Hi Matty,
Andrews...Pier mount, heavy duty, suits EQ6 and EQ6PRO eq. mounts$299.00
but I'm not sure if that is a portable pier or an attatchment for a pier.
I have seen a few pillar extention tubes mounted on a pier which would be a much cheaper alternative at $49
I saw that on Andrews website but it is not what I'm looking for. I'm hoping that there is a specific adapter plate for my EQ6 that will fit on a pier.
I was wondering what you ended up doing about this.
I find myself in the same position. I cannot find a specific adapter or mounting plate; I don't have the skill or equipment to manufacture one myself; and I think the cost to have one made will be too much. So I am considering the Pier Extension.
It would be good to have this sorted out because I would like to build my own pier.
My concern with using the extension tube is about fixing it to the pier I am going to use. There doesn't appear to be a very large "flange" at the bottom of it that I can run some bolts through. So it looks like it may have to be a weld job. But then is the material thick enough to take a hot weld?
Its amazing how prices seem to just keep on creeping up. But then even $129 is a lot cheaper than buy the whole pier.
Here is some pics of my adapter plate. The local machine shop machined out the pier shape into the steel.
The maching cost around $120 for the centre hole only. The rest was done elsewhere. I though I would post this to give some perspective on doing yourself.
Note I went a little overboard with the 25mm plate steel, but I dont think I would want to go much thinner. Mind you I have a decent load on my mount.
My concern with using the extension tube is about fixing it to the pier I am going to use. There doesn't appear to be a very large "flange" at the bottom of it that I can run some bolts through. So it looks like it may have to be a weld job. But then is the material thick enough to take a hot weld?
Its amazing how prices seem to just keep on creeping up. But then even $129 is a lot cheaper than buy the whole pier.
Darrell
I went to Kmart and bought a 5kg barbell weight. The hole in the centre takes the flange on the bottom of the extension tube. I just had to drill 2 holes through the edge of the weight and screw it to the top of my pier.
Terry - how did you attach the mount to the barbell weight?
I bought a pier extension for the EQ6. It has a flange on the bottom of it that fits in the hole of the weight. It was a little bit tight on 1 side due to a bit of burring in the hole but I just used a round file to get rid of the burr.
The top of the pier extension takes the EQ6 mount as usual.
The attached photo isn't terribly clear but you can get the idea.
Hey Matt.
Don't know if you solved this yet but STSAstro and Altairastro in the UK both sell EQ6 adapters & pier plates.
I'm looking for something similar for the HEQ5. No use saying "here's plans to build one" as by the time I'd saved enough to buy all the gear needed to drill and machine the stock, then taken a machinist's course, I'd be 78.
I'm looking for a rotating, lockable, dual-puck affair (like that Takahashi gizmo) to go between the head and the tripod, allowing the head to swivel for use in Alt / Az mode. You'd think it would be an obvious thing to have.
Apparently not.
If anyone is, or knows a competent machinist in SE Vic I'm happy to pay a good price.
Offered a local geezer $400, but he refused -"don't do one-off's" he said as his machinery lay idle in the background. So much for Australian "industry".
Matt
you already have a pier adapter. Do what I did and remove the legs off your tripod and use a 10mm bolt to attach to the pier. I posted a photo of the setup on Houghy's dog house observatory posting. Runs to 8 pages bit you should see it there.
