Dob modifications - invite to group order

[Tannehill]

This is for those following - and interested in - the thread on improving the alt and az motions of GSO and related dobsonians.

I'm going to order a telfon pad kit which I've found to be ideal for the task. It's from Astrosystems in the U.S. It includes virgin teflon with countersunk holes for both the alt and az bearings.

We're also ordering some precut and specially "thinned" ebony star strips to be glue to the alt bearing surface. From one of two possible sources in the U.S., whichever gives us the best deal on special cutting 3/4" inch wide strips and grinding them to an appropriate thickness to make them flexible.

Folks are on their own to secure the right size ebony star sheet for the rocker bottom..

If anyone wants "in" on the order, it'd save on shipping. It's a small and durable product, so it should not be THAT expensive to ship here....one hopes.

PM me if you are interested. I can forward the items anywhere in Australia after it lands here in MEL....

thx

scott

[Starkler (Geoff)]

I have ebony star strips on my gso dob alt bearings. Nice and smooth

[janoskiss (Steve H)]

See Roger at Bintel Melb for virgin teflon. No need to order from the US. Precut laminate would be nice. Those things are a real pain to cut.

[Tannehill]

Thank you for that recommendation. I had talked to him earlier, actually, since I bought my scope from him. He had offered some virgin teflon. However, we wanted a some teflon pads that were already cut and sized for our needs, beveled on the edges already, and pre-drilled and counter-sunk for the mounting screw. Nothing to be done but mount them. Those of us on the little project here - I guess there are really only 2-3 of us at this point - don't have the resources or time to do our own cutting, etc. Just looking for some plug and play parts to improve the alt and az bearings.

We'll get the ebony star strips for same reason.

But we'll have to find some place to cut the az bearing ebony star here....

thanks

Scott



quote=janoskiss;211418]See Roger at Bintel Melb for virgin teflon. No need to order from the US. Precut laminate would be nice. Those things are a real pain to cut.[/quote]

[erick (Eric)]

Scott, as per PMs, I'm in and can hopefully help with some basic power tools and some space to do the job. Eric