The Great 'EQ' Restoration - OOPS!

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #1 24-11-2005, 08:30 PM

For the interest of any restorers in here I thought I would give a blow by blow report of the restoration of the EQ mount that Bert (avandonk) kindly donated to me.

This way you can see how the EQ started out from rusty memories to a fine piece of Astronomical equipment. I will add more pics as it goes along.

One thing I have learnt is that it is not a good travel mount so it will eventually be permanently mounted and I will hopefully get one of Mick Pinners Dob Wedge Trolleys for travelling about.

These first 2 pics are of the EQ mount where it sat at Berts for many years. It looks disastrous but everything that should work did!

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #2 24-11-2005, 08:39 PM

On arrival back at my place I assembled the mount as best as it would assemble and tried it out.

Pic 1: It works!!! (I placed Jake & Harry's 8" in it to test it)

Pic 2: Dissassembled ready for the restoration work.

bird (Anthony Wesley) · #3 24-11-2005, 08:45 PM

Looks good Ken. Nice to see you back on the forums too!

Bird

danielsun · #4 24-11-2005, 08:45 PM

Good stuff Ken!!! that'll keep you busy for a little bit!! i look forward to seeing it progress!

janoskiss (Steve H) · #5 24-11-2005, 08:46 PM

Looks like you've got a bit of work to do. How would you polar align it?

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #6 24-11-2005, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by janoskiss

Looks like you've got a bit of work to do. How would you polar align it?

For the time being Steve I will polar align by placing the setting circles on Zero and point the mount as close as possible to Sigma Octans.

When I permanently mount it I will remove the Polar axis assembly and polar align it with a finderscope on the Polar shaft and aim it exactly at SCP.

Yep, a bit of work to do but loving every minute of it! I have spent the last 2 weeks solid on it already.

h0ughy (David) · #7 24-11-2005, 09:01 PM

A wonderful project Ken, this will make it far better for the final product?

asimov (John) · #8 24-11-2005, 09:05 PM

Welcome back dude.

Looking good mate, a good sand blasting & a lick of paint etc etc good as new! Going to make it track in RA?

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #9 24-11-2005, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asimov

Welcome back dude.

Looking good mate, a good sand blasting & a lick of paint etc etc good as new! Going to make it track in RA?

Way ahead of you Asi.

Here is what 2 weeks without internet does. I have actually spent about 12 - 14 hours a day on it every day for the last 2 weeks! Even though I have an angle grinder I chose to hand file and hand sand everything. I also hand polished all the alloy parts!

Pic 1: Close up of the head and Setting Circles

Pic 2: Where I am up to after 2 weeks solid work

Striker (Tony) · #10 24-11-2005, 09:33 PM

Ken,

Remind me never to pay you hourly rate......lol

Looking good....paint it red like the paramount mount that david posted.

[1ponders] (Paul) · #11 24-11-2005, 09:34 PM

Excellent Ken, what a ripper! Fantastic job you've done there.

And thanks again to Bert for giving Ken a hidden treasure.

Robert_T · #12 24-11-2005, 09:34 PM

What a transformation Ken! Hard to believe it's the same thing you started with

cheers.

janoskiss (Steve H) · #13 24-11-2005, 09:37 PM

Wow, Ken!

What a difference! Not having internet makes you very productive.

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #14 24-11-2005, 09:45 PM

Haha! Thanks guys.

But like the ad on telly says "but wait, there's more!"

Here is my control room set up. (I use this set up with my 12" dob already)

Pic 1: What to do with that old Cubby House?

Pic 2: Stick the pooter in it! (the skateboard allows me to roll the Monitor back to shut the door!)

Pic 3: What a great combo! (and the 5 metre TouCam USB extension reaches with plenty to spare!!)

davidpretorius · #15 24-11-2005, 10:03 PM

Haaa Haa HAAA

Astronomy & Imaging "the aussie way"

Ken, get that sheep in for the lawns and then take a picture for Nasa!!!!

It reminds me of "The Dish"

Well done mate, I am having trouble typing due to tears in my eyes!!!

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #16 24-11-2005, 10:19 PM

Yep Mate, I was also thinkin' maybe some barbed wire for the USB extension but the General Store sold out

Don't worry about any sheep eating the grass. On Saturday, next-doors 3 horses are coming in for a week of feeding on my backyard overgrowth! Then they attack the paddocks!!

p.s. Speaking of Aussie enginuity I was thinking about a Holden V8 for the tracking but I can't get one to idle in Sidereal Time, only Lunar and Solar Time LOL!

h0ughy (David) · #17 24-11-2005, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ballaratdragons

Haha! Thanks guys.

But like the ad on telly says "but wait, there's more!"

Here is my control room set up. (I use this set up with my 12" dob already)

Pic 1: What to do with that old Cubby House?

Pic 2: Stick the pooter in it! (the skateboard allows me to roll the Monitor back to shut the door!)

Pic 3: What a great combo! (and the 5 metre TouCam USB extension reaches with plenty to spare!!)

Ken that is absolutely magic

asimov (John) · #18 24-11-2005, 10:27 PM

Aaah yes! the good O'l puter in the cubby trick! LOVE ITTT!

davidpretorius · #19 24-11-2005, 10:28 PM

ken is back!!!!

and back to his best!!!

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #20 24-11-2005, 10:37 PM

Hey, if it works . . . use it!

Scarey to think how the real observatory is going to look when I build it!!

At the moment I am thinking of the bottom half made from a round water tank and one of those paper-mache domes on top. Still gotta work out how I am going to make it all spin around without blowing off in a strong wind. Oh well, I'll probably invent some weird system out of junk in the shed.

I gotta finish the EQ mount first, then attack the dome problem!!!!