Thanks for the tip. I made the same counterweight bar using threaded 12mm stainless steel. One suggestion is that I covered the bar with heat shrink tubing to give a smoother finish and used a lock nut instead of a wing nut. Weights still slide over ok, looks great.
@tradde11 I have seen both jupiter and Saturn I have a nice picture of jupiter but not Saturn yet but I will get it later in the year I'll be out tonight looking at the moon and Venus if it stays clear 🤞
That's a good question I just balance the scope with the weight but find the balance point of the scope with everything attached and mount the scope as close as I can to that. Hope it helps
I just looked up the length of some bars that are available for the mount. I'm guessing is the bar is to log you have a better chance of making the whole setup unstable and may damage the motor. Cheers Ryan
Thanks mate, yes I use it a lot it's great for a grab and go set up, and I do like the flexibility of the equatorial or altaz mode. I've used it for Mars jupiter and the moon. I've not really done deep sky objects yet, but I will do. Thanks for watching, and stay tuned for more videos clouds depending, lol
What a great little fixit with left over bits n bobs. Great advice THX
Thank you very much for taking the time to say. Cheers Ryan
When cutting threaded rod it's sometimes a good idea to put the nut on first and then cut the rod and spin the nut off after that.
Yes, definitely a good idea mate that would help to knock any burrs off for sure 👍
Nice video Ryan
Cheers, Tom thought I'd try something different, mate
Thanks for the tip. I made the same counterweight bar using threaded 12mm stainless steel. One suggestion is that I covered the bar with heat shrink tubing to give a smoother finish and used a lock nut instead of a wing nut. Weights still slide over ok, looks great.
Good idea for the heat shrink. I think I'll do that myself 👍🏻
How do you polar align it? Drift method? Or is there a way to park the ota such that it can be used as a polar scope?
Where did you buy the green M8 bolt on the wedge?
Got the same AZ GTI. I am using it for Astrophotography. Looks great.
I've not used the eq mode yet but was out looking at mars last night and got my first pictures of the planet
@@Astro.Q Nice! Looking forward to future videos of you.
Thank you mate 👍
@tradde11 I have seen both jupiter and Saturn I have a nice picture of jupiter but not Saturn yet but I will get it later in the year I'll be out tonight looking at the moon and Venus if it stays clear 🤞
Great idea! Wondering what focal length of your ota is as i've read to not go over 400mm. My one is 80mm ed , 560fl,your one looks similar size.
Hi there my scope is 81mm and has a focal length of 559mm with a focal ratio of f 6/9
Thanks for watching
@@Astro.Q thank you & appreciate your reply. Helped a lot!
what scope are you using ? could you list out your setup in this video ? thanks...
Hi, yes, of course, the scope is a William Optics zenithstar 81, and I'll update the description with the information you wish to see
Cheers Ryan
But how do you balance the mount
That's a good question I just balance the scope with the weight but find the balance point of the scope with everything attached and mount the scope as close as I can to that. Hope it helps
Ok thank you
so why not cut it to 35cm or even 40cm long
I just looked up the length of some bars that are available for the mount. I'm guessing is the bar is to log you have a better chance of making the whole setup unstable and may damage the motor. Cheers Ryan
You know me Ryan - I appreciate the DIY solutions! Nice one.
Yes, definitely, the platform you made is the cats' whiskers, mate 👍🏻
Simple and direct. Grwat video sir. You are using the az gti in equatorial mode correct? Thx
Thanks mate, yes I use it a lot it's great for a grab and go set up, and I do like the flexibility of the equatorial or altaz mode. I've used it for Mars jupiter and the moon. I've not really done deep sky objects yet, but I will do. Thanks for watching, and stay tuned for more videos clouds depending, lol