Guest dardano Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 Hi guys, I've made few modifications to my dobson base this weekend. 2 rubber door stop to protect the tube from hitting the wood base. Lazy Susan bearing Setting circle (azimuthal) 19" diameter and fully plastified 2¼" viewing hole to see where I'm pointing. 360° level. Here are some shots and the link to the full album. 1 2 3 4 5 For the needle, I bought a cheap plastic clock for 5 $ and took the clock needles Here the link if you want to view more : http://s327.beta.photobucket.com/user/dardano12/library/SkyWatcher%20Dobson%208/Dobson%20Base%20Mod For now I didn't put slide glides and just adjust the tightening of the center bold to make the rotation less "free roller". Fred Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Eddy Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 (edited) Very nice, had a look through the whole album, that's a lot of mods you've done in one weekend, looks brilliant Edited February 25, 2013 by Eddy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T A WOW Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 Nicely done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 Exceptional DIY Frederic, every mod looks very professional well done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catman161 Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 Very professional looking job there Fred-well done. Do you have adjustable feet on the Dob too so that you can level the base? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BAZ Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 That is very good. I like the pointer, it is really suits the scale. You have been busy, but that will really pay off when you get it out under a clear sky. Top job Fred, thanks for sharing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest dardano Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 Thanks for your comments. I very satisfied of my work. I wanted to keep an OEM look of those modifications. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest dardano Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 Very professional looking job there Fred-well done. Do you have adjustable feet on the Dob too so that you can level the base? Hi there ! thanks ! About the feet, I will try to find something that look like these :http://www.opticsmart.com/leveling-feet-for-dobsonian-telescopes-canada.html If not, I will buy online. They are a bit pricey but they look really cool ! I may also build a 6-8 inches stand to rise the dobson to cause less bending when observing. And those adjustable feets. If you have any other ideas, tell me Fred Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daz Type-R Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 I have mine stood on a small 2 foot high (ish) plain white coffee table from IKEA, (do you get IKEA up there???) At zenith the ep is just at my eye height, every other angle is just a slight bend of the back, nothing that I notice causes me any grief. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest dardano Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 (edited) I have mine stood on a small 2 foot high (ish) plain white coffee table from IKEA, (do you get IKEA up there???) At zenith the ep is just at my eye height, every other angle is just a slight bend of the back, nothing that I notice causes me any grief. Yes I get IKEA in Montreal City (3hours drive from quebec) I'll have a look on the IKEA website. Thanks for the tip Edited February 25, 2013 by dardano Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest dardano Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 And for declinaison coordonates, I ordered this digital inclinometer from ebay. http://www.ebay.ca/itm/330622473529?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2648 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daz Type-R Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 That is what I use on mine. (or something very similar) Remember to calibrate it accurately otherwise you will be out, I use a good old trusty spirit level with magnetic base to calibrate the Wixey (what they are called over here) at the start of the session. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brantuk Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 Smashing mods Frederic - really looks the business Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BAZ Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 Those leveling feet are a bit pricey, $72 for three bit's of bent metal and some posh bolts! Over here, we can get some plastic leveling feet for sheds, which are around $8 each. I don't know if this will work, but have a look and see if it gives you any idea's. http://www.diy.com/nav/garden/garden-buildings/sheds-garden-storage-workshops/wooden_sheds/Shedmate-Black-Adjustable-Shed-Base-System-75633-11027510 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest dardano Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 Smashing mods Frederic - really looks the business Thanks Kim ! Those leveling feet are a bit pricey, $72 for three bit's of bent metal and some posh bolts! Over here, we can get some plastic leveling feet for sheds, which are around $8 each. I don't know if this will work, but have a look and see if it gives you any idea's. http://www.diy.com/nav/garden/garden-buildings/sheds-garden-storage-workshops/wooden_sheds/Shedmate-Black-Adjustable-Shed-Base-System-75633-11027510 Those look nice and cheaper. I may give them a try. Thanks Fred Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest dardano Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 Those leveling feet are a bit pricey, $72 for three bit's of bent metal and some posh bolts! Over here, we can get some plastic leveling feet for sheds, which are around $8 each. I don't know if this will work, but have a look and see if it gives you any idea's. http://www.diy.com/nav/garden/garden-buildings/sheds-garden-storage-workshops/wooden_sheds/Shedmate-Black-Adjustable-Shed-Base-System-75633-11027510 But those are 19cm wide,.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BAZ Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 They are, and they aren't good to look at, but they aren't $72 either. Maybe you could find something that could be made to fit, maybe from a caravan place, truck store and so on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest dardano Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 I agree with you BAZ, I will have a look this week at some local Hardware Store and see what I can do. But I don't wanna pay 72$ for those brackets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest dardano Posted February 26, 2013 Share Posted February 26, 2013 Here the link to the PDF I used for the setting circle. I made a plasticized print copy 20" x 20" at staples. cost me 11 $. http://dl.dropbox.com/u/16782039/Dobson%20mods/Degree%20Circle%20for%208%20Inch%20Dobson.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest dardano Posted February 26, 2013 Share Posted February 26, 2013 Setup completed picture : Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest dardano Posted February 26, 2013 Share Posted February 26, 2013 Found an interesting website to buy LEDs to view the scale at night. http://www.oznium.com/led-bolt http://www.oznium.com/side-view-led-bolt http://www.oznium.com/led-indicator-light A lot of ideas come to my head right now ! And of course I will buy red light Fred Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest dardano Posted February 27, 2013 Share Posted February 27, 2013 I finally bought 2 of those I let you know where I will put them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted February 27, 2013 Share Posted February 27, 2013 These LED's are awesome, they open so many possibilities. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BAZ Posted February 27, 2013 Share Posted February 27, 2013 They do look good, I feel I need some just to have "Just in case". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest dardano Posted February 27, 2013 Share Posted February 27, 2013 These LED's are awesome, they open so many possibilities. Sky is the limit They do look good, I feel I need some just to have "Just in case". Please order them, they aren't expensives and plus, they're waterproof. It cost me $12.97 (shipping included) for 2 LEDs. Order them yesterday and just got the mail with the shipping info and tracking number. Fred Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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