Mounting your Telrad

[Fordos Moon]

Morning all, my Telrad should be arriving today courtesy of the excellent Aunt FLO.

Do you guys and gals mount yours using screws, sticky pads or cable ties, I'd be interested to know what's best from your experience.

It's going on my 200P.

[wookie1965]

cable ties first make sure get in right position then once id used it a couple of times and found best place used sticky pads.

[JamesF]

Most people seem to say that the sticky pads that it comes with work fine. I still have mine attached using zip ties because I've not had as much use out of my dob yet that I feel I definitely have it in the right place.

James

[Fordos Moon]

Thanks gents, will seek out some 30" cable ties!

[JamesF]

I didn't even go that far. I joined four 30cm ties together to go around my 10" OTA

James

[Fordos Moon]

Good thinking, not sure I've seen 30" ones come to think of it!!

[Planetesimal]

I've heard some people just strap the telrad mount to the OTA with a length of gaffer tape.

[Fordos Moon]

Sounds like anything goes! ;-)

[Planetesimal]

Sounds like anything goes! ;-)

If it works! I actually like the idea of using tape (although I've not yet had the chance to try either method discussed), because with cable ties you'd need at least two rings of ties to stabilise the telrad mount - they'd have to be pulled tight to avoid slippage, and to remove them you need the clip them off with a pair of scissors. I'd probably scratch the OTA with my fat fingers...

[JamesF]

Ahh, see, not all zip ties are created equal. Some have a little release mechanism in the end that allows you to undo them.

James

[Fordos Moon]

I might try electrical tape tonight as not got cable ties yet and would imagine it won't mark. Good point about the cable ties and scissors, I had no idea cable ties had evolved to include a releasing mechanism. Nature finds a way!!

[jabberwocky]

The sticky pads on the base are very secure and can be unstuck using a hair dryer and then restick just as well.

i use a 4" riser with mine, makes looking through it much easier.

[Fordos Moon]

Thanks guys, a quick trip to B&Q and the cable ties work a treat!

[Spec-Chum]

Is now a good time to mention you've put it on backwards?

[JamesF]

Is now a good time to mention you've put it on backwards?

Eh? It looks correct to me.

James

[Spec-Chum]

It's fine really, just me being playful.

I thought the would have given it away lol

Sorry

[Spec-Chum]

At least he didn't do what I did when I attempted to make 1 large cable tie out of 2.

I managed to get the same ends on each side.

Twice.

[Fordos Moon]

Lol gents you have me a scare for a sec then lol! It was only having read your cable tie mishap that I did it all very slowly and carefully, plus I had a pack of 50 so plenty of spares!! Thanks again for the tips! Have just put on the mirrored dew shield too, all fine ( bad back)

[Planetesimal]

Ahh, see, not all zip ties are created equal. Some have a little release mechanism in the end that allows you to undo them.

James

BURN THE WITCH!!!

[Planetesimal]

I've decided to have a go at attaching my telrad mount to the OTA with the cable tie option today... One thing I noticed from doing this, and comparing to your photo Fordos, is that where you've currently positioned the telrad mount would be too far forward if you decide later that you need to fit a dew-shield at the end of the OTA (to protect the secondary). My home-made effort goes back as far as the base of the focuser, so that's as far forward as I can go with the telrad base.

Just a thought!

[JamesF]

With the flextube OTA I have little choice about the Telrad positioning, so it is actually very close to the "top" edge of the secondary cage. When I get around to making a dew shield I was just going to make a cut-out in the back edge of the shield so it would fit around the Telrad.

James

[Fordos Moon]

Funny you should mention that! After a few hours observing last night I found it to be in a good position for looking through it and any lower would kill my back but then as I thought about putting on my DIY dew shield I realised exactly what you just said! Might just doctor my dew shield a little.