Tripod Extension Column

[astro_al]

Evening all,

I am looking to raise the height of my alt-az mount to accommodate a refractor. It uses a 3/8 tripod fitting. I can find exactly what I am looking for from a US vendor http://www.desertskyastro.com/Mounts.html but nothing in the UK. Anyone know of something similar over here? I could buy an adjustable center column for my tripod but these are a bit skinny for my liking.

Thanks

Al

[astro_al]

These and a tin of beans might do it 

[Stu]

2 hours ago, astro_al said:

These and a tin of beans might do it 

I did very nearly the same thing! I had exactly the same requirement and bought a piece of 75mm Aluminium tube, 5mm thickness I think, and cut it to size, 30cm long. I also bought disks for the top and bottom which I fixed in place with chemical metal and then used a piece of threaded bar to attach to the tripod thread, through the cylinder to the mount on top. I joined the threaded bar to the tripod with a long nut....

If I can find a picture I will post it up.

[astro_al]

Thanks. Sounds like a good solution.

[Stu]

Here you go. I gave it a wrap of carbon vinyl too  

[astro_al]

Thanks for posting the photos Stu. That looks just the job - and the carbon fibre wrapping is a nice touch!

[Helen]

Having spent part of last night on my knees viewing with my 100mm f7 scope I think I need something similar too!!!

Helen

[John]

The Skytee II that I purchased used recently came with a rather nice and very solid 140mm pillar extension. This is going to come in very handy because I find the usual 16" HEQ5 pillar extension too long and heavy for my needs but just being able to raise the mount head around 6 inches off the tripod hub is what I want.

I think there is a market for more variety of pillar extension lengths myself.

[Roy Challen]

20 hours ago, Stu said:

Here you go. I gave it a wrap of carbon vinyl too  

That looks really good Stu. Guess what I'm gonna do this weekend? Don't know what I'm going to do it to, but it's gonna get done!

[Stu]

13 minutes ago, John said:

The Skytee II that I purchased used recently came with a rather nice and very solid 140mm pillar extension. This is going to come in very handy because I find the usual 16" HEQ5 pillar extension too long and heavy for my needs but just being able to raise the mount head around 6 inches off the tripod hub is what I want.

I think there is a market for more variety of pillar extension lengths myself.

There is the shorter extension pillar for the AZEQ5 now John, its a little lighter as it has a cutout. Might still need a bit of fiddling with adaptors depending on mount and tripod but at least it's the right diameter with holes in the right place.

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/skywatcher-mounts/sky-watcher-az-eq5-gt-mount-pillar-extension.html

[John]

3 hours ago, Stu said:

There is the shorter extension pillar for the AZEQ5 now John, its a little lighter as it has a cutout. Might still need a bit of fiddling with adaptors depending on mount and tripod but at least it's the right diameter with holes in the right place.

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/skywatcher-mounts/sky-watcher-az-eq5-gt-mount-pillar-extension.html

Is the AZ-EQ5 the same fitting as the HEQ5 / Skytee II Stu ?

I thought they might be different.

[Stu]

4 minutes ago, John said:

Is the AZ-EQ5 the same fitting as the HEQ5 / Skytee II Stu ?

I thought they might be different.

That I can't remember John. I should be able to check though, I'll report back at some point soon  

[Alan White]

22 hours ago, John said:

The Skytee II that I purchased used recently came with a rather nice and very solid 140mm pillar extension. This is going to come in very handy because I find the usual 16" HEQ5 pillar extension too long and heavy for my needs but just being able to raise the mount head around 6 inches off the tripod hub is what I want.

I think there is a market for more variety of pillar extension lengths myself.

Agree about variable lengths of extension, my 16" is just right some days and too much on others, I am cosidering cutting it down a bit.

[astro_al]

Just to close out this topic, I found a UK supplier (Astrograph) of extension columns that use a 3/8" fitting - the Tecnosky Half Pier. Dimensions are H:180mm Dia:60mm. More expensive than a tin of beans and the extender bolts  but it is a really well made, solid piece of kit http://astrograph.net/epages/www_astrograph_net.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/www_astrograph_net/Products/AGTECHP