Hi Rich: You wrote:
If you wouldn't mind, I think I speak for the rest of us out here when I say that it would be very interesting for us if you would carefully document the step-by-step details of your mount fabrication; lengths, sizes, costs, materials, and of course pictures, etc., all helps for those of us that are not so handy with the tools to take heart and perhaps make our own attempt at it (assuming too that you don't get too many "exotic" specialty tools involved in the process)
Hey, I'd be happy to, thanks for asking! I never use "exotic" tools, Rich, except perhaps a fitting or two turned on a hobbyist's mini-lathe; the thrust of my atm work has been demonstrating how to get superior results using common tools. My "Woodshop Telescopes" use only a router, table saw, jig-saw, and drill-press, and a hand-held electric drill can be substituted for the drill press in a pinch. A router is somewhat essential for things like laminate (Formica), but not absolutely necessary otherwise. Threading taps are inexpensive and readily available. The gelcoat finishes I'm fond of are not structural elements, and easily-applied, inexpensive substitutes are available. What puts some people off is the man-hours & elbow-grease required; but I maintain that if a person spends weeks to months grinding, polishing, and figuring a mirror, it makes no sense to throw the rest of the telescope together in a couple of weekends. (Sam Brown is rolling over in his grave...) However, "utilitarianism" is a legitimate design goal, simple construction can have a certain charm. Some people seem thrilled by a glossy coat of urethane on plywood, for example, and there's nothing wrong with that. After all, if it works, it really doesn't matter what it looks like, right? Just tonight I was marshalling materials from my stores and putting some first lines on paper, when the idea came to me that I really need to design two parallelogram mounts. The first will follow my established practices, using plastics, non-ferrous metals, etc., "Woodshop" techniques; the second will be more "utilitarian"; that is, just as functional, but without the elbow grease, stainless-steel hardware, PVC fittings, etc. It will require perhaps only access to a table-saw and hand-held drill, and use materials from the hardware-store only. The first may appeal to advanced atms and artisans, the second to those who have little or no background in the manual arts. Take your pick, both will work! If I can get them done in time, then certainly I will document them and make the plans and instructions available to everyone at no charge. Posting on this forum, or a locally-administered Web-page would be preferrable, and/or maybe running them in NOVA or other newsletter, at the discretion of the individual editors.
What I'd like to see someday, for example, is a post here that reads something like: "How to build an excellent Home Depot bino mount for only $24.95"; hopefully that's not too wishful thinking...
Not wishfull thinking at all. Bruce Grim has a neat little mount that may appeal to some, I'll try and persuade him to document his own design for that purpose also.
Looking forward to the upcoming Binopalooza...
Speaking of which, we are narrowing the date down to probably either Thursday, June 13th, or Friday, June 14th. Waxing crescent moon, but being so close to the solstice, the sky won't get truly dark until after moonset anyway. Which would you prefer? If we go for Thursday, hopefully this will give working people enough time to schedule the next day off, and a little less time waiting for moonset. There has also been suggested a barbecue or similar picnic beforehand; how does that sound? ...The rock & roll band idea was summarily dismissed. :o( Thanks! Chuck __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? LAUNCH - Your Yahoo! Music Experience http://launch.yahoo.com