telescope chairs

[Liz]

Hey, was wondering if many of you use them??
Had a look at buying one of those Stellar chairs, but nearly $180 :eek:
I know theres plans to make those Denver chairs here, but I dont make stuff :rolleyes:
Are there any other cheapie ones of doing it :shrug:
If anyone want to make one for me, let me know :thumbsup:

[Paddy]

I bought one of the stellar seats and found it fantastic, especially with my 12" dob. It gets less use with my current scope due to its longer focal length. But these are a great accessory. I use it for lots of other jobs where I want to sit low down. And it still gets used at the scope.

[JethroB76]

I use a homemade Denver style chair, but I've heard of others using gaslift office chairs, dunno how that works out:shrug:

[Liz]

yes, those gaslift chairs would be OK, but take up a lot of room in the car, but certainly an option.

Paddy - mmm, the stellar chairs look great!!

[erick]

yes that, and getting the wheels bogged in the mud of the observing field :sadeyes:

But I use one (I have a few actually). Great on a hard surface. I have a concrete slab at the clubsite. I replaced the gas lift on one chair with a long gas lift from a drafting chair. I can sit to view through the eyepeice of the 12" GSO pointing to the zenith. Wheels are to allow me to shuffle the chair around as I swing the scope, without getting up.

[astroron]

Liz, Give hotspur (Chris Thomas ) a PM to see if he has any left or would make you one, He does a good job, I have one of his and it works a treat:thumbsup:

[mdgodf]

I have one of the stellar chairs and it's great as others have said - worth the money in my view. You could try a drum stool. I considered one, they are basically a stool, no wheels and fold up a bit but they don't go very high and not as portable as the stellar chair but not as bulky as a normal chair either. This one is only $50 http://www.billyhydemusic.com.au/shop/view/2169/dixon-drum-stool/ (http://www.billyhydemusic.com.au/shop/view/2169/dixon-drum-stool/). But they can get expensive too and the $50 one seemed a bit flimsy to me to be used other then for sitting at a set of drums!

[casstony]

The Denver chair is good but a little heavy. If you get one made ask for it to be made from 35x90 pine rather than 50x90 pine to keep the weight down.

[that_guy]

Hehehe... 'm getting one free!! Hehehehe!!!

[Liz]

Yes, i did notice that .... very lucky indeed ;)

[Liz]

Thanks for that Mark ... been browsing throught US Forums, and a few use the stool too.

Thanks Ron ... think the chair may be too heavy to post, costing many $$ :rolleyes:

[jjjnettie]

How about a small 3-4 step folding ladder.
I picked one up for about $25 at the Reject Shop.
They're very light and fold up flat.

[astroron]

Thanks Ron ... think the chair may be too heavy to post, costing many $$
Liz you can send stuff by rail it can be quite cheap or even by bus lines pick up your end.
Give Chris a pm you never know, it may turn out cheaper than you think to frieght:question:

[Outbackmanyep]

Maybe you should get a stool sample.....................and try a few out!

[Liz]

:lol::lol::lol:

[mental4astro]

Hi Liz,

Do you have a mate handy with tools? If you pay for the materials and a six-pack, they should be able to knock up a denver chair or some other type of flat-fold chair for you. There are a few designs out there to look up on the net.

[PhilW]

I think the stellar chairs are worth the money (easy for me to say since I got mine secondhand, but then I am a cheapskate). The nice thing about them is that you can move the seat squab up in very small increments of 2-3cm at a time, so you can always find exactly the right height for whatever object you're looking at. That really increases your comfort. Also they fold flat, so they're easy to transport.

[astronut]

Liz,
I don't have a workshop of any sort at my place, a friend of mine does.
He had some plywood laying around his garage.
He put together this chair over a few days.
Of course, having the right tools and workspace are a big plus.
Here is the finished product.
I use it with my 12"LB, it certainly saves your back and isn't heavy to carry around.
It's collapsible size allows storage and transport in the smallest spaces.
It's definately a necessity!!:)

[Liz]

Thank you all for comments and ideas.



Mmm, I think they would be great, but not worth the $200, though 2nd hand would be hard to turn down ;)



Thanks John ... I think this might be the go. A retired guy in the club is handy with these projects (presently making a trolley for my Dob) so might put it to him. :)

[astronut]

Liz,
It cost me approx $70 to have this made.
Some new parts had to be bought.
Even if you pay a little more than I have, it will certainly be better than $200.

John.:)

[casstony]

If you make the Denver chair uprights a few inches longer than normal, with the seat at the bottom the back is long enough to support your head for a power nap - it's just the right angle to kick back and relax nicely.

[GrahamL]

I made a denver chair a couple of years back and while it worked fine in time I found it a pita to keep moving around and get level every time I moved the scope, its now loseing itself under some wandering jew down the back. .

The step jjj mentions would likely work as well and be a little kinder and quicker to move around , I mostly use a lightweight chair from an outdoor setting these days ,leaning into the handles when standing ,one knee on the woven seat when looking a little lower in the sky and sitting for charts and a little quiet time .. hasn't bucked me off once yet . :)