Where do you keep your mount?

[CarlJoseph (Carl)]

Hi folks,

I'm the new proud owner of a NEQ6 Pro mount. Damn it's heavy!

I'm wondering how people store/transport their mount and other equipment?

Currently I'm keeping my NEQ6 and scope indoors and carry it out in parts when I want to use it (which hasn't been much lately given the clouds ). I can see this quickly becoming quite a task if I do it often enough.

Could I safely keep the mount outdoors and cover it with something? Are these mounts likely to encounter rust, etc.? What do people do to combat that?

Keen for any ideas and thoughts and to hear what other folks out there with semi-portable setups do.

Cheers,
Af.

[steve000 (Steve)]

in my linen closet area, i transport it on a hand trolly with the legs folded in. its unko but works... making a scope buggy.

[AdrianF (Adrian)]

In the corner of the home office. Carry to yard down 13 stairs when clear skies but like you not very often. Carpet now have deep indents from the tripod being in one place for too long

Adrian

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

I have the 2 big mounts kept partially set up in the dining room, the small mount is in the garage, and the rest of the gear is stored in the laundry.
It doesn't take long to set it all up either, around 10 min max. The pad is only a few steps from the back door ramp.

[CarlJoseph (Carl)]

Thanks for the ideas folks. Nice to hear what other people are doing out there.

Hmmm, scope buggy - nice idea. I was thinking of just making a small platform on wheels but the scope buggy looks much more light weight and potentially stable. Might see if I can rig something like that up.

[Waxing_Gibbous (Peter)]

Scope Buggy. I want one.
They run $600+ here so its definitely worth making one if you are handy.

My mount just sits on a covered porch and gets hauled out when needed.
I've only just got a "365" scope cover from Telegizmos and am gearing up the courage to leave Rexy out in the rain with it on!

[AstralTraveller (David)]

Hmmmm ..... yes, where do I keep my mount?? It's been so long .... 'spose I should check in case I ever need it

[CarlJoseph (Carl)]

Originally Posted by Waxing_Gibbous

They run $600+ here so its definitely worth making one if you are handy.

Definitely a good idea to make one me thinks given that price!

Originally Posted by Waxing_Gibbous

My mount just sits on a covered porch and gets hauled out when needed.

You haven't found any issues with rust when keeping the mount outdoors for extended periods (even away from the rain)?

Originally Posted by AstralTraveller

It's been so long .... 'spose I should check in case I ever need it

I know how you feel.

[M110 (Andrew)]

Keep my dob in the dining room. It is occy strapped to a hand trolley to go down the back stairs. I use this method
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/63-12-0-0-1-0.html

[DavidU (Dave)]

I remove the spreader bracket, fold the legs so they are about 15" apart and it sits in the corner of my garage.

[OzRob (Rob)]

If I am using mine every night (or close to it) I leave the tripod, mounts (with weights still attached) in place and cover it with a tarp over an old doona. It then takes me about 15 - 20 minutes to have it all in working order each night.

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

My EQ6 sits out in the back yard permanently (except when I take it to Camp).

I cover it in a sheet folded in half, then a big sheet of thick plastic. Then I tie it around with some strong electrical cable as rope.

No, mine hasn't rusted. It has been living outdoors, inside a small leaking obs for a short while, and out on its own like it is now for about 4 years.

I do spray it all over with Surface spray though atleast once a month to keep bugs out.
I just carry out my scope and plop it on. Already Polar Aligned

It never misses a beat.

They get drenched out in the dew at night anyway when you are using them. All is good.

[astro_nutt]

I keep the motorized dob mount in a roll-away observatory while the original dob mount and ota are kept in the lounge. I have seen a rather clever way of protecting a mount outdoor. An upright changeroom/toilet tent available from camping stores. To be sure, cover the mount with a cotton sheet then a tarp. The tent remained pretty sturdy once the guy ropes are in, and only took a few minutes to take down.
Cheers!

[jones (Salvatore)]

I keep my mount permanently in my backyard, on my pier, covered with a Telegizmos cover. So far it's made it through our tough Finnish winters (temperatures down to -25C and lots of snow).

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

Used to lug the G11 in and out all the time (not a light mount and tripod either). My suggestion is to sell the tripod and build an observatory.

[bartman (Bart)]

Originally Posted by ballaratdragons

My EQ6 sits out in the back yard permanently (except when I take it to Camp).

I cover it in a sheet folded in half, then a big sheet of thick plastic. Then I tie it around with some strong electrical cable as rope.

No, mine hasn't rusted. It has been living outdoors, inside a small leaking obs for a short while, and out on its own like it is now for about 4 years.

I do spray it all over with Surface spray though atleast once a month to keep bugs out.
I just carry out my scope and plop it on. Already Polar Aligned

It never misses a beat.

They get drenched out in the dew at night anyway when you are using them. All is good.

Heya Ken,

So what happens when the temps get really high? my courtyard gets really hot +40 in the summer at times ( now).
Wouldn't the grease dissolve?
Sorry, just read that its in an ob....still what do the temps get up to in the Obs?

I've thought about leaving the tripod and head out - covered with some car windscreen solar cover X2......
Any thoughts on that?
Bartman

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Originally Posted by bartman

Heya Ken,

So what happens when the temps get really high? my courtyard gets really hot +40 in the summer at times ( now).
Wouldn't the grease dissolve?
Sorry, just read that its in an ob....still what do the temps get up to in the Obs?

I've thought about leaving the tripod and head out - covered with some car windscreen solar cover X2......
Any thoughts on that?
Bartman

No, it's not in an Obs, Bart.

It was for a short time a few years ago, but since then it sits out in the open. Tripod and Mount head

Grease melt? Nope.
The Grease I use is designed for a few hundred degrees. It is the red coloured professional axle grease. Need a blow torch to make it melt.

And I keep the heat of daytime to a minimum with the doubled-over sheet. On a very hot day the mount only gets slightly warm which will never hurt it

I've seen more expensive mounts out in the daylight sun for 4 days at a time at Camp with no problems.
They are pretty robust.

Yes, that car window reflective stuff would be good on a mount, but they don't make it strong enough. It rips easy.

Use a BBQ cover like some do. Best cover I've ever seen.

[bartman (Bart)]

Well that would make my life sooo much easier!!!!
Atm the tripod and head resides inside and lugging it outside is always a deterrent for me to go and shoot some pics.
So thanks Ken, I never knew that the NEQ would b up to dat ( linguistic thread).
I'll get a couple of those BBQ covers and wrap it up like a crissy present!
Cheers
Bartman

[asimov (John)]

In the shed, with a huge industrial fan blowing on them 24/7. I need the fan to fight the humidity where I am.

[GrampianStars (Rob)]

My mount is permenent in a Obs, covered in a sheet during the day (keeps bugs off)
My neighbour Has a CG5 on a tripod outdoors ...
just with a Dryazabone jacket thrown over and Okiee Strap holding it on