Happy me be! (Goodbye Dob mount!)

[Boozlefoot]

Having spent countless nights deliberating whether to build fork or wedge mount for my 12" Dobber, (due to acute lack of fundage!) I've just returned from a panic rush to Syd to rescue this beauty of a GEM..... built early 1960's? to accommodate a 20"? newt, this has been adapted down to suit a 12", has 1-3/4" solid shafts, 6" steampipe pier, encoder, etc. I think this will cradle my 12" nice and securely, and after a mini restoration will be the duck's nuts! (And it was affordable!) Now its FULL STEAM AHEAD for the observatory............I'm excited!

[Kunama]

Nice one Rod. You will just need a ladder to get to the eyepiece or make some rotating rings to bring the eyepiece to you. Look forward to your progress...

[xelasnave]

That looks great.
Can you gain an advantage by shortning the pier?
Alex

[Boozlefoot]

Hi Alex,
Yes, can shorten pier quite a deal, think at worst case scenario may only need a small "safety step". Going to completely dismantle and give a good coat of epoxy paint, then setup for existing f4.5 scope. Also have to decide on getting rid of 3 feet(legs) and using a stud system in ob floor and bolting flange direct. (weight about 210kg, so pretty stable on feet!)
Cheers,
Rod

[xelasnave]

Originally Posted by Boozlefoot

Hi Alex,
Yes, can shorten pier quite a deal, think at worst case scenario may only need a small "safety step". Going to completely dismantle and give a good coat of epoxy paint, then setup for existing f4.5 scope. Also have to decide on getting rid of 3 feet(legs) and using a stud system in ob floor and bolting flange direct. (weight about 210kg, so pretty stable on feet!)
Cheers,
Rod

The counter weights will seem to restrict the cut but if in an observatory consider a trench to accomodate them even more weights higher up but try and avoid any steps... astronomy is dangerous enough without adding opportunities to fall.
Alex

[Boozlefoot]

Its a two piece pier, so am looking at building another "shorter" half to reduce height by 12" as a cost effective option.also the weights further up the shaft as I want to reduce shaft deflection. Think it will work, but will have to mount OTA and start 'actual' dimensioning. The scope I run is an f4.5, the one that was on it was an f7, so there should be room for drastic cuts. (Malcolm Turnbull will be impressed!)

[Wavytone]

Congrats on scoring a solid old-school mount... but from the photos it appears to lack an RA drive and clutches ?

[JA]

Nice pick up !!!

Best
JA

[Boozlefoot]

No, no RA drive. All done by hand! Thought about adding on, but this is a real beaut and a piece of history in my opinion, so I'm thinking maybe just a resto and enjoy it as it is.