Re: ATM ...on homebuilt EQ mounts

["Jim Piunti" <jim_piunti@email.msn.com>]

>Hi Jim, I'm afraid teflon tape is not for a fitting that moves
>anymore than what it takes to screw in and hold a seal. It
>becomes shredded with repeated turning.


Drat - thought I was on to something. How about a thick non-drying silicone
sealant - anything to 'pad' the play and still allow the seal to be intact?

>Just make a simple dob mount or basic alt-azimuth.

But I'm thinkin' I might want to try some photon capturing for posterity...

>My experience with turn-on-thread pipe fittings left alot to be desired,
whether it be
>alt-az or GEM. If you go this way, the wider the pipes, the less it'll
>wobble.

OK, that's a start - anybody ever tried to make a pipe-based fork?

>I favor equatorials for my purposes, but it's not worth going
>for an equatorial design  unless it can be made very stout, smooth
>turning, and long lasting. Also, pipe fittings ain't as cheap as they
>look!

Actually, I was thinking of sand/shot/gravel filled PVC.....

Thanks for your comments - I'm a-learnin' like gangbusters.....

>D Chaffee
>Kansas City, Mo.

What's your local club like? You're only about 3-4 hours from me - I'd
consider coming down for a weekend or so if I could sit in on any mirror
grinding classes you all might offer...

> Jim
> Omaha, NE