No offence taken John
it is all just robust and healthy debate/discussion! This eq mount I am referring to had no gearing - it was just free moving and you used wing nut bolts to lock the two axis's (sic?) or apply some pressure to slow movement or lock it. It was strong enough for the f6 210mm reflector/steel tube weight wise. I am just not a fan of eq's for pure visual use full stop, I dont like how ALL EQ's work at zenith for a start - dont forget I have been using my mates medium quality Vixen GP (with SC) for 10 years as well, and I still do use it now, and I still dont like it for visual use in a lot of positions for a few reasons I have mentioned before. I'm sorry but I have to ask you John have you ever used a dobsonian mount with large reflector? Besides that old homemade eq mount of my friends design contributed in a big way to costing my friend a comet discovery (long story- it was at zenith) and that really ticks me off to this day. So I am not totally impartial I guess.
I didnt like that eq in high winds with high power as Geoff mentioned (not that dobs are perfect in wind - but there a lot better IMO) and I dont like the portabilty of an eq mount heavy/strong enough for a large newtonian. Not all of us live conveniently at superb dark sky sites mate
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I know from seeing your design yours is vastly superior to the old homemade one we used to use with the 8" and I respect your opinion and experience with these beasts. But yours is in permanent situ I understand? The majority of the newbies are from the cities and towns on this forum? and may need to travel to dark skies on occasion? Thats all I meant.
Cheers
Kearn Dob Worshipper
EDIT: forgot - my first two cheap scopes, dept. store 3 inch and classic tasco 4.5" reflector were on eq's and I hated them too! So i have used 4 different eq's and they all crap - except for photography - and then their a necassary evil IMO!