garthbooks

It wasn't donated. Robert was donating it.

yes I'm sure. watch the video with spacetime with Robert: He mentions it in the beginning, bad fasteners. He glued his together as well.

My ES FL 8 arrived today. One of the first things I'm gonna do is change out the red dot finder to decent finder scope. I have to get the adapter from scope stuff to convert the shoe to work with an Orion finder-scope. Next I'm gonna add a Telrad. I think I found a nice place for it to fit. Assembly of the scope wasn't too bad. However, it did look like the base was put together before and there are a couple of chips/dents in the formica. This was bought sold and shipped by Amazon so I'll have to contact them. Though I like the size of the base and the weight wasn't bad, the base is not really that great and I probable will have to glue it permanently together like many others have. Before I do that though I have to make sure it is in square. As of now it racks and the bearings pop off the track (Very Frustrating). Overall it seems like a good dob, I chose it because of what I saw Ricochet was able to do as well as "Spacetime with Robert" (check out his youtube channel) he does a review of the 10" dob version of this. So there are some faults to the scope, but I really like and need to be able to rotate the OTA. There are not many dobs that you can do that with. Rotating the OTA helps me not to have to crane my neck (Cervical stenosis). Mark from Astrogoods is building me a custom base and clamshell bearings foe my Apertura AD10. It is 16 pounds lighter and much stronger than the original base. I'm gonna see if he can make an extra set of bearings to fit on the ES 8 then I can use his custom base for my two dob telescopes. The collimation was off about an inch of center. Took me awhile to get it back in, definitely need to get Bob's knobs. Primary wasn't too bad. Gonna try and take it out tonight and see how it performs. I'll keep you updated.

I am also am gonna pick up a Telrad for it!

Thanks Ricochet for the info! The bungie idea is great! I can't wait to get my dob! I'll try and post some pics when it comes in.

Hello Ricochet, I just purchased the Explorer Scientific FL 8" dob. From what I understand it is the same as the Bresser 8" dob. I think I am also going to have to add the 10cm riser that you added to get my heavier eye pieces to balance and to have enough room to move the tube. Do you have any photos of how you made the riser? Also, how are you liking the scope? Thanks