Moveable Pier Supplier in Melbourne?

[Andy01]

Hi Folks,

I've got a Tak NJP on the way so am looking for a semi-permanent pier setup for my backyard. I've been using an EQ6 on a tripod on the pavers by the pool.

Needs to be movable as I have large trees blocking my view North, and my house can block the SGP (depending on how near the north end I setup).

In Winter I set up in the North end & shoot South & East, and in Summer I move to the Sthn End and can just get Orion etc over the trees, shooting E,N&W.

I like the idea of this pier designed by Strongman Mike a few years ago. Unfortunately he no longer has the plans or supplier contact to hand.

Any Suggestions as to a supplier in Melbourne to manufacture something like this?

Cheers

Andy

[AstroApprentice]

Hi Andy,
Have you considered an iOptron tri-pier?

[Andy01]

Interesting idea, looks like the EQ8 pier/tripod concept :)

[beren]

Not sure about Melbourne but I tried a few years back here in Perth to find a shop that could fabricate a portable pier with no success. I did talk to the guy who runs Pegasus piers and at the time he seemed willing to make a special order for one. Not sure if Pegasus is till going but one option.....

https://www.facebook.com/pegasuspiers/

It's a shame there's not many commercial options for portable piers although there's quite a few hybrid tripod piers from ATS, Ioptron, Altair....expensive though. Former company Mountain instruments used to sell a very nice pier, there's one on Astromart at the moment.....

https://astromart.com/classifieds/astromart-classifieds/tripods/show/mountain-instruments-mi-8-pier

There's the Astro Physics piers and Takahashi make their own. Unfortunately with the Tak piers they don't have a intermediate size, very heavy, built to order {lengthy wait} and pricey.

The Takahashi NJP/EM-400 metal tripod is worth considering, very solid, samples come up on Astromart every so often.

[DarkArts]

I had a tentative order in with Pegasus, but haven't heard anything in months. I've pretty much given up.

[Andy01]

Nice units - That's pretty much exactly what I'm looking for - can't imaging the costs of shipping one to Australia though! :lol:

[Wilso]

Try visiting your local metal manufacturing/machine shop with photos to see if they can manufacture it for you.

Just supply them with some detailed drawings on specifications and price wise I think should be cheaper than importing!

Good luck :thumbsup:

[Andy01]

One of our ASV colleagues brought one of these over to our end of year break up party today.
Beautiful piece of kit, damn - now I have to negotiate with “she who must be obeyed” to get one! :D
Oh btw- Did I mention the 6 hrs slow cooked spare ribs? Yummo 😊