eyepiece tray and cover finished !!!

[bytor666]

Hi everybody !!!...how are things???...I just wanted to post a pic of my eyepiece tray and cover that I finished today !!!...the tray itself was posted on here a while ago and now I have put the tray onto the dob mount and i have made a cover to keep dew off of my eyepieces. The cover itself has felt lining on the inside, hinges to move the lid and to get to the eyepieces you just have to pull the lid up with the handle and reach for the stars !!!...Ive since SEALED both the lid and the tray with a clear coat of lacquer to keep the moisture at bay.
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mark
12" GSO SCOPE

[Astroman (Andrew Wall)]

WOW excellent idea there. Looks great. You sure you have enough room for all your eyepieces there

[Starkler (Geoff)]

Great stuff Mark.

Ive seen a similar mod where theres a plywood box with foam padding and a hinged lid hanging off the front of the base via aluminium strap bent to shape.

Living in a snowy cold place it could be worth looking at putting some source of heat inside the box lid to keep those eyepieces warm.

[ving (David)]

v/nice
how many EPs do you have tho!

[Striker (Tony)]

Nice one Mark...looks great and very practical.....

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Wow! that's a big one. Great job Mark.

Where did you get the Dob setting circles from? I was thinking of making some but would rather buy some if I can.

[bytor666]

thanx ev'body !!!...eyepieces???? I only WISH I had that many !!!!....right now I only have a 32mm Antares 2" Erlfe (70 deg afov). 9mm type 1 nag, and a 1.25" Televue barlow. All of those spaces will keep me thinking about how I can fill them up by my daily DROOLING over the televues and pentaxes !!!!...as for those setting circles ken, I made them myself by taping down a protractor and just copying the degrees. heres a closer pic of it.
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MARK
12" GSO SCOPE

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Excellent. Thanks Mark.

I will work out a way to make Azimuth as well.

Eventually the base (new one I'm going to make) will be in a permanent position and I thought setting circles will be handy.

[bytor666]

hey I was just wondering.....does anybody know a way I could open and close the lid ,( with one hand), by using some sort of catch/gear type thing on the side of my eyepiece holder lid???..any suggestions and pics would be greatly appreciated.
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Mark
12" GSO SCOPE

[RAJAH235]

Mark, Why not try a "Cocktail/Display" cabinet unit. They consist of 2 flat pieces of steel, pivoting in the centre, but they lock in the open position.
Can't think of an easy way to describe them.
They can be bought in various lengths etc. and they simply attach to your lid & box. (sort of like an elbow joint).
Local h'ware should supply.
HTH. L.

[ving (David)]

ive used a protractor for azimuth too. but I found i never really looked at it. :/