Lookin' for weights for 12" dob tube

I just received my 12" Hardin Optical dob. The bottomside of the tube is
heavy, and I am about to add a fan, which will add a little more weight. At
the top end, I have the HO 8x50 finderscope, Rigel finder. When adding my
heaviest ep, a 35mm Panoptic, I still did not have sufficient weight at the
top end.

This is my first dob, so not sure how to handle this issue. I have seen
plenty of solutions for when the bottom end is not heavy enough, but not the
opposite.

Any ideas? Is there a sliding weight system I can add to the underside of
the top end?

Thx,
-Phil

"PJ" wrote in
news:qnUTc.318733$XM6.77908@attbi_s53:

I just received my 12" Hardin Optical dob. The bottomside of the tube
is
heavy, and I am about to add a fan, which will add a little more
weight. At the top end, I have the HO 8x50 finderscope, Rigel finder.
When adding my heaviest ep, a 35mm Panoptic, I still did not have
sufficient weight at the top end.

This is my first dob, so not sure how to handle this issue. I have
seen plenty of solutions for when the bottom end is not heavy enough,
but not the opposite.

Any ideas? Is there a sliding weight system I can add to the underside
of the top end?

Does it have the spring tension adjustments on the sides? You can relocate
the position of the spring holder on the rocker box.

"PJ" wrote in
news:qnUTc.318733$XM6.77908@attbi_s53:

I just received my 12" Hardin Optical dob. The bottomside of the tube
is
heavy, and I am about to add a fan, which will add a little more
weight. At the top end, I have the HO 8x50 finderscope, Rigel finder.
When adding my heaviest ep, a 35mm Panoptic, I still did not have
sufficient weight at the top end.

Just relocate the altitude bearings to the balance point.

Any ideas? Is there a sliding weight system I can add to the underside of
the top end?

Thx,
-Phil

Some random thoughts:

There are sliding weights that one can add, though I don't really know who
makes them now, Orion used to sell a nice system.

With the spring system, you shouldn't need to rebalance much, so a fixed weight
is probably satisfactory.

The underside is indeed the correct place to add the weight, it helps balance
the weight on the top side so that the scope is balance at any altitude.

Some folks attach weights with a magnet.

I would contact the vendor and ask them what they are doing about the balance,
the scope should balance as received.

jon

I bought an ankleweight set. This allowed me to attach the weight with
velcro, and set the amount of weight I wanted from 1/2lbs to 15lbs. I'd
slide the ankleweights up and down the tube as needed for balance.

Very cheap, non-destructive solution.

Mike.


"Jon Isaacs" wrote in message
...
Any ideas? Is there a sliding weight system I can add to the underside of
the top end?

Thx,
-Phil

Some random thoughts:

There are sliding weights that one can add, though I don't really know who
makes them now, Orion used to sell a nice system.

With the spring system, you shouldn't need to rebalance much, so a fixed
weight
is probably satisfactory.

The underside is indeed the correct place to add the weight, it helps
balance
the weight on the top side so that the scope is balance at any altitude.

Some folks attach weights with a magnet.

I would contact the vendor and ask them what they are doing about the
balance,
the scope should balance as received.

jon

PJ wrote:
I just received my 12" Hardin Optical dob. The bottomside of the tube is
heavy, and I am about to add a fan, which will add a little more weight. At
the top end, I have the HO 8x50 finderscope, Rigel finder. When adding my
heaviest ep, a 35mm Panoptic, I still did not have sufficient weight at the
top end.

This is my first dob, so not sure how to handle this issue. I have seen
plenty of solutions for when the bottom end is not heavy enough, but not the
opposite.

Any ideas? Is there a sliding weight system I can add to the underside of
the top end?

Thx,
-Phil



I guarantee a Paracorr and a 2 inch Nagler will solve this problem for
you. The Paracorr will noticably sharpen your images across the field.

Regards,
Etok

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Etok wrote:

PJ wrote:

I just received my 12" Hardin Optical dob. The bottomside of the tube is
heavy, and I am about to add a fan, which will add a little more
weight. At
the top end, I have the HO 8x50 finderscope, Rigel finder. When adding my
heaviest ep, a 35mm Panoptic, I still did not have sufficient weight
at the
top end.

This is my first dob, so not sure how to handle this issue. I have seen
plenty of solutions for when the bottom end is not heavy enough, but
not the
opposite.

Any ideas? Is there a sliding weight system I can add to the underside of
the top end?

Thx,
-Phil



I guarantee a Paracorr and a 2 inch Nagler will solve this problem for
you. The Paracorr will noticably sharpen your images across the field.

Regards,
Etok

Of course, my guarantee is only worth the paper it's printed on. ;-)
You might try using a small (cpu-cooling-style) fan or none at all
(what's the cooldown time, 20 minutes? Is it worth doing all these
gyrations just to save 20 minutes?) Or using a Telrad (and sticking an
extra pair of batteries inside) instead of the Rigel.

OR you could make the fan removable, so it doesn't present a balance
issue...clip it on, cool the mirror, then remove it for viewing.

Hope this helps.
Etok
Regards,
Etok

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In article ,
"Ken Tullis" wrote:

Does it become a hassle to move your lead shot can around or do you
simply know where to put it?

I'm trying to picture this... holding the tube, removing one eyepiece,
moving the leadshot can, and putting a new eyepiece in--all in one fell
swoop.

Sounds like a new Summer Olympics event! Tullis wins the gold!

I've been lucky I guess. Both Discovery dobs I owned balanced fine (8"
took some felt on the inner part of the rocker mount) and my 7" Oak
Classic has a tube cradle so that one can find THE best balance point
for all eyepiece/barlow combos without having to mess with anything
else. OTOH, I don't throw a Termi-Nagler at it, or 2" eyepiece/ 2"
barlow combo either.

Larry Stedman
Vestal