Posts Made By: Joe Bannon

I'm new and just purchased a used Nexstar 8i SE. While setting it up I found that the head on one of the mounting screws for the finderscope is stripped. The simple solution seems to be to use a screw extractor but to do that, I've got to drill a hole through the damaged screw. Could this result in small metal shavings entering the OTA and possibly landing on the mirror? Or is this unlikely, given the short length of the mounting screw (about 1/4 inch from the top of the head to the bottom of the threads)? I've checked the manual but don't see anything about tube thickness.

Thanks,

Joe

Is anyone aware of a wheeled container that would be approximately 29" X 19" X 18"?

I have a Nexstar 8i SE but don't think I can convince my financial advisor to let me spend the $350 for a case so I've begun investigating how hard it would be to build one. I have the "hard foam" from the original packaging but it's breaking up so I was looking at a portable tool case and adding foam (cushioning like in your couch) and bubble wrap to create a secure package. I've tried to find a case on wheels but haven't found the right combination of sturdiness and space. (Stanley makes a 25-gallon wheeled case but due to the shape of the container, it loses about 4 inches from the length and that was just enough to make it too short for the scope.)

Other than the length of the tube, what is the significant difference between a Barlow and a shortly Barlow? I'm aware that in some cases use of a Barlow can make focusing a little more difficult but is there a distinct benefit from one to the other?

Joe