From the odd question vault - How do I carry a dob?

Crackers (Craig) · #1 17-01-2009, 01:22 AM

Now that I have finally received my telescope and assembled it and had a play (more on that later) it occured to me that there must be a correct way of carrying the thing. It's a 10" SkyWatcher dob which weighs about 25Kg but only comes with 1 handle low down on the front of the mount. I don't really want to grab the tube for fear of putting strain on the secondary mirror mounts. I'm part gorilla ( so my wife says, but she may be just having a go at my back hair), so the weight isn't a problem, I just need to know where to grab. Any thoughts?

renormalised (Carl) · #2 17-01-2009, 01:49 AM

What would be a good idea....make yourself a trolley you can mount your scope on that has legs you can raise and lower to steady the scope and level it out. That way, you have no need to lift it, except when you put it in your car/4WD, plus you'll have a stable platform to sit it on.

RAJAH235 · #3 17-01-2009, 02:41 AM

Just stating the obvious here..
For safety's sake.
Best to carry/move the tube first then the base.
I put the tube across the back seat & the base in the back of the wagon.
I never lift both together.
My 10" Dob weighs just a tad more than 40 odd kilos, (with mods).

Zuts · #4 17-01-2009, 03:09 AM

Since you are a hairy b^&*d and have no problems lifting it. I had a 12 inch DOB and used to throw it in the back of my Hyundai.....

As the bloke from Bintel said, it's a telescope, not a million buck fragile egg.

As long as you are handy with a collimator all will be well

Cheers
Paul

Dog Star (Phil) · #5 17-01-2009, 03:14 AM

When not in use, I keep my 12" OTA in the box it was posted in, along with foam inserts.
I move that around with a heavy duty trolley fitted with foam strips to cushion the load as much as possible and also keep the tyre pressure low for similar reasons.
A couple of loops of rope around the tube make it easy to remove and replace the tube from the box when needed. (Sore back.)
The base itself I just grab by the aforementioned handle.

iceman (Mike) · #6 17-01-2009, 06:53 AM

Trolley!

Or when you're moving short distances, grab the base and do the crab walk shuffle with them both together

I put handles on my 10" dob base to do the crab shuffle.

Crackers (Craig) · #7 17-01-2009, 09:51 AM

Thanks folks, I just need to move it from my shed to spots around our block, so a trolley sounds like the way to go, plus it gives me a chance to play with my day time tools to put some legs and stuff. Makes perfect sense when someone else says it. I guess at the moment, I'm still a bit intimidated by it and maybe I'm being a little too precious. Thanks for the help. Craig.

bowrie (Paul) · #8 17-01-2009, 10:10 AM

I found an old folding golf buggy and some velcro the answer to moving my scope around my property. The place where the bag sits slips neatly under the base abd the curved bracket that holds the bag fits neatly around the tube. It can also fold and take up little space
BOWRIE

erick (Eric) · #9 17-01-2009, 10:48 AM

My approach to my previous 8" and now 12", where I have to disconnect the OTA from the base for transport, is the same. I thought about the task of getting it on and off the base and then placing it down in a trailer, boot, backseat. So I carry it fairly horizontal. My approach is left arm well under the OTA, up towards the focusser, and right fingers curled under the edge of the tube at the top of the mirror cell end. The OTA is held snug against my nicely padded stomach - so it doesn't matter if that is where the trunion is - it doesn't cause a problem. I hope that makes sense. I find I then have complete control and can carry it quite some distance and can place it on and off the base and into and out of car/trailer with ease. I have tried both arms under, but I didn't get the same control as right hand fingers jambed under the rear top end.

Be careful if you decide to carry it with the finderscope in position. I have heard too many stories of broken finderscopes which were caught in door frames, hit the lights etc. I always remove mine before carrying the OTA. As I approach doors or narrow passages, I turn sideways so I'm pointing the scope directly ahead of me.

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #10 17-01-2009, 12:51 PM

I always used to move mine in two pieces.
I tried using a trolley, but it was quicker to move the scope in 2 trips than to negotiate the trolley slowly over ruts, rocks and cattle grids.
Like Eric said, be careful around doorways.

Crackers (Craig) · #11 17-01-2009, 05:45 PM

Thanks Eric and Jeanette. I can see that cattle grids would provide a significant challenge for even the best of trolleys - fortunately I have a very smooth path from my shed. DO you need to realign the finder scope if you remove it after every session?

Thanks Eric for clearing up a question that I hadn't asked. The edge of the tube does seem like an awfully convenient handhold, but I was terrified of putting the primary out of alignment. All I need to do is be careful by the sounds of it.

Thanks again. Craig.

andrew2008 · #12 18-01-2009, 02:06 PM

The finder will need to be aligned if taken off after each use. Aligning it is very simple though and i need to do give mine a quick adjustment before most uses. Just something to check after collimating.

bmitchell82 (Brendan) · #13 18-01-2009, 06:28 PM

if you have the dob, the sides where the dob mounts to the base is the perfect handle to carry the ota, as it is close to the blalance point of the ota with the heavier part being the bottom. The whole ota/base combination is too heavy to carry with safety in mind, because its closer the 30kgs of akward weight. and plus its only 2 seconds of work to grab 2 parts.

Davekyn (David) · #14 19-01-2009, 06:56 PM

I carry OTA horizontaly resting on my padded gut, then when outside, I throw the thing over my shoulder when walking long distances. I agree, that once you can collimate, you can pretty much throw the thing around with care taken on landing

Have fun!

stevoggo (Stephen) · #15 21-01-2009, 10:31 PM

Hi all,
newbie also.
I am still carrying mine around in two parts, the long bit in the cardboard box it came in, with foam inserts. A mate suggested i make a plywood or mbf box with handles to make it safe and easy to carry.
Anyone any experience making plywood boxes, I have done it before but the end result was a bit rough? wouldn't mind some guidance if it was available.
cheers all
Steve

Glenhuon (Bill) · #16 21-01-2009, 10:50 PM

My 10" is an oldie, vintage 1986 with a steel tube, so not viable to lift in one piece, even if I was 20 years younger

. Use one of those $25 2 wheel box trolleys from Bunnings and an Occy Strap to move it around the yard. But for transport, goes in 2 parts.
Don't treat it roughly, but not like eggshells either. Dobs are designed for a bit of rough and tumble, thats what makes them so handy.
Steve, if you have a local "Mens Shed", have a chat to them re the box. Either join and make it yourself or one of the guys will make it for you at a reasonable price. Gotta keep us oldies busy

Bill