It's early days for my brand new 8" Dob, but I can tell I'm going to have issues with my height vs. the height of the eyepiece. I find myself using the scope while on my knees.
I tried placing the dob on a box that was about 25 cms high and that was just enough height to make it useable. Unfortunately it was also a bit unstable and I wasn't comfortable leaving it on there.
Has anyone had any good (or bad) ideas in getting a little extra height out of a dob?
An option is to build a stable platform or legs to raise the dob...I think some other members have done/tried this...
Another option is to get a height adjustable chair...there are many types of these to choose from and range from things like drum kit stools, adjustable office chairs or there are a few available from astronomy stores...(I am a bit biased as I have a vested interest in a particular model cahir...there was a thread in equipment and buy sell on this some time ago)...
Regardless of my own interest, I opted on the chair for this solution and I have found that a good chair makes a world of difference with respect to usability and time at the eyepiece.
whats up doc?
i have the same scope and the same issuses. being 6' tall (not exactly a giant but not short either) i had to kneel or bend over to view....
the answer to my problem was to build a height adjustable chair (pictured below). it cost me next to nothing to make and while i am hopless at building things i found it easy...
lots of discipline and love and easy on the red cordial ... oh oops i see now, ummm I have an 8" dob and sometimes its a worm burner for sure - i
bought some light but hard strengthened (honeycombed) plastic (1 step) step ladder from 'cheap as chips' or somehwre like that years ago for 2 bucks or so, its excewllent for those worm burner stuff - (EDIT:as a extra low seat i meant - ironically I use it too stand more comfortably on for the f7 10" dob sometimes) - (could just dig a deep hole to stand in next to your observing spot )
Last edited by fringe_dweller; 28-06-2006 at 08:03 PM.
A box should work, you've just got to make the base wide enough to be stable. Someone in my club did this and it works a treat! The bonus is he can use it for kids to stand on at public nights.
I have a two forked approach.
If I am in the one area for a while, I use a plastic stool, and MUCH prefer to view this way.
If on the other hand I want to gloss about, maybe doing globs with the DSC's and Argo, I have short fold away "raisit-thing". If you want I can shoot you a picture and post it. The height advantage is about 300mm, and enough to place the eyepiece at a perfect height for the 10" f5 newt. You could make it taller or shorter as required.
Yes it reduces the stability, but for absolute rigidity and stability I use a GEM, sorry.
Hi Randell,
I have the same trouble with both my Dobs...so I set about building a height booster made from 19mm x 240mm wide pine. I made it triangular in shape so that the dob's base feet would sit inside each corner...each of the three sides had it's ends tapered slightly..the bottom being longer by about 40mm and each corner was mitred at 30 degrees, glued and screwed...the bottom of each corner has a furniture button fitted and finished with a few coats of varnish..cost?..about $20.00..I can now view without cricking by back!!
OK, here it is.
The dob base has a different system, a roller bearing (and prohibitively expensive too) on one side, and a large quadrant on the other, giving a three point bearing surface, rather than the usual four.
Pictures should show all you need, except a coat of paint. It has been like that for years now and I WILL do it one day.
Maybe "two forked" wasn't the right description Ving?
Yep, MDF or Customwood or whatever it is called. I call it "Weetbix Board".
No real problems, but as you can see I use asphalt, and it doesn't get wet. If you plan on setting up in a puddle you will need something else.
Three little dowels line up with equally sized/spaced holes. Simple huh?
)
rather put up with the gravel rash and the bugs thankyou 
I want one!
