8 inch DOBSONIAN telescope FIRST MODS you should do right away

[@DobsonianPower]

I have 2 videos about the 8" Dobsonian mods. Here is the other you should watch: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p4CumKd_bZuboKM

[@andrewgutierrez8551]

Thank you for making this video and inspiring me to upgrade my AD8. I bet more people would love to see an update video. Thanks again for the great content.

[@fredflintstone8048]

Very nice upgrades and I agree with them all. If you have something like a propane torch and some used motor oil you can blue the wingnuts. put a bolt or screw through the wingnut and hold the screw with pliers . Slowly heat up the wingnut and it will turn a golden color, and then a blue. You can dunk it in oil at that point, or even water and it should maintain the color. I agree about the paint if your going to use it. The tendency might be that it will flake off in time and fall into the primary mirror. 😢😢

[@gertsy2000]

Well done ! Simple concise video on some very useful mods. It's great to see your content, presentation, editing, and production coming along. Thank you.

[@DobsonianPower]

Thanks for the motivation Gerard. Yes I'm living that process we all should go through if we want to move forward in anything. 🙂

[@Navigatorbythestars]

I love your suggestion of the foam pad for the OTA and the secondary mirror screws. Very cleaver!!

[@skyemac8]

Rare earth magnets are good for a counter weight. That padding to save collimation is a great idea. I put handles on the 8” tube to carry the stand separately. I’m clumsy and stuff happens🙂it’s a great grab and go. I’m waiting for a 12” truss or tube Dobsonian to be available locally. No stock. But you will get lots of use out of the 8” I’m sure.

[@DobsonianPower]

i use both. today was only the 12".

[@Dobviews]

Just bought my 10" Dobsonian this week cannot wait to try your tips! New sub and Thank you from Columbus, Ohio! Clear Skies!❤

[@DobsonianPower]

Welcome aboard!

[@randywarhurst8118]

You have helped me with many problems I had with my 8" Skywatcher Dobsonion

[@DobsonianPower]

I'm glad to know. Anything you meed just hint me during the live streams

[@billiondollardan]

I just ordered an 8" Orion Skyline. I can't wait to try out my first telescope. This video is quite useful

[@DobsonianPower]

Congrats! Great telescope

[@abualwaleed4154]

Thanks, I'm still waiting for my 8" dobsonian

[@DobsonianPower]

great

[@Beaver-be8vk]

Side handles are a great upgrade. I was lucky that mine came with them. Makes it easy to move around without disassembling the Ota from the mount.

[@DobsonianPower]

Yes, they are a must have

[@davidlang4442]

Man. You have to scrunch down to look through this scope. I am 6'2" tall. I made my tube to slide up higher and balanced it with springs attached to the mount and tube base. Works for me.

[@DobsonianPower]

I understand you, I'm also tall. I use an adjustable chair with it.

[@irfanrashid2114]

All the points mentioned are really important. Thanks for an excellent video.

[@DobsonianPower]

Thanks Rashid!

[@petset77]

The handles on the base are great. But putting something better than phillips head machine screws on the secondary of any Newtonian is a great idea. Some brands even have them on the primary, which is just being cheap for a few cents. These things need collimating on occasion (regular maintenance). A breathable dust cap makes sense as well. Maybe the best mod you offer is the bump stop for the tube to base contact point. Hard jolts don't do anything favors, from your head, to your car, to your scope. Thanks for the video.

[@DobsonianPower]

Thanks Steve

[@kenschmidt6522]

I use small magnets on the OTA to help balance it and hold position.

[@DobsonianPower]

And me too 👍

[@liewsc]

Nice video thanks! And may I ask if the reason to paint the "wings" black is to eliminate unwanted light reflection off the unpainted "wings"?

[@DobsonianPower]

Excellent question. Yes. We could use them without painting but it's a good practice to turn black everything inside to avoid intrusive reflections. Specially when we have street lights around like i have one that made me do all kind of stuff to avoid it. And the fact is that with my 12" dob, all those details together made an effective job. It's like looking inside a black hole which is great. I want my 8" to have the same level of quality. I will talk about that soon when i improve the top of the 8" tube as i did in my 12".

[@ajaxupgrades]

Secondary mirror edge Blacken, USB PC fan to cool Primary mirror and adding PTFE pads to the mount were extras that I found were required from standard for my 10" Dob that would probably apply to most Dobs.

[@DobsonianPower]

yeah. I've got all of that on my 12". only teflon instead of ptfe. those mods will be for another chapter 🙂👍 the edge and the tube behind the secondary flocked too. very nice

[@GarnettLeary]

Excellent upgrades. Fantastic video.

[@DobsonianPower]

Thanks Garnett!

[@antomcc121]

Great video, I've added the handles, ota protection and dust cover to my "8 dobsonian like you recommended, great tips ill change the screws next

[@DobsonianPower]

Nice! All those little things will improve your dob performance. And the compromise between you and the telescope will also improve the pleasure using it 🙂

[@GarnettLeary]

I made one modification. Well, it’s not really a mod but adding a magnetic weight to offset the camera load.

[@DobsonianPower]

yes. it's a very important upgrade too. i have it in my 12" dob. I'm waiting to get a free magnet for this 8" lol

[@nordmende73]

Thank you!

[@DobsonianPower]

You're welcome!

[@georgecollicott6310]

You can puechase inexpensive easy-to-use collimation knobs from Bob's Knobs in the U.S. Putting foam rubber on the stop at the base of the tube is a good idea but my XT8 Orion Intelliscope requires the tube to be at a true 90 degree vertical when it is against the stop. This is the first step in the align ent process.i suspect the foam rubber would interfere with alignment. Other than that, a good video. Thank you.

[@DobsonianPower]

No because the base side is fully against the tube. Only the holes are covered. And obviously the strength of the screws and the base can smash any foam, even stiffer ones. It's perfect. No light leaks. Notice that if you place any foam under the sides, where the base touch the tube, that yes, will bend the focuser position and it's great to adjust if focuser is uneven, like i did later in another video that you should watch: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bWLVnI2eo9eqd8U btw bob knob's are more expensive and do the same job as the others.

[@Vic-pz5oh]

Raci finder. Shower cap. Digital level. Water butt stand to save my back Tiago. Clear skies Vic

[@DobsonianPower]

lol. clear skies Vic. Thanks

[@BjFoley]

How long are the screws

[@ronm6585]

Thanks.

[@DobsonianPower]

👍💪

[@kaneis1370]

Did you attach the handles using the short screws that came with the handles? I’m concerned whether they can handle the weight.

[@DobsonianPower]

On both telescopes. No issues. You can use diffetent screws if ot concerns you though

[@Name-1r]

Hi Tiago do you now what size screws for the secondary mirror on the 6 inch virtuoso go to telescope? I would like to upgrade them when I get it delivered.

[@DobsonianPower]

I don't know but I'm interested to know if you change yours so i can answer when somebody asks again

[@stymebone6603]

Thank you for the tips! Subbed

[@DobsonianPower]

Hi. Thank you and welcome to the channel!

[@suwandicahyadi9213]

why do the butterfly screws need to be painted?

[@DobsonianPower]

They don't. But i want everything black to avoid any reflection at all.

[@ironmaiden5658]

I have this telescope but in the 10". What is the purpose of the measurements for the side bearings? It ranges from 0 in the middle and 10 up and down.. I have mine all the way up but I don't know if that correct, Thanks.

[@DobsonianPower]

the scale number i have no idea but the purpose is to get your telescope well balanced so the numbers are useless. Just feel the balance using the camera/eyepiece on the focuser

[@ironmaiden5658]

@@DobsonianPower Ar right. That makes total sense, Cheers.

[@mrmaxaxl]

Please make a short video on how to get comfortable viewings with these dobsonians! Unless you are a small child, your back will break in half after viewing for an hour or two! Thanks.

[@DobsonianPower]

you have to sit. Find a chair that fits your needs.

[@mrmaxaxl]

@@DobsonianPower Aha! Thank you for the tip 😊. That will add more weight though when transporting everything. My girlfriend will have to help me (she has a drivers license) to get away from the light pollution. I can't decide which to buy: an 8 inch dobsonian or an 8 inch Schmidt-Cassegrain. My first telescope. Although I do own quite a few really good spotting scopes and have some experience of observing the night sky 🌌 🪐 🌠 😍 What do you think?

[@DobsonianPower]

@@mrmaxaxl i would choose the dobsonian

[@mrmaxaxl]

@@DobsonianPower Thank you sir! Have a good day and enjoy your lovely hobby!

[@DobsonianPower]

@@mrmaxaxl you too! 👍

[@stripes7214]

Nice video !

[@DobsonianPower]

Thanks Salim!

[@BjFoley]

In Inches not metric

[@mariomedina3868]

Handy= jandy

[@fedruz9164]

though, dobsonian telescopes come collimated by factory, so i won't collimate it for now

[@DobsonianPower]

If it's collimated we don't have to do it, as you said. They should be, but due to the transport, some loose it along the way. The one in the video arrived collimated but i know that because i've checked it. My 12" dobsonian was not the case. I had to collimate it when i bought it.