Building a tripod out of wood

[04Stefan07 (Stefan)]

Been researching online and found many helpful pictures and tips on making a telescope tripod out of wood.

I wanted to ask if anyone here can share some photos of any that they have made and recommend a strong (but not expensive) type of wood to use.

Thanks!

[LewisM]

Strong wood usually costs. Cheap wood warps.

Traditional tripods use ash, mahogany, elm, oak. EXPENSIVE. Cheap use pine, meranti, paulownia. AVOID.

I suppose you could use Jarrah, but it'd be HEAVY and expensive. Teak would be naturally resistant to water and insects, but again, fairly expensive. I would NOT use iron bark or most eucalypts - split too easily, as does coachwood.

Birch plywood is VERY strong, but expensive, IF you can find it. Pine ply is not worthwhile.

Honestly, probably better buying a pre-made ash/elm one.

[anj026]

I've used Tassie Oak with great success. You can get it from hardware stores as Porta mouldings. It comes pre-dressed in 20x40 or 20x65 section, 2.4 metre lengths.

The picture shows one I made for a Vixen GPD2. It uses 6 pieces of 20x40x1200mm Tassie oak.

[04Stefan07 (Stefan)]

Originally Posted by anj026

I've used Tassie Oak with great success. You can get it from hardware stores as Porta mouldings. It comes pre-dressed in 20x40 or 20x65 section, 2.4 metre lengths.

The picture shows one I made for a Vixen GPD2. It uses 6 pieces of 20x40x1200mm Tassie oak.

How much is this type of wood worth?

[anj026]

Give your local Bunnings a call.

http://www.porta.com.au/profile-matr...uilding&dc=dar

http://www.bunnings.com.au/our-produ...catalogue.aspx

[LewisM]

I buy Tassie Oak dowel all the time - about $12 a metre for 1" dowel. That's the quality straight grain stuff, not the warping curved grain. You have to be VERY selective of your wood.

[pw (Peter)]

http://www.berlebach.de/?bereich=firma&sprache=english
Ash is what they use (European Ash, not fake Eucalypt species ash), I suspect "Tasmanian Oak" is also not an oak, but a Eucalypt species too.
I don't think using a nice straight grained Eucalypt species would be a bad thing though.

[anj026]

Yes Tassie Oak is a commercial name, I think the species is also known as Victorian Ash.

Andy

[brian nordstrom (As avatar)]

Steffan , if you can find some , it's ..
New Zealand or Tasmanian ' Kauri ' the best aver .
During the 1900's the Pom's felled swathe's of our trees for ships , Kauri timber is the best .
Today it shows up ( 150years later) in demolition sales , awsome stuff .
Do a google .
Brian.

Originally Posted by 04Stefan07

Been researching online and found many helpful pictures and tips on making a telescope tripod out of wood.

I wanted to ask if anyone here can share some photos of any that they have made and recommend a strong (but not expensive) type of wood to use.

Thanks!

[DavidU (Dave)]

I saw a vintage tripod in wood on ebay, I'll find it...
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Wooden-tr...item3a8078d699

[Andy Walters (Andy)]

Another vote for 'Tassie Oak'. Bought from Bunnings about 8years ago, 30x30mm. Make sure of good varnish. I use Danish Oil, which is easy to reapply. And put rubber feet on the ends.
Andy

[Wavytone]

Long ago I made a tripod for my 8" f/7 newtonian (big heavy thing) using old western Australian jarrah floorboards about 100 x 25mm. Best tripod I've ever used, solid as a tree stump, but it was non-folding - fully glued and screwed joints and braced in every direction so no torsion (twisting) either.

I have a photo somewhere.

[MattT]

Here is a picture of mine that I have been working on for a few months.
I used Tassie Oak and wanted short adjustable legs. Tripod next to it is the HEQ5 at max extension! No more lying on the ground when at zenith
I'm going to use Haymes water based decking oil as a finish. Still to finish the tray for batteries etc but can say the tripod is rock solid. I bought the timber from a proper timber yard and it cost a bit over $60, Bunnings was more than double that price, although I did have to sand it quite a bit which the Bunnings version would not have needed so much.
Timber is 35X70mm one half a leg was warped a tiny bit but I used it all the same.

[anj026]

Some good examples on this thread;

http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthrea...l/fpart/1/vc/1

I like this pier tripod concept;

http://starhopper.de/astro/equip/ori...20Clone-3.html

And this one is special/something to aspire to;

http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthrea.../o/all/fpart/1

[04Stefan07 (Stefan)]

Excellent thanks!

[Wavytone]

Ah found photo of my old tripod, sitting on a wooden lawn trolley (which worked well BTW). The tripod was designed to fit exactly into the back of the station wagon I had at the time.

Normally the mount carried an 8" f/7 and 6" f/8.