@gooseknack Hi - thanks for your input - I keep everything simple and there was no locking system as such - Used good old friction - the pram wheel on the RA had the spokes all knocked out and a flat section of wood was inserted which connected to the drive - above that and resting on the wood was a steel plate which was bolted to the RA axis of the scope - the weight of the scope resting on the steel plate / pram wheel gave the fiction needed.
DEC was again by friction and used clamps for that.
@GWOVMR - Mant thanks - Still shows you can make your own scope. - there are still many people who make standard scopes however a few make some wierd optical configeration of folded scopes for a hobby - some configerations work and some dont but its still going on and they enjoy it.
Great video. I just got into astronomy over christmas of 2010 when my girlfriend bought me an Astromaster 114EQ. I love it! Now after seeing this video I feel more inspired to attempt to build my own scope. I've wanted to for a couple months but now I feel like I can and should. If you could possibly point me in the right direction I would appreciate it. Awesome video, love that you started off with something home made and ended up with such a great scope.
@RhetoricCamel Thanks for the interest and because of that I will help you - Best way to go in the USA is a Mirror Blank Kit and I have had a look around for you and if you look up "Willmann - Bell, Inc" who are based in Richmond Virginia that would be a good start - a book from them will also help. You need to be patient and exact when you make the mirror - You get out of the eyepiece what effort you put in. And you MUST join a local astro group because you will get loads of help.
@brucepeter2007 Thank you very much. I wasn't sure if a mirror blank kit was the right direction to go in, but now I know. Thanks again! I've looked for local astro groups and haven't had much luck in my area. Although there is an observatory that is opening up hopefully this summer and said they would contact me for any star parties this summer. So I'm hoping they do. Again, thank you for the help, and the video!
@RhetoricCamel Your on the right road now - Please do try hard to try and contact a local astro group and even if they are a way off you are bound to find someone living local who will give you loads of help.
Keep me posted as to how you get on as its not easy to do but rewarding once done...
@brucepeter2007 Now I just need to gather money for mirror blanks. Am I insane for looking into getting a 10 inch blank as my first mirror to learn? I don't want to do a 4 or a 4.5 since that is the size scope I already have. I want something big and I can't afford to buy a manufactured scope of 10inch so I figure I should just make it :) Here's hoping I can come up with the money soon and start the process. Doing a BUNCH of reading on the grinding process now.
@RhetoricCamel As long as you have plenty of patience - buckets of it - because to get it to be right it has to be made exact and that means to a Nats whisker - exact - else your wasting your money and time. I had to re-grind mine 3 times before I got it right which was very frustrating and it was Mr Henry Wildy (made Sir Patrick Moores mirror) who was kind enough to break the BAD news to me about my mirror.
I was a hard process but you just had to get to the light at the end of the tunnel.
@brucepeter2007 Yeah I was just reading about that... maybe a 10 inch is a bit intense for me to do as my first. Wondering how much easier it'd be if I went for a 6 or an 8? Will continue reading. I really appreciate all your help, thank you so much.
@RhetoricCamel As I know whats involved now I suspect even I should have gone for a 6" as my first ground mirror because I was almost at my wits ends a few times however a 10" is fine as long as you dont rush and treat it as a learning curve and take it steady - choice is yours but if you do it and you do it right you will get such a kick when you see that first sharp image in your eyepiece - either way you go good luck to you.
@JCue23 Many thanks for your comment - Just got in from the scope tonight and one of my computers has gone down - I have loads of videos of Saturn that I have taken this evening which are now on a dead drive - Just my luck...
@JCue23 been using a tower computer for about a year as the old laptop died but its the power supply that hates the damp nights and suspect thats gone but taking it to the repair shop today - and guess what Clear sky last night which is typical...
Dude, I don't know if you have been told this, but you have an AMAZING voice. Not just the accent, but great timbre and intonation. You should definitely do voice acting, like audio books or commercials. Seriously. I am very jealous of your voice!
@gaozhi2007 Many thanks indeed - I think the reasons not due to my amazing voice but the enthusiasm I have for what I do - perhaps my enthusiasm spills over into my voice - I was asked some time ago to be interviewed on the local radio for our model flying club and the members said my enthusiasm spilt over - I am sure there are many (including yourself) who can speak passionately about a hobby or incident they know well...
I am glad you enjoyed the video and hope its got you interested...
Haha, Thanks for the vid. I'm still a teenager being amazed at astronomy. Being stuck in school and no job yet, I wanted to see how people made their dream come true. Hopefully, when I do get a job, I can start my life long hobby.
@imanoob4 - Glad you liked your video. Good luck to you in whatever you end up doing but remember that having no cash is no bar to getting into the hobby and I hope this video has helped convince you of that - sell your XBox and buy you dream scope...
Wow first comment back and its only just been posted - Thanks. It was great but the wood did finally rot after about 14 years in the open - the bits underneath I could not treat. I have now passed on the main mirror and flat to another keen DIY chap as it will never be wasted. It was not the easiest to use but it worked well and the only thing lacking were any good eyepieces. When I joined a club I managed to borrow a few and had to re-make another draw tube as my originals were a mish mash.
Great job, was wondering, how did you lock the scope in place? Just curious, as I didn't notice a locking/braking mechanism on the bearings.....
gooseknack 3 weeks ago
@gooseknack Hi - thanks for your input - I keep everything simple and there was no locking system as such - Used good old friction - the pram wheel on the RA had the spokes all knocked out and a flat section of wood was inserted which connected to the drive - above that and resting on the wood was a steel plate which was bolted to the RA axis of the scope - the weight of the scope resting on the steel plate / pram wheel gave the fiction needed.
DEC was again by friction and used clamps for that.
brucepeter2007 2 weeks ago
great stuff can you make me 1 plz lol
bigone520 1 month ago
how did you get the geico gecko to narrate this!? :P jk!
SaturnAndItsRings 4 months ago
@SaturnAndItsRings I know him well - personal favours...
brucepeter2007 4 months ago
If I owned a TV station I would hire you to read stories to children. Great voice and enthusiasm!
NocturalRyte 5 months ago
thats a class job it really is
GWOVMR 6 months ago
@GWOVMR - Mant thanks - Still shows you can make your own scope. - there are still many people who make standard scopes however a few make some wierd optical configeration of folded scopes for a hobby - some configerations work and some dont but its still going on and they enjoy it.
Thanks for looking at the video.
Regards
Peter
brucepeter2007 6 months ago
Great video. I just got into astronomy over christmas of 2010 when my girlfriend bought me an Astromaster 114EQ. I love it! Now after seeing this video I feel more inspired to attempt to build my own scope. I've wanted to for a couple months but now I feel like I can and should. If you could possibly point me in the right direction I would appreciate it. Awesome video, love that you started off with something home made and ended up with such a great scope.
RhetoricCamel 11 months ago
@RhetoricCamel Thanks for the interest and because of that I will help you - Best way to go in the USA is a Mirror Blank Kit and I have had a look around for you and if you look up "Willmann - Bell, Inc" who are based in Richmond Virginia that would be a good start - a book from them will also help. You need to be patient and exact when you make the mirror - You get out of the eyepiece what effort you put in. And you MUST join a local astro group because you will get loads of help.
- Peter
brucepeter2007 11 months ago
@brucepeter2007 Thank you very much. I wasn't sure if a mirror blank kit was the right direction to go in, but now I know. Thanks again! I've looked for local astro groups and haven't had much luck in my area. Although there is an observatory that is opening up hopefully this summer and said they would contact me for any star parties this summer. So I'm hoping they do. Again, thank you for the help, and the video!
RhetoricCamel 11 months ago
@RhetoricCamel Your on the right road now - Please do try hard to try and contact a local astro group and even if they are a way off you are bound to find someone living local who will give you loads of help.
Keep me posted as to how you get on as its not easy to do but rewarding once done...
Regards
Peter Bruce.
brucepeter2007 11 months ago
@brucepeter2007 Now I just need to gather money for mirror blanks. Am I insane for looking into getting a 10 inch blank as my first mirror to learn? I don't want to do a 4 or a 4.5 since that is the size scope I already have. I want something big and I can't afford to buy a manufactured scope of 10inch so I figure I should just make it :) Here's hoping I can come up with the money soon and start the process. Doing a BUNCH of reading on the grinding process now.
RhetoricCamel 11 months ago
@RhetoricCamel As long as you have plenty of patience - buckets of it - because to get it to be right it has to be made exact and that means to a Nats whisker - exact - else your wasting your money and time. I had to re-grind mine 3 times before I got it right which was very frustrating and it was Mr Henry Wildy (made Sir Patrick Moores mirror) who was kind enough to break the BAD news to me about my mirror.
I was a hard process but you just had to get to the light at the end of the tunnel.
brucepeter2007 11 months ago
@brucepeter2007 Yeah I was just reading about that... maybe a 10 inch is a bit intense for me to do as my first. Wondering how much easier it'd be if I went for a 6 or an 8? Will continue reading. I really appreciate all your help, thank you so much.
RhetoricCamel 11 months ago
@RhetoricCamel As I know whats involved now I suspect even I should have gone for a 6" as my first ground mirror because I was almost at my wits ends a few times however a 10" is fine as long as you dont rush and treat it as a learning curve and take it steady - choice is yours but if you do it and you do it right you will get such a kick when you see that first sharp image in your eyepiece - either way you go good luck to you.
Peter
brucepeter2007 11 months ago
your voice reminds me of the guy from little big planet lol... awesome video!
JCue23 11 months ago
@JCue23 Many thanks for your comment - Just got in from the scope tonight and one of my computers has gone down - I have loads of videos of Saturn that I have taken this evening which are now on a dead drive - Just my luck...
brucepeter2007 11 months ago
@brucepeter2007 ugh bad luck sorry to hear... if its worth it to you, you could get your data recovered
good luck
JCue23 11 months ago
@JCue23 been using a tower computer for about a year as the old laptop died but its the power supply that hates the damp nights and suspect thats gone but taking it to the repair shop today - and guess what Clear sky last night which is typical...
Regards Peter
brucepeter2007 11 months ago
Dude, I don't know if you have been told this, but you have an AMAZING voice. Not just the accent, but great timbre and intonation. You should definitely do voice acting, like audio books or commercials. Seriously. I am very jealous of your voice!
gaozhi2007 1 year ago
@gaozhi2007 Many thanks indeed - I think the reasons not due to my amazing voice but the enthusiasm I have for what I do - perhaps my enthusiasm spills over into my voice - I was asked some time ago to be interviewed on the local radio for our model flying club and the members said my enthusiasm spilt over - I am sure there are many (including yourself) who can speak passionately about a hobby or incident they know well...
I am glad you enjoyed the video and hope its got you interested...
brucepeter2007 1 year ago
Haha, Thanks for the vid. I'm still a teenager being amazed at astronomy. Being stuck in school and no job yet, I wanted to see how people made their dream come true. Hopefully, when I do get a job, I can start my life long hobby.
imanoob4 1 year ago
@imanoob4 - Glad you liked your video. Good luck to you in whatever you end up doing but remember that having no cash is no bar to getting into the hobby and I hope this video has helped convince you of that - sell your XBox and buy you dream scope...
Regards Peter
brucepeter2007 1 year ago
Wow first comment back and its only just been posted - Thanks. It was great but the wood did finally rot after about 14 years in the open - the bits underneath I could not treat. I have now passed on the main mirror and flat to another keen DIY chap as it will never be wasted. It was not the easiest to use but it worked well and the only thing lacking were any good eyepieces. When I joined a club I managed to borrow a few and had to re-make another draw tube as my originals were a mish mash.
brucepeter2007 1 year ago
nice job, ill bet that was a great scope :)
paranorma1palace 1 year ago