Posts Made By: Bernard Kean

Rick
Try this http://www.lymax.com/cosmicone/collimator/index.shtml it even has pictures.
Hope this helps
Buck

Mark
I'm not sure of any sponsers but you can Google "pick-n-pluck foam" or pluck foam and get many hits on foam sources. If you can match up a size thats close I know Pelican has polyurethane open cell foam and polyethyene closed cell foam replacement sets and sheets for their cases.
Hope this helps
Buck

Hi Eric
I made my V block from a piece of 2x4 and cut a 90* V into it and some plywood. The V does not have to be exactly 90* just close so the round portion that inserts into the focuser is able to rest in the V and be rotated. It is helpful to have the V cut square to the back but not critical. Then mount it someplace like a vise that is sturdy or I screwed and glued it to a piece of plywood and c-clamped it to a heavy workbench.
I set mine up so I had the laser dot hitting a piece of paper about 15 feet from the laser and carefully rotated the laser while gently holding it down in the v-block and flush against the back. In your case with the short 1" portion that you are squaring the lase to, it might be easier to have someone help you mark the laser dot while you hold and rotate the laser. Rotate every 90* and mark the center of the dot and repeat this until you start to see a pattern (usually a circle or if you are lucky just a dot). Make adjustments to the laser and note which way the laser dot moves in relation to which adjustment screw you moved, and repeat the procedure until you get nothing but a dot. Remember to make very small adjustments and keep this methodical so you get repeatability in the laser dot location. I rotated 90* then 2 light taps in the laser to make it rest then walk down and mark the dot. This will take some time and it seems like I walked 5 miles 15 feet at a time to get mine down to a dot.
Hope this helps
Buck

Gary
Good question and I would be interested in hearing from those more skilled than I. I've been working on honing my collimation skills and tuning my scope for the last few weeks and I can see where the 2" tools would be easier because of one less place for error caused by the adapter. However I have achieved a method with 1.25" tools that gets me perfect collimation with NO ghost in a Techron Autocollimator. Now from what I've been reading is that the most critical collimation is the secondary, main mirror and focuser train and any small alignment issues caused buy the adapter and eyepiece tolerances does not cause any problems at the eyepiece. So as far as I can understand is that good collimation is good collimation regardless of the size tools but might be easier with the 2". I think method using the tools might be the most important factor. I might be all wrong here but that's the way I see it now.
Buck
PS Since I only have one 2" eyepiece and all the rest are 1.25" and I also always insert and tighten the set screw on the adapter the same way I get good repeatability

Hi Kim
I remember a discussion about this about a year ago on a forum I can't remember and the remedies ran from mouse traps to poison bate to getting a cat. A mouse won't go anywhere near a place if a cat prowls the area. I think your immediate but short term solution is mouse traps but the long term might be a cat. Cat scent in a can would be perfect but I'm not aware of any on the market. Sorry not much help except the tried and true rodent reduction methods I'm afraid.
Buck

Hi Scott
While stability/vibration might be good for a while sooner or later it will rot, not to mention it will have always have moisture in it as long as it is in contact with the ground. I'm not sure this is a good idea.
Buck

Hi Dave
I've heard of folks using both methods. I had one of the early gray tube DSH8" befor the roller bearings style and I replaced the crummy hard bearings pads in both axis with virgin teflon from Meridian Telescopes and they worked great. I was going to add the Ebony Star to the AZ but didn't need to.
Hope this helps
Buck

Dmitri
It seems to me that Mercury Support Systems makes these but I can't find the site. I bought one of their compression adapters and it was very well made. Maybe someone here can help out with the url.
Hope this helps
Buck

Doug
I guess it would have to have the same size or very close to the eyeguard attachment ring. When you set the Dioptrx on the eyepiece you tighten a knurled ring and it tightens around the eyeguard ring, so it would have to be close to the same size. Now if the clouds and heavy haze would go away I could let everyone know how well it works.
Buck

Erik
Instead of a tracking tripod, why not a good 8" to 10" dob (pick one) on a tracking platform. Get the best of both worlds aperture and tracking. You might still have to tie their hands so they don't grab the scope but they wouldn't have to touch it to track.
Just a thought
Buck