Saganite Posted November 19, 2017 Share Posted November 19, 2017 20 hours ago, Fozzie said: Last bits done this morning... aligned the leg section with the foot.. drilled the spiked feet and fit the tread.. tapered the foot and legs... fixed the bits together... The tripod legs are finished... bar a teak oil touch up.. Very happy with how this has turned out.. just in the process of fashioning a spreader from one gifted to me by Dave @F15Rules.. many thanks Dave.. Other than that I've clear sky's tonight so will be giving my new look GP mount a try out.. Thanks for all the interest and feed back that has enabled me to get this far and complete the project! Ta Fozzie Superb job Steve, and a beautiful set up. Well done Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fozzie Posted November 21, 2017 Author Share Posted November 21, 2017 I've just come across a 200mm- 250mm Diameter Section of Sapele Mahogany at 50mm thick... The craftman in me is thinking this would make a stonking EP tray/holder/shelf to sit on top of a spreader bar... They are actually Bowl Blanks for wood turners to make, well Bowl's, clues in the name there.. £13 quid, with a few 25mm deep 35mm holes etc that will be a nice finishing touch I feel... Any thoughts? Will draw some plans up once I've checked measurements on the tripod.... Thanks Fozzie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan White Posted November 21, 2017 Share Posted November 21, 2017 Great idea and find, should look really wonderful with this addition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fozzie Posted November 21, 2017 Author Share Posted November 21, 2017 Thanks... seeing if I can get a 30mm deep one... would be easier to deal with! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fozzie Posted November 21, 2017 Author Share Posted November 21, 2017 Eyepiece tray plans.. this project keeps going.. Waiting on a response to whether a 30mm blank available, if not I'll go with the 50mm.. I've only got 1.25mm eps so not going to facilitate 2".. although I can obviously go for larger in the future. I'll drill a series of indents, not all the way through, about half just to sit the eps in.. 12mm hole for the tripod bolt and some smaller 6mm for attaching to the spreader bar... although I may permanently fix the spreader arms to the ep tray. Haven't decided that bit yet...anyways plans below.. Ta Fozzie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fozzie Posted November 22, 2017 Author Share Posted November 22, 2017 Ordered 1No 203mm dia by 27mm Sapele Blank and 1No 220mm by 27mm thick Sapele Blank.. think either will do.. The Blanks are inclusive of Bark, not sure if this is good or bad, might have to remove it.. depends how it looks?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fozzie Posted November 24, 2017 Author Share Posted November 24, 2017 The sapele blanks are here... Need some sanding and polishing.. and maybe the bark removing! This is tough wood, might take a while! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick J Posted November 24, 2017 Share Posted November 24, 2017 Just caught up with this thread, outstanding work Fozzie, looks a lovely tripod. Those blanks should keep you busy, great idea - looking forward to seeing the progress. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fozzie Posted November 24, 2017 Author Share Posted November 24, 2017 Thanks Mick.. So I've spent the last hour or so working on the larger blank, removing the wax that's been applied to protect the bark, and sanding down the two faces. Quick damp cloth rinse and ready for teak oil.. the teak oil is the magic bit and totally transforms this sapele wood. Haven't sanded too heavily the blanks are rough sawn so some saw edges are still evident, but I'm cutting 35 or 38mm holes in it any ways.. Sanded Blank. Teak Oil. Side by side with the untreated blank. Thanks Fozzie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fozzie Posted November 25, 2017 Author Share Posted November 25, 2017 Nice bit of wood the smaller blank has turned out to be!.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timwetherell Posted November 26, 2017 Share Posted November 26, 2017 Looking great! As well as being attractive, I've always felt that wood was excellent at damping vibrations. Would it be feasible to have the eyepiece holder rotate so you can have the one you're after either side? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fozzie Posted November 26, 2017 Author Share Posted November 26, 2017 1 hour ago, timwetherell said: Looking great! As well as being attractive, I've always felt that wood was excellent at damping vibrations. Would it be feasible to have the eyepiece holder rotate so you can have the one you're after either side? Possibly, if I slightly over size the the centre hole, it could spin if I don't fix it to a spreader bar.. I've cut out the smaller blank.. Ready for another coat of teak oil... the dust the drilling made, and it's eaten through two 38mm flat drill bits..! Ta Fozzie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fozzie Posted November 26, 2017 Author Share Posted November 26, 2017 Eyepiece tray after final sanding and teak oil.. And with a family of SLV's in place.. a bit snug, could have opened it up a little more in hind sight but there is a little space between them.. I'm actually thinking of hanging the larger blank underneath using some 160mm long m8 coach bolts so I've got a "shelf" as it were for filters and a power pack.. Still need to figure out the brace bar... ideally it needs to be on the centre column bolt but it doesn't quite fit.. Sure I'll think of something here.... Ta fozzie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davyludo Posted November 27, 2017 Share Posted November 27, 2017 Fozzie - I'm really jealous of your awesome looking tripod. I'm going to be completely shameless and copy you....when I have funds and time to make something Good job, it looks fantastic. Please let us know how you get on using it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fozzie Posted November 27, 2017 Author Share Posted November 27, 2017 2 hours ago, davyludo said: Fozzie - I'm really jealous of your awesome looking tripod. I'm going to be completely shameless and copy you....when I have funds and time to make something Good job, it looks fantastic. Please let us know how you get on using it! Many Thanks.. Feel free to copy, it's what the threads for really... and it's not been overly taxing, with the right tools. Thanks Fozzie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F15Rules Posted November 27, 2017 Share Posted November 27, 2017 Fabulous work Steve, you have wonderful woodworking skills!? Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fozzie Posted November 28, 2017 Author Share Posted November 28, 2017 23 hours ago, F15Rules said: Fabulous work Steve, you have wonderful woodworking skills!? Dave Honestly Dave.. I hate DIY and most things like that because I've never had the tools or time to do it properly.. so many thanks for your comments, and all who have posted positively.. maybe I found a calling here.. So tonight I've been fashioning the double tier ep tray and equipment shelf.. looks good and is solid when fixed to the centre bolt.. I'm in the position where I think this tripod project is 99% complete.. Might just leave it as it is!!! Thanks Fozzie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Telescope40 Posted November 28, 2017 Share Posted November 28, 2017 Fozzie. . An absolute classy tripod you have there. Very very nice job. Regards. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F15Rules Posted November 28, 2017 Share Posted November 28, 2017 Agree with John, just a lovely piece of work Steve, many congratulations! Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fozzie Posted November 29, 2017 Author Share Posted November 29, 2017 Thanks gents.. Time to expose the tripod to the stars tonight, only had a quick hour with it so far.. see if it copes with a scope as well as it looks.. Thanks fozzie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dobbie Posted November 29, 2017 Share Posted November 29, 2017 excellent job .. is the gap in the ep holder wider enough for a coffee mug ?. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fozzie Posted November 29, 2017 Author Share Posted November 29, 2017 Just but you'd have to use a coaster! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu Posted November 29, 2017 Share Posted November 29, 2017 Steve, I agree with the others, a fantastic job and I love what you've done with the eyepiece holder/tray. Looks great and highly practical too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timwetherell Posted November 29, 2017 Share Posted November 29, 2017 Looks great!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Posted November 29, 2017 Share Posted November 29, 2017 I'm not being superlative when I say your tripod and eyepiece tray look insanely good, Steve. Really very nicely done, looks really classy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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