Dovetail mounting options for Tak

Tropo-Bob (Bob) · #1 08-09-2019, 04:09 PM

I have a Tak FC 100D. I purchased the clam secondhand and it did not come with a dovetail. Fortunately, the bolts holding the clam were the right spacing and size to screw directly onto one of my Vixen dovetails. However, only one dovetail was suitable. I have several Vixen dovetails and I do not know why this one was different.

I am looking for other dovetail/mounting options with my clam. How have others mounted their Tak clams to dovetails and what type was that?

I hope my question makes sense. See the attached image for my current setup.

ab1963 (Andrew) · #2 08-09-2019, 05:31 PM

I have seen an ADM dovetail on a Tak clamshell for a FS102 i briefly owned so i would search through their site

LewisM · #3 09-09-2019, 07:34 PM

I have a BT Tech Losmandy plate with recesses milled for the clamshell base.

I have a European made short Losmandy plate with similar.

The Vixen old-style plate you show works, as will any Vixen (or Losmandy) with a slot instead, or the correct 35mm spacing (M8).

Or the Tak Offset plate, bolted to any dovetail.

Or....

LOTS of options!

Sunfish (Ray) · #4 09-09-2019, 08:43 PM

I have the tak clamshell bolted to one end of an Orion 300mm slotted dovetail with two 1/4 or 6mm cap head screws , nuts and washers and a third into the threaded centre hole. This is so I can hang a camera off the front of the dovetail and have a 6mm safety pin in the middle.

I have also used a shorter 200mm prostar dovetail which allows the right spacing at one end in the widened slot for two SS 8mm nuts , bolts and washers. That also allows a handle at the front end of the clamshell to hold on to and safety pin in the middle when mounting in the park position.

Wilso · #5 09-09-2019, 08:59 PM

I’ve used the losmandy d series plates before for mounting the Tak clamshell.
They work very well as they have a larger surface area for mounting bigger scopes than the Vixen dovetails. Only downside is you’ll need a new saddle to suit also.
Plenty of options when you know what your looking for.

LewisM · #6 09-09-2019, 09:22 PM

Here's the Euro made Tak Losmandy plate I use sometimes - significantly cheaper than the Losmandy, ADM and BTTech examples.

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/True-Uni...c/293032786802

Sunfish (Ray) · #7 10-09-2019, 02:19 PM

Great link. I would be happy with that on top of the dovetail.

Here is the low cost light weight option for the dovetail with some Tak spaced 8mm holes each end.

https://www.myastroshop.com.au/produ...p?id=MAS-096I3

Quote:

Originally Posted by LewisM

Here's the Euro made Tak Losmandy plate I use sometimes - significantly cheaper than the Losmandy, ADM and BTTech examples.

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/True-Uni...c/293032786802

Tropo-Bob (Bob) · #8 18-09-2019, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sunfish

Great link. I would be happy with that on top of the dovetail.

Here is the low cost light weight option for the dovetail with some Tak spaced 8mm holes each end.

https://www.myastroshop.com.au/produ...p?id=MAS-096I3

Looks good to me, however have been trying to contact the supplier and only obtaining an answering machine. I have left a message, but no respose.

Anybody know whats happening there?

Thanks to everybody who offered suggestions.

LewisM · #9 18-09-2019, 01:20 PM

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/SVBONY-2...frcectupt=true

Same, just cheaper. I have 3 here.

More options: https://www.ebay.com.au/sch/i.html?_...vixen+dovetail

Sunfish (Ray) · #10 18-09-2019, 01:45 PM

The difference with the prostar model is that they have two 8mm holes, centered in the the slot, 35mm apart to suit the Tak clamshell at each end.

So you can use 8mm captive socket head bolts which fit in the slots and are easy to align .

That was the clincher for me and I don’t know why more manufacturers don’t include that in slotted dovetail bars rather than 6mm only.

Quote:

Originally Posted by LewisM

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/SVBONY-2...frcectupt=true

Same, just cheaper. I have 3 here.

More options: https://www.ebay.com.au/sch/i.html?_...vixen+dovetail

Sunfish (Ray) · #11 18-09-2019, 01:51 PM

Try emailing Astroshop they responded to that.

Rainmaker (Matt) · #12 18-09-2019, 04:27 PM

I make my own from 80mm x 10mm Aluminium flat bar, cut the bevels on my docking saw, drill a few holes, tap some M8 threads and polish a bit...

This one for the FS78 clamshell I made yesterday for the princely sum of $6....

Sunfish (Ray) · #13 18-09-2019, 10:09 PM

Looks very good. What a polish. I will try that. I have thought of making my own plates also in similar way to the base plates I have made.

I have some 8mm aluminium plate left over so I would still be bolting that to a dovetail but a wider firmer and more easily centred plate could be the result.