|
Andrew,
I use a slide-in laser holder and keep the laser warm in my pocket.
The laser holder will fit into the type of mount which fixes the laser with 3 screws (120 degrees apart) front and back.
The system also allows you to use the laser as a general hand-held pointer.
The design works for a laser with pocket clip and is around 13mm diameter. If yours is larger, you will need to chase up different piping.
Procedure to make it ...
The holder is made from 15mm (internal diameter) irrigation riser for watering systems and a couple of irrigation plugs; it's just cheap black plastic tubing from the hardware shop.
Look at the three pictures and using a hacksaw, cut the tube length to suite your laser pointer. Cut a slot from the front to about two centimetres from the rear to slide the laser with pocket clip through. If you use a Stanley knife and steel ruler as an edge, make two parallel shallow cuts first to get the line then cut a little deeper each time. When through, cut the end of the narrow strip off. It's a bit tricky and you have to watch you don't cut yourself. Make sure the the laser and its clip slides in and out freely. If its not wide enough for the clip, slice more off. Then cut out the offsets, so that you can turn the laser in the slot and the switch is under the bolt in the offset (the pocket clip will also be in the offset). The idea of the offset is so that you can slide the laser in and out without screwing the bolt right up to let the pocket clip through.
At the front end you will need two 25mm (external diameter) irrigation plugs; also cheap to buy. Cut the plugged ends off with a hack-saw. For one of them, drill a hole through the centre of its side and screw a short allen key (socket) bolt through (or any short bolt will do). Make sure the bolt will turn freely. Adjust the position of the cut plug so the bolt is over the laser switch but in the offset. I used a small piece, cut longways, off a nylon tube to take up the slack between the plug and the main plastic tube.
The bolt will turn the laser off and on. You can use a small section of rubber tubing over the end of the bolt to turn it more easily.
You will need the other cut plug behind the front one to adjust the width between the front and back screw mounts. To mount the holder, the rear trio of screws go around the end of the irrigation tube. The front trio of screws will go around the adjustible plug. Another piece of nylon at bottom will fix it. The object is to have the bolt (switch) in front of your mount for easy access.
In warmer weather, you can leave the laser in the holder. If it's a cold night, it's still easy to remove and keep it warm in your pocket. You also can collimate the "on" laser in the holder without having your finger on the switch. You don't need to hold the switch "on" as you move the telescope to the desired object.
However, you have to remember never to leave it in the telescope unattended. Someone might unintentionally turn it on and damage their eyes. It is safer than just having the laser fixed between the 6 screws without the holder, as you have to actually turn the bolt to switch it on.
Regards, Rob.
|