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Keith...I am going to be honest here and tell you that although I could collimate my 12” Dob previously...I never knew which of the 6 screws I was suppose to turn in order to collimate, and at times ran into trouble with some screws either having no more turn left in them when tightening , or about to drop out when loosening them.
I know that the springs are the Lock Screws and that having them set properly is the way to go? ... But I think I cheated and started turning those instead of the other three (with out springs)
Perhaps this is wrong ... I get confused very easily with such things...especially with verbal descriptions...none the less I am re-reading and then reading again...Back to reading now...
I am getting a 12” Dob and I will explain why in a second...I also intend to replace the springs in the 12” Model as well (however that sounds encouraging about the 16” version...it does effect SALES for those who don’t want to buy stuff then fix it)...BUT...first I obviously need to keep rereading what you have said...it sounds like excellent advice and what I need to know...BUT...I am still confused...one second while I still process....010101010100011001100111 01011101111010101110111001001010101 01110010101001010100110010011010101 10001010101000110000100110100101011 100011010100001010...:
Actually...no offense...but my head hurts...The two following links are awesome and what a good job that fellow did on his Dob.......................I will try to work out what to do with the springs and collimation procedure later. I just wish someone would start selling these things so that we don’t have to go through all this effort...and there if the only way to get around such things is to buy an obsession to avoid such things...then I will just give up...No I won’t...that’s why I am asking...Just exhausted with trying to make the right call.
YES...I went back to the 12” Dob...
As stated...no one seems to sell a DOB that works out of the box so I need money left over to address those issues...Bunning’s is getting too expensive and everything else as well...BUT...once the penny drops, I don’t mind doing what has to be done.
With the left over money I intend to get some choice eye pieces this time around...I also need filters as I know what a difference to my visual enjoyment these can make...Mostly UHC...Never really thought much about the OIII ... but then I never go to try that out properly... I want to build a cupboard with some of the left over money to store my scope in as well as due control and...well there is a host of things and I am sure I won’t get them all...However if I buy the 16” scope...the freight will be ridiculous and I will be left with bugger all.............
Transport...I can appreciate what you say there, however when I drop my back seat in the Hyundi Elantra sedan...It’s not so much a problem with the 12” at all going in from the boot end and coming at the back seat...I can just fit the rocker box in to one side of the extend solid tube and way I go...The 16” inch rocker box is a no go and even if I can mod it ... I really don’t want to at this stage and I also don’t want to have to cart all the pieces around...Of course the collapsible idea would be great, BUT still too big...I do have a 4WD with a TRAY BACK which would be better than a trailer...I intend to make a transport Box with foam and all that.............
The Views..................well, to be honest and I am not the first to say this...”But no one is really raving about it online”...a statement that came up on cloudy nights and I have to agree! There is all the usual mod talk and so on, but no one is really giving any descriptive view or adding any real detailed information about the actual VIEWS ... I did find one in here where someone said “I bought a 16” dob, then listed the all the targets and that was it..............That kind of said it all to me.......I mean these guys obviously have a lot of equipment and have a lot to compare with ... but the only obs I am reading a purely clinical and dry ... It’s the same all over the web ... hard to find good reviews with many of the scopes available out there ... the best obs I have read come from 12” Dobs and maybe some other affordable and widely used refractors ... particularly some large Achro’s...I guess when I came across that statement at cloudy nights about the lack of obserevational content with regard to the 16” other than its weak point and “I own One” LOL...just kidding...well...I don’t think it’s going to be worth it ... so many times I hear ... If only you can get that little scope out to a dark site!!! ... I think the price difference and the quality I will get from my solid tube dob, makes the 16” way over priced and over rated. I don’t have enough money regardless of price drops...given my situation I really am better off with the 12”...................I also believe there are less wow moments recorded with a 16” Dob, because once the reality of transport hits most people, they don’t use it as much as they wished they could...that even happens with a 12” for many folk. Having said that ... If I was fortunate enough ... I would find a way.
Thanks again for your assistance ... your information is just what I need to get the most out whatever dob I do buy. It was really good to also hear you talk about planetary views like that with your experience...I think slow dobs suck on the planets full stop...my only struggle now it to keep focused on good gear for my DSO’s .......or get a cheap 127Mak...and settle for the plossles.......actually after I get my Binos replaced.....I will only have enough to search the net for good eye pieces, so scratch the Mak.....
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