DIY counterweight to Balance C8 on minitower

[cmr (Chris)]

hello, I thought I'd share this in case it's ever helpful to someone in the future.

I have a Celestron C8 and an ioptron minitower. With a WO crayford, a 2" diagonal and some hefty eyepieces it is a bit tricky to balance.

When researching the minitower I found a youtube video of a Italian who had a DIY counterweight for a C* on his minitower, and have used that as inspiration to make this.

Uses a Bintel dovetail adapter, some 8mm threaded bar, some washers, nuts and heavier square metal washers all from the local hardware shop.

It allows balance in 2 dimensions - slide along the dovetail bar attaching C8 to the minitower, and move up and down on the threaded bar.

I fluked the perfect balance the second time I attached it (first time not quite heavy enough).

See youtube video (ignore fat man! )

http://youtu.be/4DRAE7qfAvU

and images

[5ash (Philip)]

I have been using the same method to balance my c9.25". Mounted on an EQ6. The adapter with a steel plate attached to it slides along the scopes dovetail bar to make minor adjustments in balance in my case. Strong magnets are used to attach weights to the adapter.Works very well.
Philip