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Hi Jarrod...
Many people have various methods in regards to collimating their scope..many of them use a Cheshire Crosshair type collimation tool which allows you to look through a tiny hole at the top of the collimator in order to align/adjust the secondary mirror to the primary mirror as part of the mechanical alignment...you can achieve a high level of collimation this way which can be confirmed and maintained by using a Laser collimator.
Just a few helpful hints to make collimation easier...
Allow yourself plenty of time.
Find a nice quiet room..no pets..children..just yourself.
Have the optical tube fixed in a horizontal position.
Place a lamp with a light coloured shade about a metre or two in front of the scope. This will provide filtered light needed.
Make sure the surroundings in the room are safe and the area clean.
Check that the tools and equipment needed are in good order and clean. Secure tools that may be use to adjust the secondary mirror with a small strap attached to your wrist...even though the optical tube will be horizontal when you adjust..it only takes on slip and the secondary/primary mirror will cop it!
Record the number of turns for each screw..eg top screw 1/8th left etc..just in case you need to reverse an adjustment.
Never force a screw that is too tight.
Be very careful when tightening any of the adjustment screws..
Have a ball of Blutack on a stick to pick up any bits that may fall on the inside of the optical tube under the seconday mirror after you adjust it..just gently dab it so the dirt won't fall on the primary mirror.
Have frequent breaks during the proceedure.
When purchasing any type of collimator, ask for a demo and also have the collimator checked to make sure it itself is properly collimated!!
Cheers!
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