Show Us Your Dobs

[Barry-W-Fenner]

4 minutes ago, John said:

I have a "dob knob" somewhere that I was going to fit to my dob but I didn't bother. I just hold the lip of the end tube ring and move it around.

 

I really like the "dob knob" under the chin of my 200p It really helps me maneuver the scope around. I think I will certainly keep an eye out for one of these bases.  Is there any known mod to increase the alt bearing on the Skywatcher base?

 

Baz

 

[fifeskies]

the OO dob bases have Teflon bearings on alt and az so easy to move with a hand on end of the tube. can even hand nudge from eyepiece stalk as they are so low friction.

 

When I had my long 10 on the base it was certainly a tad unwieldy due to the OTA size ( OO CT10L ) , but with the smaller Newt 200p it is a doddle. It is the regular 1000mm tube not the Dob 1200 version.

The bases are surprisingly light , far lighter than the heavy chipboard skywatcher bases , and of course waterproof , chipboard and damp don't go together well even if you do seal all cut edges , hours out in the damp often cause wet creep into the wood.

Edited January 29, 2020 by fifeskies

[johninderby]

Just out of curiousity went and weighed the Bresser 10” base and it’s 11.5kg including the twin wheel castors I’ve added. The OO 10” base is 12kg. 🤔

[John]

5 minutes ago, Barry-W-Fenner said:

I really like the "dob knob" under the chin of my 200p It really helps me maneuver the scope around. I think I will certainly keep an eye out for one of these bases.  Is there any known mod to increase the alt bearing on the Skywatcher base?

 

Baz

 

I'm sure there are mods for practically everything on the Skywatcher and other mass produced dobs. It has often been said that a dob is a "work in progress" out of the box

There is a well known mod for the azimuth bearings which involves washers cut from plastic milk cartons - that one works because I've used it !

Having a large alt bearing (like Bresser, OO and my mount use) is the best approach to controlled but smooth motion I think. Thats the challenge with dob bearings - you want smooth movement but also you want the scope to stay where it's pointed.

[John]

1 minute ago, johninderby said:

Just out of curiousity went and weighed the Bresser 10” base and it’s 11.5kg including the twin wheel castors I’ve added. The OO 10” base is 12kg. 🤔

My base weighs 10kg.

 

[ScouseSpaceCadet]

Another Skyliner 200P.  To raise the height, I removed the feet so it fits perfectly and is solid on top of a water butt base. There's a recess for the central base bolt.

Topped off with a RACI 9x50 and a decent metal red dot sight.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/WATER-BUTT-STAND-GARDEN-GARDENING/dp/B01451QF26/ref=mp_s_a_1_6?keywords=water+butt+base&qid=1580300741&sr=8-6

Edited January 29, 2020 by ScouseSpaceCadet

[fiestazetecmk2]

My lifetime dob.

[Sunshine]

2 hours ago, johninderby said:

I just put a handle near the top. Find it easier to use than a knob as you can just rest your hand on it rather than hold it.

I keep looking at your darn pretty as heck Bresser, if there was a dob beauty contest it would clean up.

[AdeKing]

2 hours ago, Barry-W-Fenner said:

I think I will be keeping an eye on the classifieds & good old flea bay then. 

They don't come up often, but I did manage to pick a used one up from Derek (DRT) a couple of years ago for my 8" Skywatcher Dob and it made a huge difference.

[Barry-W-Fenner]

58 minutes ago, AdeKing said:

They don't come up often, but I did manage to pick a used one up from Derek (DRT) a couple of years ago for my 8" Skywatcher Dob and it made a huge difference.

That is encouraging to hear, I will keep my eyes open!

 

Regards

 

Baz

[Barry-W-Fenner]

1 hour ago, AdeKing said:

They don't come up often, but I did manage to pick a used one up from Derek (DRT) a couple of years ago for my 8" Skywatcher Dob and it made a huge difference.

Out of interest AdeKing, Any pics of the 200p attached to this mount you can upload?

 

Baz

[Alan White]

Not quite yet the Dob I owned, but it is in the Classifieds at present.
My OOUK 10" f4.8, very nice bit of kit.

[Barry-W-Fenner]

17 hours ago, johninderby said:

Inspired by the recent thread on showing your Alt-Az mounts decided to start this thread. 

So as the title says lets see what your “Dob History” is including what you have now. 🙂

 

I’ve had 8”, 10” and 12” Skywatcher dobs. The 10” was a Flex Tube GOTO that I converted into a solid tube by getting hold of a newt solid tube. 

Then there was a 16” Meade Lightbridge. Big and heavy and not the greatest mirror. 

Replaced the Lightbridge with an OD350 with 1/10pv mirror. Much modified with a StellarCat drive and Argo Navis and mounted on a Scopebuggy.

Now have  Bresser Messier 10” dob. Lovely scope and not too big. 👍🏻

John,

I like the focus control knobs on your Bresser being positioned at an angle. I assume this aids comfort and use when the scope is around 45 degrees. is this a modification you did  yourself or just the way this particular focuser is produced?

Baz

[johninderby]

47 minutes ago, Barry-W-Fenner said:

John,

I like the focus control knobs on your Bresser being positioned at an angle. I assume this aids comfort and use when the scope is around 45 degrees. is this a modification you did  yourself or just the way this particular focuser is produced?

Baz

The Bresser has a really nice rack & pinion focuser and you can rotate the focuser to adjust the angle of the knobs.I have the extension piece fitted for visual. With a camera you need more infocus so wouldn’t use the extension.

Edited January 29, 2020 by johninderby

[Stu]

Here are a few of mine I can find images of. VX12L, Sumerian Alkaid 14" and Sumerian Canopus 16" plus a shot at SGL10 with the Dob Mob, including Swampthing's 20"

[Barry-W-Fenner]

2 hours ago, johninderby said:

The Bresser has a really nice rack & pinion focuser and you can rotate the focuser to adjust the angle of the knobs.I have the extension piece fitted for visual. With a camera you need more infocus so wouldn’t use the extension.

That's a really smart feature. I like that. I am Considering upgrading to a duel speed focuser in the future, I will have to check if the moonlite or any other I look at have this option 👍

Baz

[johninderby]

Pretty well all upgrade focuser can be rotated. If buying a new focuser would recommend the Baader Steeltrack.

[Barry-W-Fenner]

25 minutes ago, johninderby said:

Pretty well all upgrade focuser can be rotated. If buying a new focuser would recommend the Baader Steeltrack.

Thanks John I have seen the steeltrack and it looks a nice option. What do you like about that particular focuser?

It might be best if i Pm you as I am straying off topic!

Baz

Edited January 29, 2020 by Barry-W-Fenner

[Barry-W-Fenner]

2 hours ago, Stu said:

Here are a few of mine I can find images of. VX12L, Sumerian Alkaid 14" and Sumerian Canopus 16" plus a shot at SGL10 with the Dob Mob, including Swampthing's 20"

Very nice selection of various size dobs Stu, having experience with them sizes and open tubed scopes how do they all perform comparatively speaking.

I also like the collection of emptys on the table in the background 😁

Baz

 

Edited January 29, 2020 by Barry-W-Fenner

[Whistlin Bob]

Excellent thread! 

Here's my 200p shooting the moon...

... and here it is with my Orion USA 14" at a club meet last year.

On the topic of mods I've never got on very well with standard azimuth bearings. A cheap mod that works for me was to add a lazy Susan bearing (£15 on eBay) which removes nearly all the friction, then some chopped up bits of bath mat to put a bit back in. You can shim to taste 😁

[niallk]

Started with the 10", then took the plunge on the 15", and have recently given away the 10" to a good home there at Xmas.

[Sunshine]

On 29/01/2020 at 07:22, fiestazetecmk2 said:

My lifetime dob.

And a heck of a dob it is, you must design submarines for a living, i like it!

[Rainmaker]

Excalibur 18" F3.5, now in its second year of service, seated viewing even at zenith.....

[estwing]

Mine between Steve's and Damians 

[Barry-W-Fenner]

10 minutes ago, estwing said:

Mine between Steve's and Damians 

Excellent pic of some stunning scopes! Where about's was this taken. It looks quite a remote location and the scenery is beautiful.

 

Regards

 

Barry