9.75 inch telescope rings

[croweater]

Just wondering if anyone knows someone who can supply or make a pair of 9.75 inch mounting rings for my Parks 8" ota at a reasonable price? I can get some custom ply ones from TS Express delivered for about $300. Or a set (kit) of ply clamshell rings from Astrogoods (USA) for around $250 delivered.Seems pretty expensive but not many options out there. Maybe I'll just have to cough up? I can't find any commercial sizes (other than expensive parallax).
Thanks,Richard.

[croweater]

PM,ed you Max

[croweater]

Still hoping :)

[JA]

Since you mentioned ply rings, it begs the question: do you have a friend who is a cabinet maker or very handy with a router? Ply rings could easily be made from say 25mm or so marine ply, painted in an epoxy paint or whatever suits and lined with 1 to 2mm felt.

Personally I'd rather something in metal. I've seen them come up here in the classifieds and also on cloudynights. Perhaps you should place a wanted advert in the classifieds on IIS.

Good luck.

Best
JA

[croweater]

Thanks JA. I don't know any cabinet makers or indeed any keen woodworkers. I have tried to source metal ones but my Parks' tube is larger than other 8" tubes so no GSO, Skywatcher etc. rings that fit. I could get 10 inch scope sizes(around 288mm dia.) but will need roughly 20mm thick spacers to reduce the dia. enough. Yes I might try a wanted ad.
Thannks for your response JA
Cheers, Richard

[Joshua Bunn]

Hi Richard,
I reckon I can help you out here. Send me an email with your phone number in it, and I'll call you about it if you like.


Cheers Josh

[croweater]

Email sent thanks Josh

[croweater]

PM'd you as well Josh.

[croweater]

Hi, Just an update on the rings I was after.
Joshua Bunn contacted me and offered to make the rings at a very reasonable price and I was very happy for him to do so. So I have now received a beautiful set of aluminum rings/clamps that fit my Parks tube perfectly. They are light, well finished (lovely black anodisation and felt lined) and are as good as anything around. I highly recommend contacting Josh if you have anything needed to be made up. Nice fellow and a pleasure to deal with. I've seen some of the other adapters etc. that he makes up and we are lucky on IIS to have people with these sort of skills to help us out with custom parts.
THANKS JOSH
Cheers, Richard