Go Back   IceInSpace > Equipment > Equipment Discussions
Register FAQ Calendar Today's Posts Search

Reply
 
Thread Tools Rate Thread
  #1  
Old 29-09-2006, 09:52 AM
JohnH's Avatar
JohnH
Member # 159

JohnH is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: NSW
Posts: 1,226
Cheap Tricks...

I am sure we all have some of these we can share - here are a couple of mine..

I use a laser pointer on my scope as a finder....but the one I have only has ptt-type switch fitted - they are not rated for continuous use - a couple of minutes is ok and that is all I need. I find a clothes peg fits nicely, all I have to do is rotate it so the jaws engage the switch and voila! Works a treat and lies flush to the OTA when not in use. I selected a suitable high tech, translucent, neon green colour to match the output of the laser...

I picked up a 3-led red torch for $2.50 from a local bargain shop - intended for cyclists it has flash, rotate and continuous modes plus a belt clip and a fitting for attaching to a bike frame - that could be altered to fit tripod...a little bright perhaps and no dimmer but it works for me...
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 29-09-2006, 12:25 PM
ving's Avatar
ving (David)
~Dust bunny breeder~

ving is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: The town of campbells
Posts: 12,359
celophane over a $2 torch... i am sure every one has done this
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 29-09-2006, 05:38 PM
wavelandscott's Avatar
wavelandscott (Scott)
Plays well with others!

wavelandscott is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Ridgefield CT USA
Posts: 3,531
Quote:
Originally Posted by ving
celophane over a $2 torch... i am sure every one has done this
Red fingernail polish over a $1.75 torch...the nail polish was already in the house (I will neither confirm nor deny if it was mine or not) the shade is a "trade secret"

and stubby holder with a couple of splits on the side as a dew shield for my telrad...
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 29-09-2006, 06:07 PM
ballaratdragons's Avatar
ballaratdragons (Ken)
The 'DRAGON MAN'

ballaratdragons is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: In the Dark at Snake Valley, Victoria
Posts: 14,412
Excellent thread topic John

Wow, where do I start? There are soooo many!

Cardboard tube from centre of Cling Wrap as an EP extension tube,
Cardboard Mailing Tube as a finderscope dew shield,
PVC quickfinder,
'Fuel Filter' adaptor for Accufocus to fit Crayford,
and the list goes on . . . .

I have posted somewhere in here many of my 'Steptoe' inventions
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 29-09-2006, 06:56 PM
asimov's Avatar
asimov (John)
Planet photographer

asimov is offline
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Bundaberg
Posts: 8,819
CG5 polar scope Illuminator shoved into a plastic dew shield on my finder to Illuminate the FOV to see the crosshairs.

A long piece of aluminium attached to the focusser knob to make it a 'fine focusser' 'cos I'm a cheap skate & won't lash out for an electric one.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 29-09-2006, 07:14 PM
Ric's Avatar
Ric
Support your local RFS

Ric is offline
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Wamboin NSW
Posts: 12,405
I use a Woollies torch and paint the lens with a clear red modelling paint, the type you use for painting tailights on model cars. Usually two or three coats gives you the perfect density to still be able to read and see.

cheers
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 29-09-2006, 07:25 PM
[1ponders]'s Avatar
[1ponders] (Paul)
Retired, damn no pension

[1ponders] is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Obi Obi, Qld
Posts: 18,778
You call that cheap Asi, remember this beauty
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 29-09-2006, 07:40 PM
asimov's Avatar
asimov (John)
Planet photographer

asimov is offline
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Bundaberg
Posts: 8,819
Lol...How could I forget that one Paul! he-hee!
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 29-09-2006, 07:48 PM
ballaratdragons's Avatar
ballaratdragons (Ken)
The 'DRAGON MAN'

ballaratdragons is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: In the Dark at Snake Valley, Victoria
Posts: 14,412
A 4'x4' cubby-house as an Obsevatory

Crosshairs made from my Daughters hair
Attached Thumbnails
Click for full-size image (Cubby obs and mount.jpg)
51.3 KB34 views
Click for full-size image (Crosshairs in EP.jpg)
24.4 KB20 views
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 29-09-2006, 07:59 PM
ballaratdragons's Avatar
ballaratdragons (Ken)
The 'DRAGON MAN'

ballaratdragons is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: In the Dark at Snake Valley, Victoria
Posts: 14,412
and don't forget about the LPG gas bottle mounts for Tube Rings, the Paint can locking ring for rotatable OTA's and for mirror removal and assembly, and the obligatory old useless printer parts as mount drives.
Attached Thumbnails
Click for full-size image (LPG Gas Rings.jpg)
137.9 KB15 views
Click for full-size image (paint can lock ring on OTA.jpg)
62.5 KB18 views
Click for full-size image (Dec fine adjustment motor 1.jpg)
47.8 KB42 views
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 29-09-2006, 08:02 PM
Lester's Avatar
Lester
Registered User

Lester is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: E.P. S.A.
Posts: 4,963
3 clutch plates welded together from Caterpillar D4 1956 vintage for counter weights to enable the telescope to balance.

2 foot tangent arm on Dec shaft of EQ mount, reinforced with flat iron droppers welded on edge.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 29-09-2006, 08:18 PM
ballaratdragons's Avatar
ballaratdragons (Ken)
The 'DRAGON MAN'

ballaratdragons is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: In the Dark at Snake Valley, Victoria
Posts: 14,412
1. Muscle-Man counterweights (lots of them!)

2. Using EP's and a cardboard tube as a Toucam lens

3. Turning your Dob springs upside down (free)
Attached Thumbnails
Click for full-size image (counterweights 1.jpg)
92.5 KB11 views
Click for full-size image (Widefield lens for Modded Toucam.jpg)
50.3 KB22 views
Click for full-size image (spring tensioner.jpg)
13.4 KB20 views
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 29-09-2006, 08:42 PM
ballaratdragons's Avatar
ballaratdragons (Ken)
The 'DRAGON MAN'

ballaratdragons is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: In the Dark at Snake Valley, Victoria
Posts: 14,412
A poplular one used by many people is the Plastic film canister with a small hole in it!

Also Speaker Magnets as counterweights.
Attached Thumbnails
Click for full-size image (Speaker magnets.jpg)
30.0 KB16 views
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 29-09-2006, 08:52 PM
Lee's Avatar
Lee
Colour is over-rated

Lee is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Newcastle, Australia
Posts: 2,414
Velcro everywhere - stick things to other things - cables, hand controllers, lights, nothing is safe from velcro-ing near me!
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 30-09-2006, 01:07 PM
seeker372011's Avatar
seeker372011 (Narayan)
6EQUJ5

seeker372011 is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Sydney
Posts: 3,663
my el-cheapo wedge for my ETX70-
dewshield is the front cover of a plastic folder held with a rubber band
wedge base is an old tv stand
Attached Thumbnails
Click for full-size image (wedge-etx.jpg)
88.9 KB29 views
Click for full-size image (wedg-counterwts.jpg)
101.0 KB19 views
Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old 17-05-2007, 01:53 PM
JohnH's Avatar
JohnH
Member # 159

JohnH is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: NSW
Posts: 1,226
Found another one...silica gel crystals placed in panty hose to keep your gear dry (but did you know you can buy it in 1kg bags from C@l#$ for about $8.00, it's sold as "Kitty Litter" it looks like hard, opaque, whitish crystals, some are blue, that's just a deodorant). Costs a lot more $$$ for less KGs in the camera shops....
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 17-05-2007, 02:04 PM
erick's Avatar
erick (Eric)
Starcatcher

erick is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Gerringong
Posts: 8,548
Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnH View Post
Found another one...silica gel crystals placed in panty hose to keep your gear dry (but did you know you can buy it in 1kg bags from C@l#$ for about $8.00, it's sold as "Kitty Litter" it looks like hard, opaque, whitish crystals, some are blue, that's just a deodorant). Costs a lot more $$$ for less KGs in the camera shops....
Any particular brand name of the bag I should look for?? Genuine silica gel!! really?
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 17-05-2007, 02:24 PM
JohnH's Avatar
JohnH
Member # 159

JohnH is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: NSW
Posts: 1,226
They all seem to have CRYSTAL in the name somewhere...they are the ones that look like whitish/translucent beads. Not clay/clumping type or the organic variety, eg:

http://www.homeshop.com.au/images/p/52/00210752.jpg

Might pay to remove the blue ones (volatiles?) and bake at 150C for an hr before first use....same method can be used to re-activate.

You can also get small amounts for nothing at all if you talk nicely to your local shoe shop....
Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old 17-05-2007, 02:54 PM
erick's Avatar
erick (Eric)
Starcatcher

erick is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Gerringong
Posts: 8,548
In years past, I worked in chemical labs and we had plenty of silica gel then in drying tubes etc. and always plenty baking in the oven. I had been thinking of going to a chemical supplier. The bits out of shoe boxes etc. aren't enough
- it sucks up moisture so fast that you need lots of grams to be effective.

Thanks, I'll head to the supermarket!
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +10. The time is now 06:30 PM.

Powered by vBulletin Version 3.8.7 | Copyright ©2000 - 2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Advertisement
Bintel
Advertisement