Tube rings to big...ideas please.

[paul mc c]

Hello all I have an ota that is really difficult to find tube rings that fit,for example SW rings to fit an 8" ota are you small...rings to fit a10" ota are you big.

I thought I would buy the 10" rings and someway try and pack the inside with something to make them fit,maybe 15mm hard rubber strip...any ideas what could work.

Thanks Paul.

[Mr H in Yorkshire]

I imagine vinyl tile or vinyl flooring, cut into thin strips, would have the right properties for your problem. 

[Budgie1]

What size do you actually need and how much gap needs to be taken up if you use the 10" rings?

[paul mc c]

1 hour ago, Budgie1 said:

What size do you actually need and how much gap needs to be taken up if you use the 10" rings?

30mm...so something like 15mm of a gap all round.

[Elp]

It'd be more secure to pack the OTA OD rather than the rings ID, you've got more surface area to play with.

[paul mc c]

5 minutes ago, Elp said:

It'd be more secure to pack the OTA OD rather than the rings ID, you've got more surface area to play with.

Your right...never actually thought of that.

[Ags]

Maybe you need to buy a bigger telescope? 😀

[paul mc c]

Shushhhhhhhh.. suggested that,but she was having none of it.😬😬

[Carbon Brush]

I have made 3D printed spacers when faced with this sort of problem.
You can print in sections to overcome printer size restrictions.
Leave a couple of millimetres to insert thin foam (draught excluder) to avoid scratching tube paint.
Or maybe I was just too mean to buy the correct rings?

[Ags]

https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p11070_Multiplex-Plywood-Tube-Ring-Pair-customized---for-tubes-201mm-to-250mm-diameter.html

[wookie1965]

I used this when the rings were to big for my 5" Refractor You can get non adhesive ones. 

Edited January 8 by wookie1965

[paul mc c]

16 minutes ago, wookie1965 said:

I used this when the rings were to big for my 5" Refractor You can get non adhesive ones. 

That's exactly what I had in mind...do you have a link?

Paul 

[wookie1965]

1 hour ago, paul mc c said:

That's exactly what I had in mind...do you have a link?

Paul 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/175828443582?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D777008%26algo%3DPERSONAL.TOPIC%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20230811123856%26meid%3D31e4a123f3454e9dac3b8fb8691e6837%26pid%3D101770%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26itm%3D175828443582%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D4375194%26algv%3DRecentlyViewedItemsV2&_trksid=p4375194.c101770.m146925&_trkparms=parentrq%3Aea5a902218c0acf322e9d965fffffe1e|pageci%3A8532f909-ae54-11ee-95cb-76e2354866e4|iid%3A1|vlpname%3Avlp_homepage

 

There you go.

Paul

Edited January 8 by wookie1965

[gentlebear76]

I 3d printed some for my skymax 180 when I had the same problem: https://cad.onshape.com/documents/1c9db84e9f63e24826737e51/w/9c45839ad49745f3d6a60074/e/ce0c58e13c587b74511bad1f?renderMode=0&uiState=65a0fa254f325822d98b8841

I added some felt to the inside so I wouldn't scuff up the paint on the ota

 

[doublevodka]

Maybe keep it simple and post a wanted ad for someone to swap a set of 8's for 10's, worth a try?