Do you use your tripod eyepiece tray...

[ibraidwo]

Am curious, as I always only use my case...

[John]

Occasionally. Most of the time my eyepieces stay in their case until used though.

[Qualia]

Depends which scope is being used and what's the eyepiece. With the 4" I always use the tray but wouldn't slot the Delos into it for fear of scratching the barrel. With the 10", I don't have a tray and prefer to either pick them from the case and put them back or else put them to one side on a wooden board which cunningly triples as a mirror protector when dismantling the dob and as a steardy lid for the telescope when putting everything away and going home. I only get the one vote, so I'm going for occasionally

[username]

Depends on the tripod; eq2 no, az4 yes. The az4 has retaining holes for ep whereas the eq2 hasn't and I think why i prefer using the tray. Safer in the dark.

[Sam]

I use the tray on my Lightbridge quite often. It's handy when swapping between eyepieces.

[Pig]

Not for eyepieces - i put the caps in there while i am using the eyepiece

[brucen]

I put a bag of sand on mine tray to help reduce vibration.

[gkec]

Maybe one whilst I am switching over. I'm worried I will forget they are there when I collapse the legs and carry the tripod away.

[emadmoussa]

Usually when I go out for visual observing I have 2 or 3 eyepieces in my pockets...If I have 2" ones my pockets make me look like I have two large bellies sideways and sometimes put a bunch in the kitchen as it's the closest to the garden

[foundaplanet]

I only use it whilst doing alignment. I tend to have one ep in the scope and one in each pocket.

[E621Keith]

I used to use them when my tripods had eyepiece tray, but I sold all of them and none of my current ones have a tray.

[emadmoussa]

I don't have a tripod anymore...I upgraded to a pillar. I never liked tripods anyway....neither did I see much use for the tray except for support.

[knobby]

Sometimes put my sandwiches or pot noodle on mine

[JamesF]

I have a couple of long case clock weights in mine to help stabilise the tripod.

James

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

I prefer using the case on a table some way from my observing chair (so that I do not knock things over by accident)

[scarp15]

The tripod tray that comes with my celestar , I do use and find to be useful for caps, some eyepieces, the 1.25" diagonal adapter. However like Michael, I usually have a small table set up to for the eyepiece case.

The eyepiece rack that comes with the 300p, I only use to slot my focuser cap in and prefer to use a camping table.

[LukeSkywatcher]

I use mine to hold my cheese sarnies jaffa cakes.

[bmc]

my trusty house brick sits on mine to stop vibrations. ep's get used out of the flight box.

[ibraidwo]

Thanks everyone for your responses so far....

• Weights (sand, bricks, clock weights)
  
• Food (sandwiches, jaffa cakes, pot noodle)
  
• End caps
  

...and sometimes eyepieces!

Anything else kept on them that hasn't been mentioned so far?

[ibraidwo]

Usually when I go out for visual observing I have 2 or 3 eyepieces in my pockets...If I have 2" ones my pockets make me look like I have two large bellies sideways

I was thinking of getting a 'fishing type' waistcoat to keep eyepieces safe when switching between them, as I'm forever slipping eye pieces and caps in various trouser pockets....

[Helen]

I use mine for carrying the tripod! On my EQ6AZ its a better height for me and easier to hold than the mount itself - so I stagger across the patio with the tripod held just a couple of inches off the floor....

Helen

[AlexB67]

The thought had occurred to me to make a small mod for the heritage 130p as it doesn't have one. Can you get them separately ?, or I suppose I could get one made or attempt to make one myself, it would not be hard to fix it onto dob mount.

[AlexB67]

I misread the poll somewhat. In any case, I was referring to the kind of eyepiece holders you see on larger dob mounts I am interested in.

[cotterless45]

I think that you could do a lot with a router drill bit and a wooden tray. My Dob ep holders are useful, but the tripod ones usually end up holding plastic end caps and the polarscope cover. I 'd like a neat holder right next to the focuser instead of searching around !

Nick.

[AlexB67]

I think that you could do a lot with a router drill bit and a wooden tray. My Dob ep holders are useful, but the tripod ones usually end up holding plastic end caps and the polarscope cover. I 'd like a neat holder right next to the focuser instead of searching around !

Nick.

Good idea, for some reason as I was typing that I was thinking about a small metal L shaped plate and drill some holes, but of course any old wood would do and easier. End of week, Friday, I think my brain is a bit sluggish today