Rough as guts bino mount :)

[Starkler (Geoff)]

Something to do on a Sunday afternoon

For some time I have contemplated building a mount for my 15x70 AOE binos, and today was the day I finally got around to building it
Most mounts seen are parralellogram types, and for the sake of keeping the binos on target for a height change, I didnt see the added complexity as worthwhile.

The mount is balanced and counterweighted for 3 axis of movement.

• Azimuth at the tripod
• Azimuth at the binocular head
• Altitude at the binocular head

I wanted to use my existing bino tripod adapter for easy fitting/removal of the binos. The centre of gravity of the binos is forward of the adapter foot plate, making an extension plate necessary.

The extension pivots at the binos c.o.g. on a piece of steel strap bent at right angles. The steel strap has a 500g lead counterweight to balance the binos for altitude. The rest of the mount is made from 25mm square aluminium tubing. The counterweight was salvaged from the cheapy eq mount seen in the pic, which now serves as an alt-az mount

[Argonavis (William)]

Originally Posted by Starkler

Something to do on a Sunday afternoon

For some time I have contemplated building a mount for my 15x70 AOE binos, [/list]

Brilliant and simple idea well executed for minimal $. This is what ATM is all about. I don't think I have seem this design before. Can I call it the Starkler mounting?

I am no engineer, but I wonder what advantages the parallogram mounting has over something like what you have built. On the face of it your idea appears to offer all the advantages of a parallogram mounting without the complexity.

[Starkler (Geoff)]

Brilliant and simple idea well executed for minimal $. This is what ATM is all about. I don't think I have seem this design before. Can I call it the Starkler mounting?

Sure
I havent seen it before myself, just something I conjured up whilst looking at scrap materials i had on hand.

The parollelogram mount enables one to hold the altitude angle of the binoculars as you change the viewing height. Desirable if you want to show others what you're looking at, but I didnt see it as necessary.

[Striker (Tony)]

Looks great to me...nice simple little project Geoff.....at least it's not scary like Steve's grim reaper lawn mower.

It does how ever look like ET

[janoskiss (Steve H)]

I don't know Tony. That counterweight swinging on that long arm could do some serious damage to some careless youngster.

[asimov (John)]

You call that rough as guts? Then you haven't seen my bino mount!

Nice job!

[davidpretorius]

very very funny, but practical!!

[ving (David)]

good stuff!
looks great, and somewhat thrown together

[chunkylad (David)]

Hey, great job Geoff!

What are your pivot bushes/washers made of? Looks like 'tufnel', or some other high density plastic?
Cheers
Dave

[Starkler (Geoff)]

Originally Posted by chunkylad

What are your pivot bushes/washers made of? Looks like 'tufnel', or some other high density plastic?

They are actually made from the plastic/nylon/hdpe disks that Westsky was giving away for free.

Thanks Westsky

The "rough as guts" description relates to my inability to make square cuts with the hacksaw etc. The rough bits dont show in the pictures, so to those who say it looks funny heres a big to you

[Starkler (Geoff)]

I gave it its first try out under the stars last night. Panning the sky is a breeze with the freedom of movement that this mount gives. Just a little bit of fine tuning on the pivot tension and this is a keeper

[Thiink]

Trying to use bino's on a camera tripod is hard (for me at least), something like that mount looks perfect for bino viewing sessions. Well done!

[HyPer7 (Wayne)]

Starkler
Awesome Idea

really like the idea - as by the looks of the design, it would allow you to see the zenith with out too much trouble (as oppossed to a direct tripod mount).

Is it Patented? may I borrow the idea (with Possible refinements)
maybe on a Alt-Azm mount
looking at getting some 20x80's or 20x90's Triplets

Cheers

[Starkler (Geoff)]

Originally Posted by HyPer7

Starkler
Awesome Idea

really like the idea - as by the looks of the design, it would allow you to see the zenith with out too much trouble (as oppossed to a direct tripod mount).

Yup indeed you can by being able to get under the binos without yourself being against a tripod.

Is it Patented? may I borrow the idea (with Possible refinements)
maybe on a Alt-Azm mount

Go for it

Nowadays I just use the top bar piece with a dovetail attached and mount that on a vixen porta alt-az mount. I should take a picture and update it.

The weakness I have with this design (or its implementation rather) is the fixed counterweights, which can be a problem if I want to attach other binos to the mount.

If i was building it again, I would use a thicker wall tube. The 1mm thick walls crush a little under tension and has a slight wobble to it. Go the next thickness up and it will be nicer.

[RAJAH235]

Nice quick mount there Geoff.
You might think about putting a ping pong ball or some kind of protection on the counter-weight shaft tho.. Hate for someone to run into that in the dark.
L.

[HyPer7 (Wayne)]

ok - heres a possible solution for Bino's of diff weight, Drill a series of holes in that arm under the bino's. That way if other binos weigh less just move the weight up the arm (which i gather is there for counterbalance) similar in action like those balance scales with sliding weights.
That main weight looks like its adjustable anyways, but if other binos are lighter and the weight can't move any closer, you will have to move the pivot point closer to the weight, that way you will have a bit more of adjustablilty

ps comment on RAJAH235's post - maybe some Flashing Red Leds
(flogged of a pushbike mebbe, just joking ;-) - unless you own the bike )