Posts Made By: Walter Hamler

Orion sells a tall extension for their red dot finder that will probably fit. Other red dots will fit the top part as well.

Walt

Baader film - cut to size and make your own. Also, I suspect Orion and others have them available as well in the glass versions. More costly however.

Walt

Tom, from one old retired Navy man to another younger Navy man, consider the TAL-2M mount. I currently use it with my TAL-100 4" and will aldo use with my 1278 when it arrives.

Walt

Tom, I find on my TAL-2 with the longer pedestal I can still move the mount, minus ota, by simply picking up and walking with it. I am 61 and not in the best of shape, so I'm sure it would be a reasonable feat for you. Also, you can pick up the entire mount and ota to move a few feet here and there. Just walk with baby steps!
Also note that the counterweight that comes with the TAL is much too heavy for a 13~15 lb ota. If you look at the pic you can see that I made a smaller counterweight of lead that is only about 5 or 7 lbs. Also note the slider locks on the counterweight shaft. They are the slickest things I have discovered lately, available from McMaster Carr.
As for the tripod, the TAL model, the tall one, would really be a good deal. The only problem is that the center hole is for the 3" mount head, or on the 4" there is a collar that has to be removed to allow it to fit in the tripod flange. The rub is removing the collar (remove three grub screws and unscrew) exposes some rather rough threads that when dropped into the tripod flange will most likely be difficult to tighten down sufficiently to totally remove flexure. Even on my mount I had to liberally coat the threads with a commercial type locktite that once setup has to be baked to several hundred degrees to remove. As I don't plan on removing it is not a problem, but on the tripod I don't believe the locktite approach would work in the same manner. You might want to ask Malcolm at TalScopes as I'm sure he would have valuable input.
A close friend has a 5" AP 130 on a Vixen Polaris mount with wood tripod legs. It is fairly stable but not even in the same league as mine. The beauty of the TAL to me is the clutched drive allowing you to move the scope at will and never having to release a clutch lock like the EQ-5 style mounts require.
FWIW!!

Walt

Wes, could you see them visually through the eyepiece?

Walt

Definately easier to move the mirror but first you have to figure out which way. When the eyepiece is closest to focus, where is the focuser, all the way in or out. If out, then the mirror needs to be moved further back in the tube. First try to use the adjuster knobs/nuts to move the mirror further back against the springs. If you are close already that may do it. Otherwise you will have to drill new holes. Try to guess how much more to move the mirror and add maybe 1/4" to be sure.

Walt

Ron, go to http://www.mcmaster.com/
Look under Fabrics, velvet. They sell it in adhesive backed and non adhesive, 45" width. MUCH cheaper than Protostar. We used the non adhesive on a 10" f/5 dob for our club and it worked great - like a black hole! Used Titebond II glue to glue down. Over a year now and still perfect.
The Keller progran (newt) is excellent for designing newts but when you get it you will see that it really goes overboard (imho) on the number of baffles it proscribes. I guess it boils down to what you feel comfortable with manufacturing. I think all those rings would be a drag to cut out and position!

Walt

I have used several and they are great. Also, I believe they have a switch for red/green led selection.

Walt

Gary, I had almost exactly the same thing happen once. The mirror cell I had made from wood (1/2" ply) was too thin so I remade with 3/4". Once I remounted the mirror everything was fine.
I used a hacksaw blade to saw the mirror from the silicone globs. I understand your situation is a little different. I believe the wire approach, or even strong monofilament fishing line, will be the best approach in your case.

Walt

I just ordered one as well. They said the circles are 1/4, 1/2, and 2 degrees?? Sounds a little tight to me.

Walt