telescope making

[nathanhatton]

im having trouble locating a 10 or 12inch tube that is 5 foot in length anyone got any ideas and also looking for a equatorial fullerscope mount if anyone is selling one

[Moonshane]

orion optics UK make their tubes up to 1600mm.

or could you use plastic pipe?

[Islander]

How about 10 inch underground drain pipe?

[nathanhatton]

im thinking plastic pipe but trying to get hold of one is like rocking horse

[michael8554]

Underground drain pipe is very strong but heavy.

Cardboard tubes used for forming cast concrete columns on building sites are commonly used for diy OTA's, Email for a quote from Essex Tubes, they do one-offs and deliver.

[nathanhatton]

cheers for the answers have to try the place in essex thanx micheal

[JamesF]

You *may* be able to find a cardboard tube suitable, though I've not looked. As I hopefully have a 10" mirror set turning up next week I've also looked for tubes of similar dimensions. The only things I've found so far are (plastic) underground drain pipe and (metal spiral) aircon pipe.

I'm having serious thoughts about a truss construction instead.

James

[garethmob]

I'm having problems looking for a tube. Essex tubes only have 10" and 6mm (I wanted 1-2" thickness) and the other company can only do 10" but right thickness. Give them a go you may be on with the thickness.

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[Saleratus]

Have you looked at BlackLite telescope tubes? I think they are carried by ProtoStar in the US. I don't know about UK availability.

[Doughzer]

Would cardboard tubes not be susceptible to air moisture content in the long run, no matter if you coated them? Also they can be quite easy to "dent".

I am in the printed displays trade working with paper based products, but this also crosses over to permanent displays.

I ofter wondered if a metal / plastic fabricator could make anything you wanted to diameter and length wise, but do not know if their costs would be prohibitive, I will make an enquiry with some contacts on possibilities, and let you guys know.

[earth titan]

Speak with a local fabricator.

Get them to make you a rolled steel tube, with a beaded seam. They can guide you on thickness / gauge etc. but this is the approach I'm going to take when I make my dob (if I ever get any time to myself to finish the mirrors).

[estwing]

storm drain manhole rings that stack on top of each other 12.5" wide, perfect..the normal manhole rings are 17.5 in width..local b.q., travis perkins,wickes..etc

[Thirdway]

Go to Prostar they ship worldwide now. Not cheap but it is pre flocked.

The cardboard is impregnated with something which stops it absorbing moisture and it can be painted if required.

[garethmob]

do you have a link thirdway all i can find on them is football kit

[Thirdway]

http://www.protostar.biz/blite.htm

[Frank the Troll]

Have you checked here?

Telescope Parts

[garethmob]

Those stargazer parts look like that 400 truss dob that was on eBay last week. I might get them

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[garethmob]

Appoligies for stealing the thread a sec.

Does this have everything needed for a dob apart from both mirrors and focuser? And would this work for8"?

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[FraserClarke]

im having trouble locating a 10 or 12inch tube that is 5 foot in length anyone got any ideas and also looking for a equatorial fullerscope mount if anyone is selling one

I've bought 8-inch tube from the site below before. They also do 10-inch. They were cheaper than Essex tubes for what I needed;

POSTAL TUBES - DEFENDA SUPER STRONG 10" Wider Diameter - FREE DELIVERY

[Sp@ce_d]

I've bought 8-inch tube from the site below before. They also do 10-inch. They were cheaper than Essex tubes for what I needed;

POSTAL TUBES - DEFENDA SUPER STRONG 10" Wider Diameter - FREE DELIVERY

Interesting, I was looking at this site the other day. How moisture resistant are they? What would be the best way to treat them against direct water contact? I also wonder how they compare against steel & carbon fibre for expansion/contraction?

[Johannes]

Hi Nathanhatton I made my tube out of 9mm ply. I made a 10 sided decagon tube 63" long. John

[billhinge]

Just an idea, If it were me I would be looking at doing something fancy with carbon fibre and using a cardboard tube as a template

http://www.carbonmods.co.uk/Departments/Carbon-fiber-cloth.aspx

don't know the details of how it would workout but I thought of making my own carbon fibre tube/ kevlar underpants a few months back

[fluidhomefront]

Anothet source of large light weight waterproof tubes are amateur rocketing suppliers. These guys compete to make their rockets go the highest so we can take a lateral step into their market. Kite suppliers are good for carbon truss components.

I enjoyed trying out aluminium braising with a blow torch and special solder. It cost £70 for a torch and solder kit. I watched a couple of YouTube videos and a couple of weekends later I had a lihght

[fluidhomefront]

and rigid set of tube rings. You can get away with a lot for an f/6 scale telescope. Aluminium can be bought from local metal suppliers or big online websites for surprisingly low cost.

[johninderby]

Telescope Service sell the bare GSO tubes quite cheaply. 10" f5 tube is about £31.00 delivered to the UK. They also do the other bits as well but hey can drive the cost up a lot.

http://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/index.php/language/de/cat/c64_Telescope-Making-----mechanical-parts.html/filter_id/14

http://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/index.php?cat=c64_Telescope-Making-----mechanical-parts.html&sort=&XTCsid=9dqueqtv6t050kkeki3o4uglo1v7embk&filter_id=

John