Re: ATM ...on homebuilt EQ mounts

[Brian Nestel <blast@aloha.net>]

Jim Piunti wrote:
> 
> >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!
Hi:
The thing you want to use is called "damping Grease" Its the type of 
grease that's used on camera, binocular adjustments, etc. to give
the feeling of smoothness with some drag and it takes up any 
looseness in the threads, it comes in grades from light to extra
heavy.
You don't want to use grease and grit or dirt it will just wear the
joints and you will have to keep compensating for the wear.
There was a discussion about "Damping Grease" on the list
so something should be in the archives. just do a search
for grease.
------
Aloha   159 36 W, 21 58 45 N
Brian   Middle of the Pacific,
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