Mount 'base'?

[biondi]

Hi,

Every time I get my ‘scope out it takes me ages to level, align and generally get ready before I can do anything ‘exciting’. I have to take it to a patch of communal grass about 50ft from the house so every time I position it it’s in a slightly different place, I’m sure you get the idea. If only I could ‘mark’ the ground or do something so I knew where to put the tripod legs every time!

I can’t be the only with this problem (I hope) – any suggestions? What does everyone else do?

cheers,

Matt

[Digz]

The trouble you will run into is what you can do on communal grass.

Normally I would suggest putting some paving slabs down, aligning and marking the slabs where the legs sit and drilling thus ensuring repeatability, but as I said, on communal grass this might not be possible.

[johnrt]

What about 3 of those round metal spikes you use to put your rotary washing line in? You could knock 3 in so the feet of your tripod always go in the same place.

These are the badgers...

http://www.diy.com/nav/rooms/indoor-cleaning-laundry/rotary-airers-dryers/Universal-Ground-Spike-11697716

[biondi]

johnrt - thanks, now I like that idea. Simple and not externally visible. Maybe a bit of luminous paint?

[catman161]

Slight deviation but along the same lines. Anybody have any ideas about a similar way to do this on patio slabs? I use an NEQ6 pro an 200P. Any ready made, bolt down "feet" that I can drill into the patio so that I can put the tripod straight into them and know that I am pretty much polar aligned? Thanks Sorry for thread hijack-didn't think it warranted a separate thread

[JamesF]

Slight deviation but along the same lines. Anybody have any ideas about a similar way to do this on patio slabs? I use an NEQ6 pro an 200P. Any ready made, bolt down "feet" that I can drill into the patio so that I can put the tripod straight into them and know that I am pretty much polar aligned? Thanks Sorry for thread hijack-didn't think it warranted a separate thread

I believe Steve Ward just drilled three holes in the slabs and the tripod feet just drop into them.

James

[Digz]

Slight deviation but along the same lines. Anybody have any ideas about a similar way to do this on patio slabs? I use an NEQ6 pro an 200P. Any ready made, bolt down "feet" that I can drill into the patio so that I can put the tripod straight into them and know that I am pretty much polar aligned? Thanks Sorry for thread hijack-didn't think it warranted a separate thread

no need for bolt down feet. As I said above set up and align. Mark you tripod feet and drill some holes to sit the tips of the tripod into, job done.

[catman161]

That's certainly a simple way to do it and very effective. I just had the idea as when I bought the NEQ6 (very recently) I noticed that the guy I bought it from had some quite aesthetically pleasing bolt down "feet" for want of a better word that were circular and had a recess in the centre that accepted the spikes of the tripod feet. I should have asked him where he got them from. I think I just like the idea of the feet ether as they are more aesthetically pleasing. The hole drilling idea is certainly functional. Thanks guys

[Brian Nordstrom]

An even cheeper solution is 3 plastic tent pegs , they are flush with the ground and like already said here , just put a small dimple in the center with about a 1/2 inch drill to allign the tripod feet up to .

I use these down here , about 75c each , wont rust and are a bright orange colour so easy to find .

Brian.

[biondi]

Thanks Brian, I think I'm going to do just that!