27 replies to this topic

[marbz]

I'm copying this post from another thread I placed in the DIY section. Someone there suggested I post it here since this is a classic telescope. In the attached photo you can see my Bushnell telescope attached to an aluminum rail with rubber bands. I found the original mount too fiddly and jiggly, so I attached the aluminum rail to an alt-az tripod.

 

I tried this "test rig" last night and it worked out well. So well that I'd like to implement a more permanent solution, because finding the Moon and Jupiter were darn easy using this setup.

 

So I'm looking for suggestions as to what I might use to more securely connect the telescope to the aluminum rail. I'd like to keep the integrity of the tube original, and not add holes to it.

 

Ideally, I'd like to also be able to make it a simple process to remove the tube from the rail in the future, if it's ever necessary.

 

Maybe there are clamshells or rings already available for sale commercially, that would make the connection even better than this setup. If so, I'm unaware of who makes one that will fit this scope, or where to buy one.

 

Any suggestions will be much appreciated. Thanks so much!

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[ericb760]

I recently purchased an old Meade 226 OTA, which is a 60mm like your Bushnell. Looking for mounting solutions without drilling holes led me to purchase a set 70mm guidescope rings from Aliexpress. They have yet to arrive but I will certainly let you know my opinion once they do. 

[gstrumol]

Maybe a pipe hanger strap might work? It has a U shaped profile where you could bolt down the ends onto the plate and line the insides with thick felt?

[cookjaiii]

Based on a tip from another CNer, I bought two of these for my Jason 313, 60mm refractor. The name-brand rings are very expensive, but there are lots of other vendors offering similar products at much lower prices.  "Mengs" was the brand I settled on.

 

https://www.usa.cano...=Black&type=New

 

There are different sizes of these rings as explained here:  https://photo.stacke...-ring-types-for

 

Mine are stamped "Ring A II (B)".  If I recall correctly, I had to add some felt to the inner surfaces of the rings to get them to fit the tube snugly. 

[deSitter]

Based on a tip from another CNer, I bought two of these for my Jason 313, 60mm refractor. The name-brand rings are very expensive, but there are lots of other vendors offering similar products at much lower prices.  "Mengs" was the brand I settled on.

 

https://www.usa.cano...=Black&type=New

 

There are different sizes of these rings as explained here:  https://photo.stacke...-ring-types-for

 

Mine are stamped "Ring A II (B)".  If I recall correctly, I had to add some felt to the inner surfaces of the rings to get them to fit the tube snugly. 

Yes this works. I have 2 of them on a Vixen bar. It's a near perfect fit for a classic 60mm tube which is about 62.5mm in OD. They cost about $10 on Amazon. I believe they are made to fit the Canon 70-200mm EF telephoto lens. You drill out the Vixen bar to pass a 1/4" screw for the tripod socket on the rings.

 

Canon want $168 for one ring! That's obscene!

 

Here - I replaced the black flock paper with green felt. The only annoyance with this ring is the lock nut, which is not captive.

 

https://www.amazon.c...e/dp/B07PLFSR46

 

-drl

Edited by deSitter, 31 October 2023 - 05:37 PM.

[LukaszLu]

Hi, I don't know what the situation is like in Seattle, but in Krakow (Poland) you can buy universal pipe clamps in DIY stores that have two useful features: 1) a rubber or felt lining on the inside that protects the paint and 2) welded nuts for screws that allow you to tighten the dovetail. I used this solution successfully in my Polarex 114 until Don helped me add the original cradle to the set.

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Edited by LukaszLu, 31 October 2023 - 04:41 PM.

[deSitter]

Hi, I don't know what the situation is like in Seattle, but in Krakow (Poland) you can buy universal pipe clamps in DIY stores that have two useful features: 1) a rubber or felt lining on the inside that protects the paint and 2) welded nuts for screws that allow you to tighten the dovetail. I used this solution successfully in my Polarex 114 until Don helped me add the original cradle to the set.

Please paint those before they rust

 

-drl

[LukaszLu]

Don sent me the original cradle, so I no longer use those handles - but they are galvanized, so they are not likely to corrode quickly.

[rayden68]

I use 2.9 inch cradle rings that have been padded with heavy felt for mounting all my 60mm scopes to mounts. I actually used vinyl electrical tape to connect a vixen dovetail bar directly to a scope before that since a 6omm is pretty light. Went around the scope and bar about ten times pulling it tight slightly on the front and back edge of the bar. Held tight for a year.

[marbz]

Thanks to all who responded! A member contacted me who was going to offer a pair of telephoto lens rings he was going to offer in the Giveaway section of CN. They're identical to the one's @cookjaiii mentioned in this thread. Now all I need to get is a rail, and my "helper" suggested this one... https://www.amazon.c...e/dp/B08TBTSFVV

[Ian King]

I purchased several sets of these 63mm rings via Zenmarket. They fit the typical 60mm scopes. ie Tasco, Astro Optical, Pentax, Kenko, Towa etc

 

https://scopetown.co...P/HSRA6063.html

[ericb760]

I just bought a set of 70mm pipe hangers from an industrial supply website to mount my in-transit Meade 226 refractor. They have a 1/4-20 nut on the bottom that should prove useful in mounting to a vixen dovetail. I just couldn't justify $100+ for traditional scope rings.

[deSitter]

I just bought a set of 70mm pipe hangers from an industrial supply website to mount my in-transit Meade 226 refractor. They have a 1/4-20 nut on the bottom that should prove useful in mounting to a vixen dovetail. I just couldn't justify $100+ for traditional scope rings.

That's probably going to be too loose. You can line them with thick lamp base felt with a stick-on backing like LukasLu did above. The felt is like 1/4" thick.

 

-drl

Edited by deSitter, 02 November 2023 - 08:31 PM.

[ericb760]

That's probably going to be too loose. You can line them with thick lamp base felt with a stick-on backing like LukasLu did above. The felt is like 1/4" thick.

 

-drl

No so. The I.D. with the rubber inserts in place measures at right around 58-60mm with the screws tightened all the way. I test fit them on my Meade 295 60mm and they feel quite snug.

[deSitter]

No so. The I.D. with the rubber inserts in place measures at right around 58-60mm with the screws tightened all the way. I test fit them on my Meade 295 60mm and they feel quite snug.

OK so 70mm didn't include those liners - good.

 

-drl

[Terra Nova]

These lens collar ring mounts come in various i.d.s, you might shop around to find two that work for your scope. I’ve used them for 60mm scopes in the past.

 

https://www.amazon.c...ZT1zcF9kZXRhaWw

[CarolinaBanker]

I recently purchased an old Meade 226 OTA, which is a 60mm like your Bushnell. Looking for mounting solutions without drilling holes led me to purchase a set 70mm guidescope rings from Aliexpress. They have yet to arrive but I will certainly let you know my opinion once they do. 

It’s a great OTA, but the yoke mount is awful and the finder is worse.

[ericb760]

It’s a great OTA, but the yoke mount is awful and the finder is worse.

According to the pictures the yoke mount is MIA and I try to always swap out the useless finders with a green laser pointer. I am in the process of cobbling together a useable mount out of parts and pieces I have been collecting.

[jragsdale]

I just put these ones up on eBay; https://www.ebay.com/itm/205375873610

[Jay_Reynolds_Freeman]

Just to make it obvious to possible newcomers: There is no standard size for the outer diameter of tubes for 60 mm refractors -- coincidentally, I just yesterday had occasion to measure the tube diameter of my 60 mm Takahashi Teegul-60 -- that diameter was 80 mm.

 

Amazon.com lists lots of diameters of pipe hangers, for example, here ...

 

 

Clear sky ...

[deSitter]

Just to make it obvious to possible newcomers: There is no standard size for the outer diameter of tubes for 60 mm refractors -- coincidentally, I just yesterday had occasion to measure the tube diameter of my 60 mm Takahashi Teegul-60 -- that diameter was 80 mm.

 

Amazon.com lists lots of diameters of pipe hangers, for example, here ...

 

 

Clear sky ...

Nevertheless, most classic 60mm reflractors have a tube diameter of around 62mm. I have a set of rings intended to mount a Canon telephoto around its waist that are perfect for my Towas and Astro-Optical and Kenko scopes.

 

-drl

[petmic]

Towa, Kenko, Tasco 9VR are all 62mm O.D.
Unitron 114 is somewhat different at 68mm O.D.

[deSitter]

Towa, Kenko, Tasco 9VR are all 62mm O.D.
Unitron 114 is somewhat different at 68mm O.D.

I have 1 Kenko, 1 Bushnell (optics?), several Towas, and an Astro-Optical 60mm. All of them work with the Canon lens ring (you need 2 of course).

 

-drl

[deSitter]

I have 1 Kenko, 1 Bushnell (optics?), several Towas, and an Astro-Optical 60mm. All of them work with the Canon lens ring (you need 2 of course).

 

-drl

I measured my Towa and the diameter is 62.6mm - I used a similar ring to this one, 61mm.

 

https://www.amazon.c...9015311-2448168

 

The threads are standard 1/4-20 tripod. I drilled out the threads for a more secure attachment to the dovetail.

 

Attached is a pic of the scope I just measured. The rest are the same.

 

-drl

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[6642]

I measured my Towa and the diameter is 62.6mm - I used a similar ring to this one, 61mm.

 

https://www.amazon.c...9015311-2448168

 

The threads are standard 1/4-20 tripod. I drilled out the threads for a more secure attachment to the dovetail.

 

Attached is a pic of the scope I just measured. The rest are the same.

 

-drl

 

I used your solution to be able to mount the OTA of my vintage 60/800 refractor on an altazymutal mount

The system works very well, you just have to adapt the inner diameter of the rings with self-adhesive felt so that the OTA slides well without play

The result is very nice

 

 

Pascal