frequently. So I may have to go the metal strip + indicator way. Plus I definitely need a bubble level for the base. (Goody, a trip to a hardware store !!!!!)
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Higher always be your dreams and desire, to which you aspire,
Higher always, higher always.
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spudrick
member
Reged: 10/22/06
Posts: 20
Loc: Melton, Victoria, Australia
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Thanks guys just to show a bit of how i wanted it to look neat the drawing shows how i drilled through the handle and put the LED at the angle then threaded the wires through to the base at the back
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Terry
I come from the Land Downunder.....
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kestrel0222
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 05/21/06
Posts: 2338
Loc: Milford, Michigan
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That's nicely done!! I'll have to give it a try. Thanks for shearing the drawing with us!!!
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Tom
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csa/montana
Den Mother
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 39594
Loc: montana
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Spudrick: You definitely are not a newbie, in my eyes! 
Great idea, & exceptional drawing!
Thank you, for adding to this thread.
Carol
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Pentaxes; 5XW, 7XL, 10XW.
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
TV Panoptics; 22, 35
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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darklighteditor
Theatre King
Reged: 11/07/06
Posts: 3853
Loc: Tawas Bay, Michigan
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Spudrick - What a fantastic idea!
I knew that handle on the front of the Dob base was good for something.
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John
8" f/6 DBA Dob: 8X50 RACI, 2-speed Crayford
1.25": 25mm, 9mm GSO Plossls; 15mm, 20mm GSO SV;
5.7mm Antares W70; 8mm Hyperion.
2": 30mm GSO SV; 2X barlow.
Zhumell green laser light, Lumicon mount
UltraBlock, Oxygen III & DeepSky filters
"I am not the editor of a newspaper. And I shall always try to do right and be good, so that God will not make me one." - Mark Twain
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csa/montana
Den Mother
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 39594
Loc: montana
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Here is a new link to a digital inclinometer that our member Doug found & used, when he installed his degree circles system. It is much less expensive than the Sears model:
Wixey digital inclinometer
Thanks all for keeping up all the contributions to this thread!
Carol
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Pentaxes; 5XW, 7XL, 10XW.
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
TV Panoptics; 22, 35
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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kestrel0222
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 05/21/06
Posts: 2338
Loc: Milford, Michigan
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Carol,
Thanks for the link! I have been considering the Smarttools (Sears) inclinometer, but it is just too expensive for me. This one from Wixey sounds like it will work great for what I need it for. I have seen a few other ones, some are geared toward the auto industry. But this one by Wixey is the least expensive one that I have seen so far. It looks very basic and easy to use!!
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Tom
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jayscheuerle
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/16/06
Posts: 4034
Loc: S. Philadelphia, PA
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Also note that it retains its "zero" setting when off, so that once you zero it to horizontal, you're good to go. This isn't mentioned in the specs, but I got the info from Barry Wixey himself.
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Walk purposely with a concerned expression.
The Green Goblin - 12" of dobsonian excellence!
The PortaBowl-a $100 4.5" f/8 ball-scope YOU can build!
Eero2-a 6" f/5 ball-scope you probably can't. 
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kestrel0222
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 05/21/06
Posts: 2338
Loc: Milford, Michigan
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Jay,
Thanks, I was wondering if you had to "zero" it out every time you turned it on.
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Tom
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csa/montana
Den Mother
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 39594
Loc: montana
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Jay: It's a win/win tool! I like the more compact size also, not to mention the compact price!
Carol
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Pentaxes; 5XW, 7XL, 10XW.
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
TV Panoptics; 22, 35
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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kestrel0222
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 05/21/06
Posts: 2338
Loc: Milford, Michigan
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I just ordered a digital angle gauge from Wixey at 12:35 PM via their website. I got an email confirmation of shipment by priority mail at 2:07 PM!! They said I should have it by Tuesday the latest.
Wow, now that’s customer service!!! 
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Tom
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csa/montana
Den Mother
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 39594
Loc: montana
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Wow! Good going!
Carol
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Pentaxes; 5XW, 7XL, 10XW.
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
TV Panoptics; 22, 35
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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Terry1229
super member
Reged: 04/16/06
Posts: 144
Loc: North, Idaho
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Me too!
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Terry:
A 6" f8 dob with 14mm Anteres eyepiece
Wixey
Homemade EQ & stepper
QC pro4000
spc900
homemade ele. focuser
New [used] Meade 8" sc ota
New [used]] CG5
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csa/montana
Den Mother
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 39594
Loc: montana
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--------------------
Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Pentaxes; 5XW, 7XL, 10XW.
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
TV Panoptics; 22, 35
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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