Tonyhaz

Hope you dont mind stubs, I want to keep the Dark Stars in one place. Well, I finally finished my Re-build of my 12” dark star, almost didn’t bother but reading stubs posts I thought why not join him and rebuild my rotten Dob. i got some wood from the scrap bin in B&Q, where you just donate to charity, bought some Matt black and gloss white, used old base as a template, I then thought I wonder if I can get shot of the ugly box around the tube, so had a think and a idea and it seems to have paid of, I also added a shelf to put E/Ps on, and then added some wheels my neighbor gave me. Had to re weld the spider as old welds had fallen off and welding wire used to secure it, Just finished putting Bob the Dob back together, I think it looks loads better now, I’m not a carpenter just a basic DIY-er. The stencil I designed and got a guy on eBay to stencil it for me, I got two done so may put other one on the base, just can’t decide where ? Sorry if it’s now cloudy for the next month ?

Don’t forget some full pix for us all to see.

Balance is my main concern, but I’ll tackle it once it’s all done, got a few ideas to try.gave up looking for a new spider,So I dug the welder out & I managed to weld for new tiny bolts onto my spider that had nothing on it, only had heavy wire but managed to no blow the on of the sider off ? looks a bit lumpy but it’s solid so not grinding it to much. The base is almost done, just needs painting, waiting on paint now, also I The place I use for spray paints has the black heat paint in Matt 400ml £1.99, so I got some & all me paint to do base etc, it’s coming in next few days so looking forward to getting it done. you done anymore of yours ?

Looks foggy Ade, have you had a quote to get it done ? Your tube looks massive, how long is it ? Base looks very good, did u make it ?

Strange how Mirrors are the same, maybe it’s common with these, Galvoptics did there best with mine but said need stripping back, yeah my base is bad, the sides had warped out so scope didn’t sit on it as all, box section around the tube is rotten too, very wet to the touch, but has say in garden for 5 years ?, I’m going do do away the tube box and try something different, also painting it white or maybe red, I also want to add a bit to put my eye pieces on.

Meet Bob the Dob total badket case at present,was going to get another scope, but thanks to Neil’s posts I been inspired to rebuild it. primary has lots of marks, but still useable, whole thing was held together with duct tape ? Cheers Neil for your thread, another darkstar lives (well almost )

That’s looking very nice, good tip on the paint, where did you get it ? That a new spider ? And the decal looks good, looking forward to see it in full and reports on how it performs.

I’m thinking of painting my tube, make it feel like a new scope ? I’ve cut my wood and ready to put together now, it won’t look nothing like I’ve seen on here, I’m just doing same style base with cheap wood, I’ll get some pictures done once it’s finished and painted. what base you gone for Stuby ?

Your going for it big time, mine is unusable at mo, so I popped to B&Q and I’m there offcuts bin were so kitchen unit doors so I had them and will knock up something quick just so I can use it again, will be very heavy but better than nothing.

Sounds as bad as mine, the secondary fell onto mine too, I need a new secondary as well and me spider held in with welding wire ? not sure if that affects my viewing or not. Only good part is the tube. Need spares to fix mine up

Good ideas guys, and good to see I’m not alone with a darkstar Dob.

Always cloudy when you get ya scope out lol. i had counter weight problems as well, I had to use a very big ring spanner to help ?, I need a couple of metal brackets to go round mine, had no luck finding any, might have to make some, also I have no finder scope so it very hard work, would my best option be a telrad for a Dob ?

I used a lazy Susan on mine work pretty good, id like to make a plastic base so it don’t rot, but not sure where I’d get the plastic thick enough. Yours is looking amazon, I also had same problem with my mirror when had it done, but still works ok.

I have the darkstar 12” I’ve had it a few years now, just used it for moon and Jupiter really, I need a finder scope as takes me ages to find anything, base was rotten when I got it, so made another and not that’s rotten, can’t use it now until I get another base sorted, was looking at buying another Dob or goto, but thinking I may as well sort this one out.

Hi all great post, I am new to this, and I want to find a good area to view the skies with the naked eye, I'm in Essex near Southend on sea, looking on the map bradwell seems a good area, would this be ideal for seeing stars, or can u suggest a better area, ?