I have a giant telescope that I have never effectively used - Page 2

fuso (Anthony) · #21 17-09-2011, 09:55 AM

Sorry but I don't get it.
What kind of person would sell a newbie a 16in dob without a mount?

I've dealt with chris before once...........and only once.

torana68 (Roger) · #22 17-09-2011, 11:04 AM

[QUOTE=ballaratdragons;765829]I'm still trying to get my head around the point of: why would anyone buy a Telescope without a mount?

Ive done it (cause I like old stuff that doenst pop up much), Ive also balanced an OTA on things to see what the optics were like but its not viable to "see" things, DOB mount is a good idea, depending on weight a GEM may turn up second hand at a reasonable cost.
It is an older scops and Im wondering two things
1. why sell to someone who is new to this a BIG scope without a mount at all?
2. What condition are the coatings on the mirror like

Check 2. before you do much else, this can be done by looking from the bottom of the mirror and see if you can see light , which would indicate thinning or dead coatings
this is a good add on astromart, go down till you see the photos of the mirror coatings
http://www.astromart.com/articles/ar...article_id=816

swapping may be a goer if its all good but maybe consider a new 8" DOB
it will be cheaper than the mount for that (10"probbaly cheaper too

)
Roger
EDIT 1.25 or .96 sized eyepieces???

alistairsam · #23 17-09-2011, 11:49 AM

Hi,
As everyone's mentioned, making a dob mount would be fairly simple, just a few pieces of wood, cut to size, few screws, and a bolt.
you won't need anything more than just basic tools.

other option would be to sell the primary and secondary mirrors and buy an 8" or 10" dob or a collapsible dob as its a lot easier to handle for a beginner.
that's if the mirrors are in decent condition.

there are a lot of us here to help, as Ken mentioned, your closest astronomical society would be ideal for advise and options.
where are you based, there's bound to be someone from this community nearby.
good luck.

alistairsam · #24 17-09-2011, 12:21 PM

hi,

just noticed you mentioned you're in ivanhoe. i live in box hill, 15 mins away.
I'd be happy to help build you a mount on a weekend as i've got all the tools and bunnings is close by.
send me a PM if you're interested and we'll get that scope back in action.

richardda1st (Richard) · #25 17-09-2011, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alistairsam

hi,

just noticed you mentioned you're in ivanhoe. i live in box hill, 15 mins away.
I'd be happy to help build you a mount on a weekend as i've got all the tools and bunnings is close by.
send me a PM if you're interested and we'll get that scope back in action.

Good one Alistair.

Nooboscope, why not join us at the Snake Valley astro camp?
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...t=80301&page=2

If that's okay Ken?

nooboscope · #26 18-09-2011, 11:39 PM

Hi again everyone. Wow that was a lot of reading!

Thanks a lot for all the info.. I am definately attempting to swim out out of my depth assimilating it all but really I'm honestly just blown away by how helpful everyone is, you have a really nice community here and I'm very grateful that you're helping me, especially with stuff that is clearly pretty elementary!

Going on the advice of ken, bojan and everyone else, I've decided to go ahead and attempt to build the mount, sans motors and electronics. All the reading has got me enthused about it again. Based on the links that you guys have set me up with I believe that I can probably do it. Alastair, thanks very much for the offer, I will attempt construction myself at least initially, as I would love to do it if I can - but if it's okay with you I will PM you once I get stuck in the thing head-first!

Roger I will check the mirror coating tomorrow, I suppose it needs to be done in daylight? Or with good ambient light? Because where it is stored at the moment it is a bit dark. I will check the eyepieces at the same time.

Alright, wish me luck! I hope to get started in the next few days. I'll keep you posted and really I hope that soon I am posting a photograph of my scope on a completed dob mount.. if it goes awry I'll post any xrays/police reports/newpaper editorials that my attempt generates.

cheers all! ben

traveller (Bo) · #27 19-09-2011, 02:18 PM

Good luck Ben. I live near Ivanhoe, so if you need some power tools, clamps etc, just PM me.
Bo

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #28 19-09-2011, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richardda1st

Nooboscope, why not join us at the Snake Valley astro camp?
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...t=80301&page=2

If that's okay Ken?

Yes, of course it's alright

Ben, see HERE
It is a great place to learn stuff from a lot of people at the same time

Oh, and it's fun too

torana68 (Roger) · #29 19-09-2011, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nooboscope

Roger I will check the mirror coating tomorrow, I suppose it needs to be done in daylight? Or with good ambient light? Because where it is stored at the moment it is a bit dark. I will check the eyepieces at the same time.
cheers all! ben

anything really bright should do it, outside but not directly at the sun, flood light.....reason is its expensive to have the coatings redone properly

jenchris (Jennifer) · #30 19-09-2011, 05:59 PM

Darn, I wish you lived up here, I'm dying to trundle up some woodwork.
I've even got an old Bike I could make a EQ mount from

BEVAN5433 (BEVAN) · #31 22-09-2011, 10:26 PM

Ben I want a good home for it. If you want a Dobsonian mount for 16-18" mirror I have one which will need little work to rebuild I can assist you and I am in Ivanhoe/Eaglemont Bevan

stephenb (Stephen) · #32 24-09-2011, 12:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ballaratdragons

I'm still trying to get my head around the point of: why would anyone buy a Telescope without a mount?

I can understand someone who already owns a mount buying just the OTA.

Didn't this Cris Ellis (spelling of 'Cris' from his own website) ask if you want or need a mount?

Strange service if he didn't.

He is the same fellow who claims to be the Founder of the 'Astronomical Society of Melbourne', which doesn't really seem to exist

Too much fishy stuff methinks.

Yes, Ken. My opinion from first and second hand dealings? steer weeeell clear.

Ben, I'm guessing a weekend arvo, some timber, screws, glue, a few tools and some help from some IIS helper elves and you'll have a beauty of a telescope. Keep us posted on your progress.

Stephen

Dieselten (Ned) · #33 24-09-2011, 12:09 PM

An alternative is to give the scope a makeover by getting a kit from Dobstuff and converting it into a very aesthetic and usable Dobsonian. The website is www.dobstuff.com and it's well worth a look.

If the existing mirror is good you may well end up with a very fine telescope for a very reasonable outlay. Also keep in mind everything in a Dobsonian is upgradeable.

In any event, festina lente or "hasten slowly". Do the research before spending your hard-earned.

nooboscope · #34 24-09-2011, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by torana68

anything really bright should do it, outside but not directly at the sun, flood light.....reason is its expensive to have the coatings redone properly

okay.. the mirror seems fine as far as i can tell. By the way, my eyepieces (about which I know precisely zilch) say PLOSSL 25mm Multi-Coated and PLOSSL 10mm multi-coated.

I hope these are correct for this scope?

Also I have a kind of sniper scope looking thing that attaches to the side of the scope, which I imagine is for lining the scope up - unfortunately it actually seems to attach upside down at the moment, but that should be a simple fix ;>

nooboscope · #35 24-09-2011, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BEVAN5433

Ben I want a good home for it. If you want a Dobsonian mount for 16-18" mirror I have one which will need little work to rebuild I can assist you and I am in Ivanhoe/Eaglemont Bevan

Bevan, I will try to build my own first - I kind of feel like it's a right of passage that I should at least attempt.

Sorry my reply takes a while I have been very busy, and thankyou kindly for the offer!

traveller (Bo) · #36 24-09-2011, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nooboscope

okay.. the mirror seems fine as far as i can tell. By the way, my eyepieces (about which I know precisely zilch) say PLOSSL 25mm Multi-Coated and PLOSSL 10mm multi-coated.

I hope these are correct for this scope?

Also I have a kind of sniper scope looking thing that attaches to the side of the scope, which I imagine is for lining the scope up - unfortunately it actually seems to attach upside down at the moment, but that should be a simple fix ;>

Hi Ben just google Dobsonian mount plans and maybe sidewalk astronomers and you will have plenty of plans to work with. Re the sniper scope, it's called a finderscope, as the name implies, it helps you to find things so the main scope can then bring out the details. You will need to align the finderscope with the main scope once you built the mount and secured the scope onto it. Don't worry about the image being upside down, it's meant to be like that. And you main scope image will also be upside down and mirror reversed. Anyway, Bunnings must be calling you by now.

Bo

torana68 (Roger) · #37 25-09-2011, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nooboscope

okay.. the mirror seems fine as far as i can tell. By the way, my eyepieces (about which I know precisely zilch) say PLOSSL 25mm Multi-Coated and PLOSSL 10mm multi-coated.

they will do fine for the moment, after its all sorted there are more things you can get to play with but you need a mount first.