Looking for Ebony Star -like laminate in Melbourne area

Tannehill · #1 07-04-2007, 10:41 PM

Hi, i just moved here from the U.S. for a year. I've an 18" Obsession at home. I brought my TV85 here and my eyepieces. I just bought a Bintel (GSO) 302 mm dob and assembled it in my living room. I haven't applied the Armor All to the ground board laminate yet. Despite a nice loose center bolt connection, the azimuth motion is stiff. I note the GSO folks didn't bother with any laminatae on this suface, other than the relatively fine verneer covering their glue board surfaces; it's the same all over. I wondered -if the Armor All doesn't work - about adding some larger higher quality virgin teflon pads adn some true Ebony star (i.e. same coarseness feature of WilsonArt laminate, be it whatever color).

Any sources for this in Melbourne? The laminate and virgin teflon pads?

Anyone done similar with their GSO dob?

Thanks

Scott

RAJAH235 · #2 07-04-2007, 11:37 PM

Hi n welcome to IIS, Scott.
FWIW. I run my Meade 10" dob absolutely clean n dry. No ArmourAll at all, nada. Just clean it ocassionally n it runs real smooth on the Ebony Star I added. I have about 5 to 10 mm of free play between top n bottom boards. (real sloppy).
I cannot help with your call for 'where to buy' but there will be others along to point you in the right direction.
I think you can 'adjust the tension springs', but again, not sure of set up.
HTH..

L.

iceman (Mike) · #3 08-04-2007, 06:47 AM

Hi Scott.
I think some people get it from offcuts from kitchen manufacturers, but I believe you can also get it from hardware stores like Bunnings - the problem is, they may not stock it and it may need to be ordered in.

The ebony star upgrade is definitely worthwhile though - i've a friend who did his (with the help of Orion/Ed) and it's much better. Before that it was very stiff. The GSO design of the 12" base is a bit ordinary.

to IIS! Hope you enjoy your time here and in Australia!

Tannehill · #4 08-04-2007, 07:34 AM

Thank you. If I can get the laminate installed i expect I'll run it dry, also, as I don't use anything on my dob az base at home. The store where I bought the scope said that Armor All would work. But that implied I kept the current bearing surfaces. If that works, fine, but if not, I'll apply new as bearing surface as soon as i review how to find it, cut it and glue it to the bottom!

Thank you

Scott in Melbourne

Tamtarn · #5 08-04-2007, 09:10 AM

Hi Scott

Welcome to IIS

For Ebony Star try Ringwood Laminates, 405 Maroondah Hwy Ringwood, Phone: 9870 2505 they have supplied this product for Dob Bases before.

In the mean time try Mikes milk bottle washers on bearing surfaces - still works well.

David

Starkler (Geoff) · #6 08-04-2007, 09:14 AM

I was given a quote from a kitchen laminate company for ebony star before.
Bunnings will get it but they charge like wounded bulls

The distributor is Parbury.

Tannehill · #7 08-04-2007, 04:14 PM

Thanks for all the tips!

Anyone done this....upgraded their GSO dob (Bintel 302) to Ebony Star? Any secrets to making it successful and/or easy? I've limited tools currently, or a workshop. Was going to simply walk into a shop nearby and ask for quotes on cutting and glueing it onto the base....

thx

scott

Tannehill · #8 08-04-2007, 06:14 PM

Oh, yes. Also, anyone have a source for virgin teflon - etched or non-etched - in the MEL area? I'd like to swap out the rather small and stapled-on teflon pads of the GSO base with virgin teflon. I can drill countersunk holes to screw it to the base board, so it doesn't need to be etched.

Just need a source locally if possible....

thanks again

Scott

erick (Eric) · #9 09-04-2007, 09:46 AM

Would someone kindly point me to some threads which explain exactly where and how this laminate is used - I can guess, but I'd like to be sure. Thanks

Starkler (Geoff) · #10 09-04-2007, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tannehill

Oh, yes. Also, anyone have a source for virgin teflon - etched or non-etched - in the MEL area? I'd like to swap out the rather small and stapled-on teflon pads of the GSO base with virgin teflon.

Scott I heard that Bintel carry or can get virgin teflon pre cut into appropriate sizes. When I rang them to enquire I was told that the existing pads on the gso bases ARE in fact teflon.

I ended up using another laminate type ( not ebony star) and with milk jug washers and a bit of turtle wax on the laminate it moves as sweet as can be

Tannehill · #11 09-04-2007, 03:18 PM

The more coarse "cobblestone" texture to Ebony Star laminate reduces friction between it and the teflon pads. It's also more expensive than stock laminates. GSO just uses the same (cheap stock) laminate surface for the baseboard in contact with the teflon pads as is used on all the board surfaces. This cheap stock laminate is fine in texture, almost totally smooth. And this creates a suction-like cohesion that stiffens the az motion. Like applying two pieces of polished glass together, they stick.

Ebony Star is just one of several lines sold by Wilson Art with this more coarse cobblestone texture which is ideal for az bearing surface material. This coarseness serves to prevent any cohesion with the teflon pads.

At least, that's how I recall it explained to me...

There are many comparable lines of laminate, but Ebony Star is the common name tossed around and every knows what you mean when you say that. In fact, any comparable texture line will work. At the Wilson Art website, if you scan their offerings, you'll see Ebony Star has the "90" texture. That's the magic number. Any Wilson Art laminate with a "90" finish will be identical in feel to Ebony Star for the purpose of this application. Some folks prefer hot pink laminate....not the black ebony star...

It comes as a thin sheet of material several mm thick - don't know for sure, maybe 3mm? You glue a solid sheet onto the baseboard and this surface floats on the three teflon pads mounted on the bottom board - also called the ground board I think. The trick is getting it glued on securely. That's where I'm at now, trying to a) find some at reasonable price b) have it cut to fit my baseboard, and c) getting it glued on in a suitable and durable fashion. And I'm half a world away from my meager workshop in the U.S.!

Cheers

Scott

erick (Eric) · #12 09-04-2007, 03:56 PM

Many thanks, Scott. I'll have to look into this. I did pull my Bintel dob base apart and clean everything up, but I notice that, during the cold of the night, the Az motion has too much friction for my liking.

Starkler (Geoff) · #13 09-04-2007, 04:03 PM

I have in my hand right now a sample of Wilsonart Laminate 4552-50 Ebony Star and it is the one to get. The "90" texture is a much finer grain.

Tannehill · #14 09-04-2007, 07:58 PM

50! Yes, thank you, I was wrong on the 90 part...Sorry.

Scott

erick (Eric) · #15 09-04-2007, 10:00 PM

I gather this is the laminate on Mark's Alt bearings??

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/a...1&d=1176116426

DougAdams · #16 10-04-2007, 12:13 PM

I've had a GSO 12" dob for a couple of months now and going through the mod phase.

Don't use Armor All! I did this as I was assembling. Sat there for an hour rubbing in three coats of the stuff. First night was great, second night not so great, and it got worse from there. Disassembled and recoated - great then progressively worse again. Went for milk washers - helped a bit, but there is a certain stickiness to it that is very frustrating at 200x and above.

Not sure where to go from here, but have been looking for this Ebony Star stuff as a solution. Can't find it anywhere. I'll try the Ringwood store and see if they have any.

Starkler (Geoff) · #17 10-04-2007, 01:57 PM

Doug, paste car wax is the go

DougAdams · #18 10-04-2007, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Starkler

Doug, paste car wax is the go

Okay... now that wink emoticon really scares me!

Starkler (Geoff) · #19 10-04-2007, 05:04 PM

Ok try this one

davewaldo · #20 10-04-2007, 05:24 PM

I also have been looking for ebony star in Brisbane. I can find it no worries however it comes in two surface types. 50 or 90.

I have started a new thread which has photos of the two surfaces. http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...ad.php?t=19122

Which one is the best? It sounds like some people might have 50 and others 90....