Wooden Tripod Legs

[Alan64]

I had to remove one of the yokes, as I had added wood dough to fill a slight cavity, but the dough ended up kicking one end up slightly, seen still at upper left point of the triangle, but not as bad now.  Once I removed the screws, I used a chisel to pop it off, which it did, and cleanly.  It's now glued back in place satisfactorily.  Here, I have the spreader's hub situated over the tripod-hub of my EQ-2...

I don't expect to fold the legs together to where their tips meet and touch, and in forming a long, slender cone.  I simply want to be able to fold them up to where I can carry the tripod in and out more easily.  Before, with its fixed tray, I couldn't fold up the legs at all.  

[Alan64]

Before the spreader's arms are fashioned, this aspect must be decided upon first...

30°, or 25°...30°, or 25°...30°, or 25°...

I'm probably going to go with a 25° angle.

[Alan64]

At last...

I finally got around to drilling out the braces' threaded inserts, a total of six. However, four of the six popped out whilst drilling, but no matter at all, as they're serving as spacers only within this configuration. It was actually fortunate that one had popped out of two of the braces, as that allows for far greater ease in aligning and attaching the yokes. Both inserts had popped out of one of the braces, but again, no matter. Actually, I had purposely popped one out of one brace. 

It was verily the devil's own brew in accomplishing that, and with my baby drill-press and a drill-press vise. By far, that has been and will be the most difficult aspect of this entire project.

[Alan64]

Just a test-fitting...

They're attached to the tripod-hub of the Meade "Large Equatorial" EQ-2, which is about 4.25" in diameter.  The hub of my Astro-Tech Voyager I is 4.5" in diameter.  That of the Celestron CG-4(EQ-3) is less than 4" in diameter.  If, in future, I attach these legs to the hub of an EQ5-class mount, would it be of the same diameter as that of the CG-4?  Curiouser and curiouser...

Once the proper length of the spreader's arms are determined, they will be crafted, and then all of the components will be stained and spar-urethaned.  I may need to work out a solution for cushioning the corners of the tips of those yokes when folding up the legs.

[Alan64]

Slowly but surely...

...the arms for the spreader are coming into being. 

I have one almost assembled, and once all three are completed they will be trimmed and sanded.

[Astrokev]

On 13/12/2018 at 18:08, Alan64 said:

 

I'm not a numaticist however, but a philatelist

The correct term is actually numismatist, but, as you are not one, I guess you can be forgiven! ?

On 16/12/2018 at 16:50, Alan White said:

I doubt a Shilling is dated 1988, if it is, it's a fake.

The UK decimalised to new pence in February 1971

The 5p coin was actually introduced in 1968, before decimalisation, along with the 10p coin (both being called "new pence" in those days to differentiate them from the old LSD pence. Technically it was therefore a shilling!

Really admire your restoration @Alan64A thing of beauty!

[Paul73]

What an unusual and enjoyable thread. Impressive skills and attention to detail. I’m considering building a tripod and mount from scratch, which will be a far easier proposition.

Looking forward to the grand unveiling. 

Paul

 

[Alan64]

The three arms are near completion.  They've had an initial shaping and sanding after the gluing-together...

The maple layers must be sculpted with a Dremel and sanding-drum, sized for a gap-less mating with the layers of oak, and before they can be attached.

A sneak peek, and of what is to be...

The arms are very close in length, practically perfect, but no matter, as it is the holes to be drilled, one at each end, the distance between them that must be precisely measured.  The tips of the arms will be rounded as well.

Plodding ever onward...

[Alan64]

Within the top image, you can see how the maple layer doesn't quite mate with its corresponding oak layer.  It is then that I shape it to fit, as shown in the lower...

The mating doesn't have to be perfect, however, as the subsequent stain and urethane will hide a multitude of errors.

Incidentally, with all wood-working projects, astronomical or no, I always heavily-score the surfaces to be joined, and before gluing and clamping them together...

[Alan64]

The arms are, at last, completed, in so far as their substance.  They will require a bit of sanding here and there, the ends rounded, and the holes drilled...

[Alan64]

The ends of the arms have been rounded, but for the holes to be drilled I'll need to make a template...

[Alan64]

Getting there...

...

[Alan64]

The brass tubing, the bearings, were roughly sanded...

...then epoxied into the arms...

All of the wooden components will now receive their final sanding, then the staining and sealing.

[Alan64]

All of the components received their final sanding with 150-grit paper, and then wiped down with 91% rubbing-alcohol...

Staining and sealing during the winter is not the easiest thing to accomplish, but done it must be.  The only place where I can get it done, is within that smallest of rooms within a home, and with the ventilation-fan running.

[Alan64]

The components have now been stained, although not yet sealed...

I can't wait to see them after they're urethaned.

[Alan64]

Getting ready to apply the first coat of urethane.  I can't do it outside, as it's much too cold...

When I did the legs, I had a few relatively warm days then.

[Alan64]

The first coat of urethane has been applied...

[Alan64]

The components were removed from their hangers, lightly-sanded with 220-grit paper, reattached to the hangers, and then the second and final coat applied...

35° F(1.7° C) outside it is, so back into the bog they went.

[Alan64]

Later on today I will lightly buff the parts out with #0000 steel-wool and lemon-oil.

[Alan64]

These, the very last of the parts required to complete the tripod...

That's 15 #6 nylon washers, 15 #10 nylon washers, 12 #6 SS washers, 12 #10 SS washers; and yes, you guessed right, a 1-foot long, 3/4" diameter, black-nylon rod.

For whatever might be that rod?  That's something special that came from Florida, and off of eBay.  

Now, I am tossing an idea around in my head, and for a possible, removable accessory-tray, made from a round, shallow baking pan or other.  I'll have to think on that further.

[Alan64]

First, I installed a threaded-insert into the hub...

I found this locally, at a brick-and-mortar location...

https://www.target.com/p/10-5-plastic-dinner-plate-black-room-essentials-153/-/A-53135497

I had gotten two of them, and in the event that I might make a mistake.  I did indeed ruin the first one, but not the spare...

The knob is from a spare EQ-2 mount-head, from a recent Meade warranty claim, and of stainless-steel.  I needed only the DEC shaft and its threaded substrate from the claim, so I have quite a few extra parts.  The stainless-steel fender-washer was epoxied to the plate, the mating surfaces scored beforehand...

The plate, now an eyepiece-and-accessory tray, 27cm in diameter and 4.8mm in thickness, is quite rigid, even with the holes cut out.  It's not soft or pliable at all, yet not as rigid as melamine, and therefore not likely to crack; perfect.  I left one side of the plate solid for other astronomical bits and bobs.  In future, I may get a larger, serving-type tray, but no more than 36cm in diameter.

The plate compared to the tray from the Meade EQ-2...

[Alan64]

The arms are now permanently attached to the hub...

The lock-nuts allow for just the right amount of tension, and to prevent side-to-side slop when the arms are moved.  The yokes being of wood helps in that, too.  The motion of the arms is smooth and fluid, and with no binding whatsoever.

Stainless-steel, brass, and nylon washers were also installed...

 

[JOC]

I've found this thread and read it with interest.  You are very talented and I am looking forward to seeing the finished tripod with a telescope on it.

[Alan64]

Six bronze lock-washers, all in a row...

A question begged, "Wherever will they go?"

Patience is a virtue, so now you know.

[dweller25]

A truly superb job Alan, well done ?