Building a Dobsonian Base For An Old Telescope

In a previous video I fixed up an old telescope, but I didn't have a very good tripod or base for it. Rather than try to re-create the missing equatorial mount this is supposed to have, I built a simple Azimuth / Elevation base or Dobsonian mount.
This simple and relatively straightforward telescope base lets me quickly aim at planets, the moon, etc. I was even able to get some recognizable shots of Saturn and Jupiter this time! (I'm hoping to upgrade my photography / video options with the telescope in the near future).
The telescope OTA (Optical Tube Assembly) is a 1960s Criterion, 6" reflector with some upgrades and modifications done by a previous owner. My video of repairing and initially testing it can be found here: • Refurbishing 1960s Tel...
I based my Dobsonian mount roughly on the one shown in the December 2019 issue of Sky & Telescope magazine (pg 72).
Another version (that's simpler in some ways) can be found here: 10minuteastronomy.wordpress.c...
A slightly fancier version of this mount can be found here: www.skyatnightmagazine.com/ad...
Saveitforparts t-shirts and other merch at my-store-b88bcf.creator-sprin...
Join this channel to get access to perks:
/ @saveitforparts
Or support me via Patreon at / saveitforparts

[@marcusmotta2666]

Congratulations, a Very good assembly...Motta

[@mattparker9726]

YAY! More telescope stuff!!!

[@tekvax01]

nicely done with the dob mount!

[@zedbear1]

I wondered how you achieved these images! Yeah I'd mount the handy cam on too.
The black bracket that was mounted on the scope is part of the Criterion camera mount. I've only seen pics and drawings but it looks like rods came from the brackets you have, up to a platform to mount the camera. If you can recreate that, you'll have a cam mount which you can remove your cam and reattach quickly.
Sure wish I lived close to you, your parts bin is insane! Z

[@lornaz1975]

You should check to see if the mirror needs recoating. To do this just shine a strong flashlight from the back of the mirror and see if the light shines through the mirror. If it does you will need to have it recoated. There are companies who can do this.

[@NeilVickers]

Hey, you caught Jupiter's Great Red Spot!

[@northeden8661]

Very cool. Great job.

[@abraham4124]

Inspiring!

[@joshuabessire9169]

I shined a flashlight through an airgun scope backwards, it put crosshairs on the ceiling. Maybe make a bat signal?

[@manameisjack6409]

Great work! Did you manage to get the finder scope aligned? Looking forward to more telescope content.

[@saveitforparts]

It's aligned-ish, still not perfect.

[@manameisjack6409]

@@saveitforparts would be cool to see if you can make some sort of observatory at sand land

[@henrysara7716]

Love it, but please use a fence in your table saw.

[@saveitforparts]

It has a fence, do you mean the guard thingy for the blade? Those broke almost immediately on the last two saws I got. I assume they're only included to meet OSHA regs and are secretly made to be disposable.

[@henrysara7716]

I meant a fence paralell to saw blade (to rip thin cuts) also make yourself a miter saw (90° to the blade).

[@tbarnes36]

@saveitforparts maybe at least stabilize that table saw before use.

[@cobraspottedwolf8791]

Sand land telescope video please

[@saveitforparts]

It's in progress!

[@mattparker9726]

please set up an old PC with some big HDDs and record the moon 24/7. It's very interesting.

[@saveitforparts]

Something like that would be fun, I'd just have to get a better tracking mount.

[@cobraspottedwolf8791]

Um wow

[@peterhendry2154]

Bicycle frame equatorial mount?

[@robertohoward1831]

Hello , I need building dimensions, for dobsonia mount, for a 6" scope I'm trying to build it but I'm lost can you help me with the project please thanks 😢

[@saveitforparts]

I somewhat followed the Sky & Telescope article I mentioned in the description, you can find it here: www2.arnes.si/~ucotar/astro/Sky&Telescope/2019/aas_st_201912.pdf#page=74

[@robertohoward1831]

@@saveitforparts hello , thank you very much 😊 I try my best to build it thanks for reply take care later

[@TCAMERAMANEDITS]

Bro How many inches is your black telescope

[@saveitforparts]

I think that's a 4" maybe? I'm actually thinking of getting rid of that, if you live in the Twin Cities area do you want it? :-D

[@TCAMERAMANEDITS]

How many inches is the telescope you repaired?

[@saveitforparts]

The white one is a 6" model.

[@TCAMERAMANEDITS]

T

[@cobraspottedwolf8791]

2 in the morning got a fat burger

[@saveitforparts]

Is that like a fatberg? :-O

[@cobraspottedwolf8791]

@@saveitforparts it's from ice cube today was a good day