Wooden EP trays - whittling done!

[Fozzie]

Last year the DIY bug bit me again, and I set about making some wooden tripod legs for an EQ5 tripod/Skytee2 mount I have.

One thing that has always bugged me is the lack of any sort of equipment tray.  Sure I could have sourced a second hand wooden “ash” tray but to be honest it would have irked me that it wasn’t similar to in appearance to the tripod.

The Tripod was constructed using a teak alternative, named Iroko, the build thread can be found here..

Previously I have used Bowl Blanks from the same wood as the tripod, bowl blanks used by “whittlers” to form wooden trays, bowls, plates and spoons.  A bit of sanding, some 37mm holes drilled through and you have a quick and simple EP tray. 

Sounds simple enough, however I’ve not been able to find an Iroko blank of sufficient diameter or thickness to date.

During an Ebay browse, I came across an actual Teak blank, slightly thicker, slightly smaller in diameter than I wanted, but as I’ve seen nothing over the last year I jumped at it..

Said Teak Blank was delivered last week.

As you can see from the picture below, it is a quite reasonable match, unstained bowl blank against the stained tripod, so I’m hopeful it will blend well, once completed.

The blank is 40mm thick, so the plan is as follows,

1, route out 10mm channels to the underside, so it sits on to the tripod spreader. 

2, the blank is 225mm diameter, so im going to remove 10mm by 200mm (ish) to provide a small wall to the top side of the tray, stop things rolling off.

3, cut approximately 5 no 37mm diameter, x 10mm deep rounds to accommodate the EP’s, with the remaining area for filters, coffee cups and the like. 

Rough Sketches to follow at some point today...

I’ve ordered a new 37mm forstner Bit for the Job, and I’ve the same combination of stain for the wood, ready to go, hopefully I should be giving this a go next weekend, or at least starting it!

In the meantime, I’ll be giving the wood tripods a quick coat over, try to do this every year to maintain the protection on them..

 

BTW I would be interested to see opinions on what makes a good EP tray, other than EP sockets, any other usefull space for other things. for instance a notch to carry a wine glass or the like..?

 

Ta

Fozzie

EP plans.pdf

[mikeDnight]

Love the tripod legs Fozzie!  Can't wait to see the eyepiece tray when completed!! 

[Fozzie]

 

8 hours ago, mikeDnight said:

Love the tripod legs Fozzie!  Can't wait to see the eyepiece tray when completed!! 

Thanks Mike!

 

Significant looking drill bit has arrived today!

[Gina]

Good make

[Fozzie]

So I've done routed and notched, drilled sanded and stained.. just 1 slip with the router which I'm a little disappointed with, but it's not a total disaster!!

Teak eyepiece tray.. done! 

Not a bad match to the iroko, same stain combo used.. happy with that I think!

Ta

Fozzie

 

[Alan White]

Nice job indeed and matches the legs well.

[Fozzie]

13 hours ago, Alan White said:

Nice job indeed and matches the legs well.

Thanks, of course it wouldn't have been possible with out that spreader!

[Telescope40]

Hello F. 

Very nice job !!!! 

Regards.  John 

[Fozzie]

Works a treat... (hard not to really, it's literally a piece of wood with some holes cut in it!)

[wookie1965]

That is a work of art and having a EQ5 I am not jealous at all ?

[Starlight 1]

Teak good wood to hard for bugs to eat. Nice job done.