ATM Tripods - build your own!

["Tom Krajci" <krajcit@det5wg57.barksdale.af.mil>]

Now that I'm putting the finishing touches on my first wooden tripod, 
adapted from Richard Berry's book, I can enthusiastically say it's a 
sound design that's simple to make, inexpensive, and very rigid!

I weigh 190 lbs and the tripod supports my weight!

If anybody's unhappy with their commercial tripod (some of them for 
schmidt-cass systems are kinda lacking in my opinion) you may want to 
consider making one from wood.  It may be a bit bulkier but I 
consider that a small price to pay.

You don't need exotic wood, the hardware store is fine - I used pine 
and exterior grade plywood.  I also like the way wood damps 
vibrations better than metal tripods.

Yes, my mount is design overkill for 25x100 binoc's, but I'd rather 
have a rock solid mount with smaller optics than a wobbly mount 
carrying some big glass.  

And my mount has "expansion potential" - someday I may find an 
inexpensive pair of Fujinon 25x150's!  ;-)

Tom Krajci

Capt Tom Krajci
B-52 Intelligence Officer
"There are only two possible outcomes in any war.
Operational success or intelligence failure!"
http://spur.barksdale.af.mil