Homemade Dobsonian mount...100% Recycled.

I've always loved the stability and ease of use of a dobsonian mount....I just love em..So I decided to make one out of anything I could lay my hands on.
If you are intrested in making your own telescope mirror, take a look at this video by the late great Mr John Dobson : • Telescope Building wit...

[@scottt6407]

Hi Jason, you do great work. I've just taken up astronomy again, after many yrs not bothering. I also have a bad back, so I bought a little collapsible stool to take out, and with that, I set my scope up on the EQ mount, with the legs at their lowest. I sit on the stool, and it's a perfect height for my tripod at it's lowest height. It makes stargazing far better for me, and I can stay out longer, as I'm now seated. The stools are only about 15 quid, and collapse into a very small package. They're perfect for anyone with a bad back, you should try it. Great vid m8.

[@irfanrashid2114]

Hi Jason! Excellent work! :) The next thing you might want to try is to add manual setting circles to your dobsonian mount. For azimuth you can run a tape around the circular base and for altitude you might use a digital inclinometer or something. That might help tremendously with finding things. :) Clear Skies!

[@smalloptics753]

Hey Irfan, thank you my friend, that's a great idea...Whatever I use it would have to be recycled to keep within the theme of the build :)

[@ferdinandoesposito8088]

I commend your ingenuity, good job!

[@johnhilton9184]

Hi Jason, After watching this video I think I'll stick with my Dob !

[@book3100]

I love solutions like this. The flying dust cover, I've done that quite a few times too, 😄

[@sarahgee8956]

You’re a joy to watch and have taught us so much. My husband wants to make a dobsonian mount and your video was perfect. Also we’re gonna collimate our scope using your simple trick! Thankyou Jason. Hope your back feels better.

[@smalloptics753]

Your more than welcome. Thank you for your kind words, have fun with the build. All the best, clear skies :)

[@Harutjun]

man i would like to buy something like this i don't have the right location and tools to even make something like this, great job btw

[@pspaces]

You’re a genius, Jason! 😃 You did an awesome job!

[@smalloptics753]

Thanks Spaces...I wouldn't go as far as gemius, but I appreciate your comment friend :)

[@ianmckenney9080]

Nice one Jason, I think John Dobson will be smiling at this!!

[@smalloptics753]

Thanks Ian, I hope so buddy :)

[@TheUrbanAstronomer]

Wow, that is lovely Jason, new Dob and new Bino mount 👌

[@smalloptics753]

Thank you my friend. Yes, best of both worlds :)

[@rlmcnugsy1434]

Pretty sure when I make one it'll utilise the same design. Nice one. You and I are so similar in our attitude to bits 'n' bobs. I'm always making, improving or repairing stuff with free hoarded bits! Anyway. You added the EQ mount info as a sidenote. I think that this could make a worthwhile video in itself. It's all very well teaching us noobs how to use an EQ mount, but if they knew that their EQ mount could be used in the alt/az way I'm sure they'd use their kit more often. You said that not all can do it, but that can be explained in it. I searched for using EQ as Alt/Az and it looks like you could be the first to make that video.

[@rlmcnugsy1434]

Further to my last comment, with some (free) DIY 'botching' I did manage to make my EQ5 work in the Alt/Az way. So much easier! Of course this will change when I get myself a decent camera but for now, learning the craft - alt/az is the way, whether a Dob or 'altered' EQ mount. I'd be happy to share the info with you if you were to take on my above suggestion.

[@bushcraftandastronomer.3775]

Hey Jason that's one very nice looking DIY Dobsonian mount that kept you busy and it's amazing what you can make with stuff you could throw away as junk. A sore back is horrible and I've heard that if you sleep in a hammock that's so good for back pain! I like the colours of mount and you can sit under the night and wonder about what's really out there in space as you never know what's really out there as it's a big universe to explore. Yeah I do agree with you that these covers aren't that good at staying on as it feels flimsy and cheap. Love your binocular mount what you did and binoculars are great to explore milky way and seeing so much with them. Very enjoyable video to watch and stay safe buddy!

[@smalloptics753]

Hey Bushcraft, thank you my friend, I think I've got a old hammock somewhere, I'll have to dig it out and give it a go...Having built the dob it's so nice to sit comfortably (pain free) and enjoy the night sky :)

[@brenthann2623]

Looks great

[@AstroLaVista]

Love it! You've done a great job scouting out all the materials to make this 100% recycled! Right up my street. I thought I'd done well using some old cupboard doors and a record for my Dob base build, but I did cheat and buy the wood stain, Teflon, worktop edging strip and screws etc, you even recycled the screws and paint! lol Super impressed with this Jason :) p.s. the break for near zenith is a fab idea too! Apart from the amazing DIY I loved the slap stick fun in the video :D

[@smalloptics753]

Thanks Chris, I thought I would have to cheat at some point, but I haven't bought a thing for the build, even the edging strip for the wheels which I forgot to mention I found amongst the things to go to the tip...Couldn't belive my luck...Every box to be cleared I picked up I said...aahh that will work... And my girlfriend would say NO!!! it's all going to the tip, lol. She understood when she saw the final result :)

[@AstroLaVista]

@@smalloptics753 I hope she was sufficiently impressed :D

[@tomreid7]

Just brilliant

[@hellhoundytb]

Nice job, I'm also thinking of doing some sort of mod to my EQ mount, adding a stepper motor to make it a tracking mount, who knows :).Looking forward for the next video.

[@smalloptics753]

Thank you Sorin, That sounds like a nice little project...Good luck with it friend :)

[@avt_astro206]

Awesome Jason, thats a Really Nice Dobsonian Mount!! You have Done a Great Thing, Recycling Old Plastic into a Dobsonian mount !! I do Love The Stability of Dobsonian mounts, perhaps They are Most Stable For The price, Cheers to John Dobson. By the way; thats the Best way To Recycle Plastic, on your Astronomy Work 😄✌, perhaps I should try making one with thetmocol sheets, that's a Brilliant DIY!! Clear Skies

[@smalloptics753]

Hey D.S.H, Thank you my friend, I agree, we owe a lot to the late great Mr John Dobson.

[@gene1647]

Ingenious.

[@andrewpattie358]

Did a good job on that great idea 👍💡 my try something similar with my 76mm

[@smalloptics753]

Thank you Andrew, If the mount your telescope is on is a bit unstable then I would highly recommend building a Dob mount for it, they are fantastic for any size of reflector telescopes.

[@stay_at_home_astronaut]

Nice work.

[@smalloptics753]

Thank you dannafe :)

[@kendalsmucker4899]

Cut the circle to fit within the two trim pieces and fasten on the logo, we won't tell.

[@mikesmith9781]

Old age lol. blue peter next Well done 👍

[@smalloptics753]

Lol. Thanks Mike :)

[@alexandregay2511]

Hello Jason, that is a great idea. A couple of months ago I found my old telescope mounted on a crappy AZ mount. With this system I'm sure my kids will enjoy using it! One little question: did you try your system whithout the edging strip or the vinyl record? How was it?

[@smalloptics753]

Hello Alexandre. Yes, it's always a good idea to upgrade wobbly mounts to something more stable and there isn't much more solid than these type of mounts, and much cheaper than EQ mounts...No I didn't try it without the strips and record because I knew it wouldn't be the right type of friction, if you "were" to build one without said items, it would appear to work fine until you tested it under the stars, then you would see how difficult it would be to use. Vinyl records, vinyl edging strips and teflon pads are the perfect material to use for that just right none sticky friction that is required for a smooth action...It's what telescope builders have been using for years...Best of luck if you do decide on making your own Dobsonian mount....I advise you do..It's fun to do and you won't regret it..Take care, clear skies :)

[@alexandregay2511]

@@smalloptics753 Thanks for the advices. This is one of my "summer project". I'll take some of your ideas like the "open box" and the two little hinges to hold the telescope in place. Clear skies ;)

[@andrewpattie358]

Hello Jason have u tried putting electrical tape round the cover to make it titer so it doesn't fall out all the time?

[@smalloptics753]

Hey Andrew. No I haven't but I probably should do something like that...I'm always flicking it off on to the floor..Thanks for the tip buddy :)

[@andrewpattie358]

@@smalloptics753 just round the edge of the cover should sort that for u👍 ur welcome iv use a few of ur ideas so far! that's what this is for sharing information tips and tricks 😆👍

[@oninoyakamo]

The same thing kept happening with the dust cover for my Meade Polaris 130. I wound the edge that slips into the aperture with an oversized elastic to keep it snug

[@smalloptics753]

Hello oninoyakamo. It's so annoying isn't it when that keeps happening. I like your idea of the elastic.. What I finished up doing was a bit more drastic, I heated up the prongs that stick out around the edge of the dust cover those that "supposedly" get the grip with one of those jet lighters, the one's like a little blow torch, and bent them out more, so now it grips nice and tight. Usually this problem is a easy fix, makes you wonder why the manufacturers don't address it more, because it is a common problem.

[@oninoyakamo]

@@smalloptics753 Oh excellent! So you got it to work as it was originally intended. I am involved in product development for the items the company I work for manufactures. Subcomponent molding changes incur fees that have to be absorbed by profitability. Unfortunately, it is difficult to justify the cost to upgrade a component considered 'good enough', when the component isn't considered to drive sales, especially when part of industry-standard rebrand package as these 130mm Newtonians appear to be

[@jaeennur9858]

Did you use same felt as the felt used in bottom of the chess pieces?

[@smalloptics753]

Hello Jaeen, It's similar, just a little thicker that's all, It's what you put on the bottom of furniture. 'They usually come in a pack of driffrent sizes and are self adhesive. Teflon pads are the usual material to use, but in my case the felt pads work fine. if you do a quick search for "floor proctectors for furniture" you will see what they look like.Take care, clear skies :)

[@jaeennur9858]

@@smalloptics753 Thanks man....btw did you try svbony 68° and 66° eyepiece.. What is your opinion on those eyepieces...66° seems like clone of orion expense series.

[@wittyboy64]

Is it okay to put a 6inches dobsonian telescope in a tripod? The tripod's load capacity is 15kg

[@smalloptics753]

Hello Witty.. I would go out on a limb and say yes.. As long as the tripod has the right fixings on it to mount the telescope you should be fine.. :)

[@wittyboy64]

@@smalloptics753 thanks for your immediate response sir! Been your subscriber since I start Astrophotography and you really help me a lot