114mm dobsonian?

[theblazingak]

I really don't like my celestron 114eq telescope- it's nearly useless.The tripod wobbles way too much, I don't like the equatorial mount, and the finder scope never stays put. I am saving up for a bigger, nicer telescope on an easy to use dobsonian mount(8" Orion/skywatcher/zhumell-not sure yet) and am currently using cheap astronomy binoculars to stargaze at the moment. That being said, if I ever wanted another, smaller scope for ease of transport would it be possible to mount the tube on a dobsonian mount? Do dobsonian mounts for 114mm telescopes even exist?

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[BeanerSA]

It would not be difficult or expensive to make a simple dob mount.

[Peter Drew]

No reason why not, a good design is good regardless of size.  

[Alfian]

On Astroboot you can buy the Tabletop Heritage Dob base for £34:

http://www.astroboot.co.uk/AstroBoot

It takes a standard  dovetail and I have had both my 102 Mak on it and also my old Konus 114 which will be similar to the Celestron 114 scope. It works out a little bit like the SW 114 Virtuoso and makes a very useful portable set up. It needs a sturdy support to stand it on like a garden table, but it would be very easy to knock something together that would do. 

[Cornelius Varley]

Something like this perhaps ? http://www.homebuiltastronomy.com/downbino/HomeBuiltAstronomyProjects-KidPeekII.html

[Lowjiber]

I had an old 6" Newt tube laying around that seldom saw any action, so I built a homemade Dobsonian mount for it.

Since the tube was short, I wanted to be able to literally sit in a regular folding chair while using it, so I just took that into consideration during the design process. 

The most difficult design consideration was how to make the trunions.  I decided to use some common plumbing fixtures.

While I was in the design mode, I decided to put a setting circle and an adjustable clutch on the monster too.  Here are some pics...

Just take your time and care to make sure everything is square as the construction begins.

[theblazingak]

Thanks guys, feeling inspired!

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[AdeKing]

Where did you source the large diameter needle roller bearing and metal plates from?

The closest I can find is a lazy Susan bearing, but I'm after something with a lower profile.

[happy-kat]

Astrooboot have an Heritage 130p dobsonian mount for sale.

Just read more fully and see you have already had the comment above :-)

[theblazingak]

Astroboot is unavailable to me since I am in the U.S.

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[Lowjiber]

The roller bearing assembly is identical to the ones used in GSO Dobs.  I ordered it (in the US) here: http://www.rockler.com/lazy-susan-slimline

The metal disks are 12.5" in diameter and are cut from two Teflon-coated, 16" pizza pans that I bought at the local Walmart for $5 each.