My long time personal dream project.

[Mark Wagner]

I have a nice 10" f/5.7 collapsible Dob that's always been a top performer, great mirror by the late Bob Royce, almost gave me the mirror in the 90's.  I built my first home-made mount for it, also collapsible (I know some folks here have seen it and looked thru it), and have used it that way for 25 years+.   The mount was initially good enough that I was ok/happy with it, but I've had a few years practice now.

So, I built a mount with clamshell rings and 18" alt bearings for someone who decided, last minute, to not take it.  Then the other day I thought, wait a minute!  Typical busman's holiday, making for others but never myself, it dawned on me my scope might fit.

S-can the clamshell, a little this and that to fit it, and voila - new mount for me!  Yes, me (about time)!

This moves like butta, stops on a dime, balances solid with all my eyepieces.  And it has OS alt and az setting circles (az is rotatable) with leveling feet.  I'll be able to find S in the backyard easily now!

Now to sand the new parts (alt circle), finish and enjoy.

Can't say enough how pleased I am, this whole thing came as a surprise!  Here's a few pics from testing it in the garage this morning.  ATM is just so fun!  Goodbye 9" bearings!

 

[Vishal Kasliwal]

Looks fantastic!!!!

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[Richard Ozer]

Very nice.

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[Mark Wagner]

Now adapted to my Equatorial Platforms Compact, so I have not only the setting circles, but tracking too.  The Teflon pads were in closer to the center bolt previously to accommodate the square ground board of the old 10" mount.  Now they are better positioned for my 18" while serving as stops to contain and center the new 10" ground board.

The setting circles are old school manual, which I prefer - the battery is guaranteed to only fail once.  I'll use them for backyard observing to help defeat the ambient sky brightness and neighbor lighting glare.  18" config is for star hopping.

Hope to try this all tonight, then do the finish.

I think all my gear looks appropriately like it's been modified/fidgeted with.  Lots.  It's so nice being able to problem solve and improve gear.

[Jacob Ellwood]

That looks great! I want one!

Also, what EQ platform is that?

-Jake

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[Mark Wagner]

Hi Jacob,

Tom Osypowski platform bought 25 years ago.  Great for anything high magnification.  Tightest double stars (backyard), fine detail in planetaries, threshold targets that require study and patience in a smaller field.

[Aris Pope]

Very cool, Mark!

Aris

On Tue, Jun 2, 2026, 10:40 AM Mark Wagner <itsmar...@gmail.com> wrote:

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