A Bargain Dob project for someone?

[Dazzyt66]

Ps I tried balancing on pillows but clouds were not playing lol

Clear skies!

Dazzyt

Skywatcher 150P, FirstScope

[knobby]

Might find this thread interesting http://stargazerslounge.com/index.php?/topic/118946-Just-finished-modding-my-dob-base.

Just finished modding my dob base.

[Dazzyt66]

Day 1. All the main woodwork done. Thanks to Mrs T for letting me fill the kitchen with sawdust!! [emoji8]

I'm quite happy with how it's going - especially as it ain't cost me anything - but already thinking of an improved v2 as this version is pretty heavy![emoji123] Also learned you can't beat a pen and a piece of string! Lol

Tomorrow is vinyl lp and felt gliders, paint n finishing touches! Just need the clouds to shift then!!! [emoji120]

Clear skies!

Dazzyt

Skywatcher 150P, FirstScope

[Dazzyt66]

Pretty much done now. Gonna leave the sealing and painting until tomorrow. Well impressed with the lp/cd combo - rotates a treat with no wobble due to felt sliders on outer rim:

Also made great handles/tensioner from m10 coach bolts and some plastic 15mm pipe cutoffs. I may add some handlebar tape at some point but they work fine as is. More felt sliders by the bearings gives the scope a great control:

I also added some nylon shelf holders so that the scope can be rested in whilst aligning the handles (that is shown in the sw base manual and I thought it was a good addition:

All in all, I'm pretty happy with what I've got - especially as the scope only cost me £50 and the base was made for less than a tenner (I had to buy the m10 nuts n bolts)...

Thanks everyone for the tips and advice!!

Clear skies!

Dazzyt

Skywatcher 150P, FirstScope

[happy-kat]

Looking good, nearly there.

Get a bottle of pva glue, or wood glue, then paint at least two coats on each exposed edge of your mount.

Scope and mount get very wet when observing, dew can be quite wet.

I did 3 coats on my barn door mount made from what you look to have used.

15mm pipe lagging could work on your handles.

[Dazzyt66]

Cheers. Yeah, I plan to seal it pretty good! I think I may have some pipe lagging... Great idea! [emoji3]

Clear skies!

Dazzyt

Skywatcher 150P, FirstScope

[Mr Spock]

It's looking good. Shows what you can do for a few quid.

[Dazzyt66]

The clouds have cleared just in time for 'Dazzys Dob' first outing tonight... Fingers crossed!!! [emoji120]

Clear skies!

Dazzyt

Skywatcher 150P

[happy-kat]

yey job done :-)

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Very nice result. My first home-brew scope was a 6" F/8. Great scope indeed

[Charic]

......with all the excitement of building the base  and  using the scope, I hope you've remembered to collimate, but that's normally a day  job,  but that stand looks pretty good. 

Hope you have your clear night, as planned.

[Dazzyt66]

Collimination is ok at the mo (amazingly!), although I do have a Cheshire on order. Collimination will also be a first for me... [emoji40]

Clear skies!

Dazzyt

Skywatcher 150P

[beamer3.6m]

What material did you use for this dob base.

Looks like loft floor boards for the round base but what is the white sides etc.

[Chris]

Great buy and end result, enjoy first light!

[Dazzyt66]

@beamer - the base was flooring chipboard (thicker than loft) - in retrospect that is heavy overkill but all I had size wise to match the 19" (40cm?) design of original sw base (although I rounded it up to 20" ish (cos I'm old n don't do cm lol). Jig sawing a circle is hard btw! The sides and struts were made from kitchen end panel (wrapped mdf) which we had left over from our new (well, 4 years ago, but I kept it cos I knew I'd use it) kitchen.

@chris - cheers, although fog rolled in earlier so I only got about 20 mins in [emoji24]

Ps my missus says if anyone needs owt for a base call in cos my garage is full of stuff she calls tat - but I call it stuff I might just need (a case in point methinks) I think she's joking btw [emoji6]

Clear skies!

Dazzyt

Skywatcher 150P

[Dazzyt66]

So I've used this for the first time properly last night (well, this morning [emoji6]) and everything works brill! I may mess with the az a bit though cos it ain't that smooth - I guess I may have to go for a lazy Susan bearing at some point - or a fully rethought mk2...