Strange, cheap, yet essential... What's yours?!

[PhotoGav]

I've been wondering...

It's easy to spend a great deal on this wonderful hobby. However, some bits of kit are almost costless and provide a priceless function in your imaging set-up.

My piece of kit that fits this is the cardboard box, turned on its side, that I put the laptop in to keep it dry and warm!

What's yours?!

[Helen]

Velcro and also the little garden plastic clips (for training plants) which are great for cable management (easy to open and close and really lightweight)

Helen

[knobby]

Blutak...

[RikM]

£1.50 black foam camping mat from Asda. I have made dew shields for two Newts, a Mak, two optical finders, two Rigels, and two camera lenses. Bargain I think.

[ronin]

Torn between the flexible bits to adjust the focus on Meade ETX scopes or the £5 trolly bags that I have one for each scope with all the bits in it that I need to set up and use whatever scope - everything in one easy to grab bag.

[KyleStoke]

a small spirit level that i stole from my old man so free   but essential

[Dave_D]

the old trampoline (minus the springs) my daughter had that now makes a magnificent 8 foot diameter ground mat and 2 of the tubes that held the safety net that i've fixed some black plastic sheet to and fixed to the fence to block out the local street lights from shining directly into my garden

[laser_jock99]

BBQ covers from Poundland- I use a pair of them to double bag my outdoors EQ6 on it's pier.

[PhotoGav]

Brilliant, loving these replies. Some really useful ideas in there!

[Helen]

BBQ covers from Poundland- I use a pair of them to double bag my outdoors EQ6 on it's pier.

I've just bought a Lidl cheap breathable cycle cover that I plan to put under the BBQ cover

Helen

[leelee970]

My home made glasses cord. Now I never misplace my glasses in the dark - or tread on them again

[RikM]

My home made glasses cord. Now I never misplace my glasses in the dark - or tread on them again

Mine used to end up in my back pocket, then to be sat on

Fortunately (depending how you look at it) my eyes have deteriorated to the point that I now wear them all the time.

[leelee970]

Mine used to end up in my back pocket, then to be sat on

Fortunately (depending how you look at it) my eyes have deteriorated to the point that I now wear them all the time.

The other night one lense popped out of my glasses. I didn't realise until morning - I wondered why the laptop screen looked strange that night, lol

[Paul73]

It has got to be my "tennis ball can finder scope":

:

Drill 8mm hole in one end, garden wire cross hairs in the other, blue tack fixings and garden string tether (to prevent an embracing tin/primary mirror incident...).

Now I can always get the right star in my 8x50 finder! Has revolutionised my star gazing.

Paul

NB. Discovered last night that Blue tack ain't great in sub zero temps.

[reddoss]

Cable ties - they make life so much easier, especially in the dark! I recon they have saved me from tripping up and sending bits of  flying all over the place on numerous occasions.

[PhotoGav]

Paul, that is total class, fantastic! Patent that design....

[badgerchap]

It's not restricted to astronomy per se, but my Thermos Mug is undoubtedly my most important piece of kit. If I had to choose between that and my EQ6? Bye bye tripod

[Crebles]

1. Strawberry Quality Streets. For the wrappers. (Until I discovered Ryman sell red cellophane). 

2. A small roll of white reflective sticky tape (found in the car repair section from The Range).

3. And a soft sided tool bag for my essential observing kit (bins, skychart, gloves, hat, red torch, head torch, hairdryer, phone, keys, Jaffa Cakes etc).

[Tiny Small]

It has got to be my "tennis ball can finder scope"::image.jpgDrill 8mm hole in one end, garden wire cross hairs in the other, blue tack fixings and garden string tether (to prevent an embracing tin/primary mirror incident...).Now I can always get the right star in my 8x50 finder! Has revolutionised my star gazing.PaulNB. Discovered last night that Blue tack ain't great in sub zero temps.

Love this. I'm gonna nick this idea. Ta very much :-)

[crimpshrine]

Strange, Cheap, Essential..what's yours... I was going to say 'My Wife'

[Reeny]

A wooly hat

[Crebles]

Not just the hat, surely?!

[glappkaeft]

If your battery power is limited or if you don't have any main power a chemical hand warmer and rubber band will keep your lens, eye piece or telescope from fogging up.

[Reeny]

No - It is too cold to wear just a hat.

Don't try this at home.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2219038/McFly-star-Harry-Judd-stripped-underwear-tied-lampost-revealing-photoshoot.html

[ollypenrice]

No connection with the gentleman above, but knicker elastic. It roughly locates and suspends the thirteeen cables coming from the dual imaging rig in such a way that they never snag suddenly and can 'give' in the event of a foul-up.

Olly