JPKam Wrote:
> Thanks for the pointer to the Aluminum cases at Lowes.

No problem.... I had been looking for a nice case to transport my eye
pieces, Diagonal, Barlows, NGF-S and other delicate trinkets. I also
needed one for my future purchase of a CCD and all the stuff that will go
along with it. So I picked up two cases. Good Deal.....

> What design are you using for your counter weight system. I also need
> to build one but can't settle on a design.

Being that my problem was going to be dealing with most other counterweight
systems using the existing holes at the front of the scope for mounting
which is where my 10" heated dew shield pulls over, I had to come up with a
way to do this and stay away from the 1st inch of the scope tube. I picked
up an nice polished aluminum channel which looks sort of like a 1/2 inch
square tube with a 1/8 inch slot cut all the way along one side. In that I
put a square head brass bolt which would slide along the channel with its
threaded part hanging out through the 1/8 inch slot. I then center drilled
and tapped a stock piece of round brass (3" dia. x 1" thick). The brass
weight will screw onto the brass bolt in the channel and when tightened all
the way up to the channel will hold it in that position. To move it, all I
do is loosen it and slide the square headed bolt forwards or backwards in
the channel and retighten the brass weight. The channel has a thin layer of
leather glued to the side that touches the scope and the whole thing is
mounted to the scope tube with two VelcoStretch Straps.

It has enough weight to balance the scope with the NGF-S, Diagonal and eye
piece but when I go CCD I may have to add more weight which will be no
problem.

One change I may make is going on and mounting the channel to the real of
the scope tube via the provided hole and then use one VecroStretch strap to
hold the front in place (1 inch back from the front end of the scope tube).
That will give the whole assembly a little more stability which I have had a
problem with what I have now, but what the hell.

If you are not using a slide on dew shield, then you can make the channel up
to mount both front and back to the tubes provided mounting holes (which is
the way the commercial counterweight systems seem to mount) and forget the
VelcroStretch strap(s).

Hope I was able to clearly put into words what I actually did (G).

Regards
FLag
8" f/10 LX-200 #845198
36:10:32.754 N
82:43:31.098 W

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