I checked one out at Bintel last week. The fine focus is very fine indeed. Machining and components are the same quality as the single speed GSO Crayford, which btw are not of the same standard as they used to be when they first came out. People who have tried my GS Crayford at the last Snake Valley camp and compared it their older ones would know what I am talking about (mine has slop without tension and uneven pressure; it is not as smooth as the older models). The quality of my focuser is now the norm (I've tried many on new GS telescopes and on their own). Still a good bargain for the price and a big improvement over the R&P models.
It looks remarkably similar to my 2 speed WO focusser which is also 10:1 fine focus ratio. Other than that they look virtually identical to me, except of course mine is the SCT version. WO and GSO aren't related in any way are they?
That actually looks very good for the price, and I agree with Jonathan, it looks remarkable similar to the WO 10-1 that Rod has on his SCT.
About double the price of the normal GSO crayford, but the fine focus controls are just awesome for high mag visual work and of course essential for high-res planetary imaging.
Looks plenty refined enough for my liking. Mine is already on its way. (When I rang BINTEL the guy I was talking to didn't believe me when I told him that they were listed on his web site as only $119!)
Nice showing off the Nagler, too, as well as the other scope.
When I rang BINTEL the guy I was talking to didn't believe me when I told him that they were listed on his web site as only $119!
That must have been Melbourne then? They are a bit behind Sydney with prices, but they will honour all advertised prices. It is a very good price! Thanks to the fierce competition between Bintel and Andrews no doubt.
"unrefined" they are indeed, but still very good buy for the money. I'm going to try and grind/polish the bumps and nicks out of the friction plate on mine.
"unrefined" they are indeed, but still very good buy for the money.
And after first light tonight, I can confirm that they are the best buy of 2006! If you have a rack and pinon - order one now. (dear bintel, please send commission to astrojunk c/o IIS, Intenet)
I just bought the last one from Bintel in Melbourne, $119 !
Steve is right about the action not being as refined as the older one which I already have. It seems a little rougher in the action and without tension cannot hold any weight. I think the fix will be smoothing down the roughly machined flat on the focuser barrel ala the ed80 crayford fix.
I may or may not bother with this as the fine focus adjust will more than compensate for the roughness in getting the focus spot on
It seems a little rougher in the action and without tension cannot hold any weight. I think the fix will be smoothing down the roughly machined flat on the focuser barrel ala the ed80 crayford fix.
After experiment, I believe the roughness of feel is due to the gearing of the fine focusser - if you give the fine focus knob a helping hand when you use the course wheel, then the roughness goes away. I remember this effect from other (crude) devices. Maybe machining won't help this.
As for the tension adjustment - isn't that normal in a crayford? Admittedly my JMI has independent tension and lock, but it was rather more costly!
After experiment, I believe the roughness of feel is due to the gearing of the fine focusser - if you give the fine focus knob a helping hand when you use the course wheel, then the roughness goes away.
You are right and I discovered this after swapping the barrels between my old and new crayfords. The barrel of the new one is quite ok in the casing of my old mono speed focuser.
from me, I only wish the slo-mo knob was on the other side 
