Thanks for the interest and comments. I use dslr focus to focus and can take pics for up to 2-2.5 mins unguided and get at least 30% of pics without star trailing which with additive stacking in images plus enables me to capture quite a large number of DSO's with the canon 350D.
regards philip
PS yes i am still using my homemade wedge and havent adjusted it in over a year!Its much more solid and vibration free then metal ones.