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"Non-astronomy" equipment adapted for astronomy?

Started by Jack Tripper , Jan 17 2010 08:53 PM

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1571 replies to this topic

#501 seryddwr

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Loc: 55 Cancri e

Posted 24 November 2013 - 12:52 AM

I didn't think to post this here, until now. This is somewhat in the vein of "Beating Swords into Plowshares": I built a water-proof battery box using an ammo box from a 20mm gun. Here's the build thread.

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#502 tbuzzi1

Sputnik

Posts: 48
Joined: 14 Jan 2009
Loc: Brenham, Tx.

Posted 24 November 2013 - 12:03 PM

I have some formica and some kydex and am hoping to make a much lighter dew shield than the one that came with my 6" f5.9 astrotelescope refractor. Bought some flocking from Scope Stuff (very good people to work with)and will use that to line the dewshield if I can bend it enough to make the cylinder. The stock shield/cap is about 3 pounds on this "bulldog" of a scope so I have lots or room to improve the situation.

Muhammad Arif likes this

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#503 tbuzzi1

Sputnik

Posts: 48
Joined: 14 Jan 2009
Loc: Brenham, Tx.

Posted 24 November 2013 - 12:07 PM

All hail PVC! I have a pair of Celestron 15x70 binoes and was able to make a nifty pair of lens shade/ dew shields for them out of a pair of 3 inch pvc slip connectors. Spray painted flat black they are a perfect friction fit to slip over the ends of the bino tubes

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#504 DoctorNoodle

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Posted 24 November 2013 - 04:12 PM

Greg, that battery box is excellent! :bow:

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#505 seryddwr

Innocent Bystander

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Loc: 55 Cancri e

Posted 28 November 2013 - 05:00 PM

It was fun to make, too.

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#506 bevelhead

Lift Off

Posts: 9
Joined: 01 Dec 2013

Posted 09 December 2013 - 06:41 PM

48mm camera filters work fine in 2" eyepieces. They can be had pretty cheap. I just bought this lot.
http://www.ebay.com/...range-UV-Pol...

Michael Covington likes this

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#507 Perseus_m45

Viking 1

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Joined: 16 Jul 2011
Loc: Pennsylvania Appalachian Plateau region

Posted 01 February 2014 - 07:23 PM

my dog run observatory!
mike h

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Deep13, buddyjesus, BinoGuy and 3 others like this

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#508 dandabson

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Loc: Dover, DE

Posted 02 February 2014 - 10:11 AM

my dog run observatory!
mike h

Is the top cover self made?

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#509 csa/montana

Den Mama & Gold Star Award Winner

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Posted 02 February 2014 - 10:25 AM

I'm wondering about the weight of snow or heavy rain on the cover. :question:

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#510 Perseus_m45

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Posted 02 February 2014 - 03:31 PM

the top is a sun resistant tarp 12'x14' heavy duty from home depot. I have it braced like an umbrella on the inside so no problems with rain or snow. If I think the snow is getting too heavy I sweep it off no biggy.I have it very taut with a lot of straps bolted to the rail road ties. More straps than is in the picture. I wanted a 12'x12' tarp but they sent me the wrong one so I used it anyway. Its been up 3 years now and has stood everything but a tornado. heavy rains-heavy snows-50mph winds..

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ZeusB and DAG792 like this

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#511 fjs

Cosmos

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Posted 02 February 2014 - 04:53 PM

That is a great implementation of a great idea!

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#512 Perseus_m45

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Posted 02 February 2014 - 05:16 PM

thanks frank, and better yet no new taxes because its a non permanent building..

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#513 fjs

Cosmos

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Loc: Olympic Peninsula, les États-Unis

Posted 02 February 2014 - 06:08 PM

better yet no new taxes because its a non permanent building..

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#514 Herr Ointment

Cosmos

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Posted 02 February 2014 - 06:55 PM

That's the ticket!

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#515 csa/montana

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Posted 02 February 2014 - 07:19 PM

From the other image, it looked like it just rolled flat over the top.

Very nice!

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#516 Perseus_m45

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Posted 02 February 2014 - 10:09 PM

I figured that's what you were thinking carol.and if anyone is interested in building the dog run observatory just let me know because there are a few tricks I have discovered over the past 3 years that need to be done. if I can do it anyone can.

mike h

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#517 Tom Andrews

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Posted 02 February 2014 - 10:14 PM

That is such a clever idea!

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#518 Perseus_m45

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Loc: Pennsylvania Appalachian Plateau region

Posted 03 February 2014 - 08:17 AM

4 inchs of really wet snow over night carol..

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#519 Perseus_m45

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Posted 03 February 2014 - 08:18 AM

!

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#520 Traveler

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Loc: The Netherlands

Posted 04 February 2014 - 10:52 AM

Great idea Mike!

What are your tricks?

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#521 Perseus_m45

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Loc: Pennsylvania Appalachian Plateau region

Posted 04 February 2014 - 12:25 PM

use common sense!! any seams get duct taped and I mean really duct taped. I used all stainless fasteners. All tarps are uv rated..I used 6x8 tarps. On the weather side the roof tarp is bolted on by first bolting on a 1x6x10 to the top of the dog run frame. I used large size pipe straps to secure dog run on the r/r ties..alot of them!and I used them to bolt on the 1x6x10. You have to make that a very secure board as that's the direction of most of my high winds. Its my west facing side.

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#522 Perseus_m45

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Loc: Pennsylvania Appalachian Plateau region

Posted 04 February 2014 - 12:32 PM

use plenty of eye bolts to secure the roof tarp to the r/r ties. The tighter the better (but not so much it rips the roof tarp)all the poles used on the inside to hold up the roof tarp are cover on the ends with soft sponge as not to poke holes in the roof.

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#523 Perseus_m45

Viking 1

Posts: 822
Joined: 16 Jul 2011
Loc: Pennsylvania Appalachian Plateau region

Posted 04 February 2014 - 12:46 PM

the boards that you see on the west side of the shed are for a roof tarp cradle in case you want to use both scopes during the night. If only one scope being used you won't need the cradle.