Mini counterweight options

[Saturn488]

My telescope setup is back heavy (as most are if imaging) and the side with the EAF is a tad heavier than it's opposite and can't get perfect balance when the telescope position is at certain angles.

I have seen this counterweight which may help but I am looking for something more around the 500g mark.

https://www.testar.com.au/collections/counterweights/products/prima-luce-lab-counterweight-plus-1kg

I am sure people here have home-made solutions but I can't for the life of me think of what I can use to make my own counterweight, let alone attach it to the dovetail.

Any ideas?

[pmrid]

I use these:
https://www.bintel.com.au/product/losmandy-dvdws-counterweight-2-5lb/?gclid=CjwKCAiAvaGRBhBlEiwAiY-yMN86ahfEWG7z7TFxKolv2--oIGYFl0xby9ACBwQX4hG4INkyY-_A5hoC_oQQAvD_BwE

The weights are about 1 kg each but you can stack multiples s o the are pretty useful and can fit either a Losmandy bar, or a Vixen.

[Saturn488]

I remember these, used to have one years ago on an old setup.

Holy crap $125! This used to be $79 around 5-6 years ago!

[pmrid]

Holy crap yes, but that PrimaLuce weight alone is $65 and that does not include the bar saddle/clamp device which would be another $50-60. So is the Losmany device really that much more expensive?

[Saturn488]

Compared with the PL its good value, but I will need something like the PL as I have limited space and mounting points on the setup.

A piece of aluminium bar would be good if there was any way to mount it.

[glend]

I have used cheap exercise ankle or wrist weights, they have straps and are easily attached to existing mounting bars (front or rear as required). I regularly attach one to the back of the open strut tube 180mm, f15 refractor, to offset the weight of objective.
You do not need overly expensive astronomy weights. Weight is weight.

[AdamJL]

I've used a camping chair bag filled with sand in place of a counterweight strapped in place with velcro ties and I had some amazing guiding that night!

Like Glen says, weight can be made from anything, but the benefit of things like the PLL are that they are small so don't move centre mass about too much.

[mura_gadi]

Depends on the aesthetics your after,

A dive weight for .5/1 kilo is about $15, all coated and weather proof etc, fix it to a board, drill the board to load onto the mounting block.

For really little adjustments, you can get the wheel balance strips up to 60grams that have self adhesive backing or clips.

as above, it just needs to be heavy, leads easy to melt if you want to cast something. Plenty of hobbies cast lead weights, fisherpeople would be one.

[JohnF]

I got a Weightlifting weight, and the hole was too big so turned up an Aluminium Adaptor in the Local Mens shed. But sadly I am no longer a member -- kicked me out for relying on Natural Immunity instead of a Vaccine.

[AstroApprentice]

Here’s a left-field option - add a flip-flat to the front!
https://shop.deepskydad.com/product/altair-astro-115mm-flap-panel-fp1/

[pmrid]

That flap panel looks really interesting. Thanks for pointing to it.
It would be of interest to know it it is recognised by ASiair.

[iborg]

Hi



Drop a line to Joshua Bunn, he might do weights as well as adapters. He has made an adapter for me, good work.



https://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=167564&highlight=bunn



Good luck


Philip

[Joshua Bunn]

Thanks Philip,


I sure do, do counterweights :)


Cheers

[iborg]

Hi Joshua

Good news, I might want something myself in the future.

Have fun

Philip

[Saturn488]

Very good to know!

[sil]

Anywhere you can cable tie a hook? Then hang a childs bucket and you can put rocks or dirt in it, weight is weight doesnt need to be a manufactured to shape or anything special, just needs to get the job done, could be a sack of potatoes hanging from the hook. You just need to find a way to secure a hook somewhere to hang something from, a bag or bucket you can add or remove stuff from to get the weight you need, cheap sinkers or a tyre fitter garage probably has a bucket of wheel weights you can buy.