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[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Storing the CG-5 in a Hard Shell Golf Case

Looking around in a thrift store in Chicago's suburbs, I came across this hard shell golf case. Immediately, I thought of using it for something astronomical...maybe even the CG-5 mount/tripod. (The above shows the case from Amazon at full price.)

It had a busted top latch, but no big...and I got it for cheap...pocket change really. Bringing it home, I tried it out on the CG-5...and it fit tight. The new Dual Dovetail head was making things difficult and would have fit perfectly with the stock dovetail head. But with some mods, we can get a decent fit.

I shoved the CG-5 in the case and left it for a few weeks...with little time to work on it. But with these dreary rainy days/nights we are now experiencing, I had a few hours to work on it...

Looking like the Mark V Torpedo casket in the "Wrath of Khan", I cut off the busted top latch and prepared to replace it with a brass one...

The wood screws that were included would not do here, as there is nothing to "bite" into, so I collect the needed bolts, washers and nuts from my store room, but I had no short length ones and I cut them down with my new Ryobi cordless reciprocal saw...

The new latch looks good and works well... ;D

I place the CG-5 back into the case, it closed well and securely. But I still had the situation of the mount standing just a little too high, pushing out the top of the case - deforming it. I spade drilled three holes on the bottom of the case, just enough that the bottom of the tripod legs stick out...making room at the top...

Much better!

I do not keep the Hand Controller in the crummy and useless stock cradle holder on the tripod leg, but instead elect to keep it on the mount head via industrial Velcro. Stays put and does not bounce around.

The hard shell case has wheels, two handles and leagues ahead of the soft bag that I had planned for the CG-5...and better than what I was doing...just carrying it as it is and plopping it down while transporting it. The case does not add weight and I feel better handing the whole thing with two secure handles instead of fumbling for a proper grip on the mount head/tripod legs. I will pad the inside to help protect it from jarring. And I think I will also devise holders for the counter-weight and shaft...but that's for another free night.

If you find one of these hard shell cases in your area, I recommend getting it for your astro stuff.

[mojocvh]

"If you find one of these hard shell cases in your area"

If only.

Nice job Joe

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Installing accessory mods to the CG-5 Hard shell Case

11 June 2013

I have been happy with the performance of the CG-5. Many Astronomers have been using this mount for the past 10 years with great results. I like the hard shelled case that it lives in now, but the loose parts of the mount, Weights/shaft/Accessory tray/Sky-Fi/Anti-Vibration pads - have been banging around in a separate case - adding yet another thing to lug around...

I have planned out some mods to the case and would like to carry all of these objects in one place. There is enough room around the Mount/Tripod to fit these necessary objects. We will start out with the Counter Weight Shaft...

For the C11, I have been using Conduit Clamps, with good results. But the CG-5 shaft is a lot smaller in girth and will not do. I came across these spring grips - made to hold brooms or gardens tools. It looked like the perfect way to secure the shaft and not have the shaft rattle around...

Keeping the weight near the bottom of the case, I installed the clamps on the case lid and with slight pressure...the shaft "snapped" into place and tight...

I like it and fully functional and secure...

Looking around the workshop, I see my box of billiard balls....and figure to use one on the Toe Saver screw on the end of the shaft. Better grip - especially with gloved hand, sassy and the chance of losing it in tall grass all but eliminated....

I drill press a slightly smaller diameter recess into the 2 ball and the size looked good...

Tapping it into place, it looked good, but with a couple of final firm taps to set it...the ball slightly cracked.... ...as the recess was just a bit too small. Nearby, was the drilled out 9 ball I had intended to use on the Dec slo-mo control on the Ci700 mount. So, enlarging the recess on this one slightly larger, the Toe Saver screw fit tightly and securely within the recess with just a friction fit...

Excellent... #Yay#

Next....the accessory tray holder.....

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Installing the Accessory Tray holder inside the CG-5 Hard Shell Case

12 June 2013

Back to the remaining items to install in the Hard Shell case and we tackle the Accessory Tray for the CG-5.

What I wanted to do was to use the same knob that secures the tray to the bottom of the Tripod head - one less item to lose out in the field. I thought that this would be the easiest mod to install...but the threads on the knob are commie metric and of some unusual thread angle. Searching my hundreds of bolts of all types proved futile...and the Home Depot was useless. I eventually went to my neighborhood hardware store and after some intense searching and fitting, they found me a single bolt that fit...

..The only one they had!

I drilled a hole for the bolt in the case near the bottom of the case, not just to keep the weight near the bottom, but I like the look of the Counter Weight shaft and the Accessory Tray behind it...

I had smeared some Gorilla Glue under the outside bolt head and inside washer for a permanent secure install. The hand knob tightens it all together with no rattle. Clears the tripod legs with plenty of room and I dig it.

Onward to the next mod....

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Accessory bag for the Hard Shell Case

12 June 2013

The bulky items are installing nicely, but I also need to contend with the smaller lighter items that I need for the CG-5 - the Sky-Fi wireless remote control module primarily, but also for the Anti-vibration pads, power cord and other little things. I could keep them in the roll cart, but that's mostly for C11/Ci700 work and I won't be using the CG-5 as often...so they just would be taking up room and adding unnecessary weight. But, I would like to keep these items inside the case somehow.

I have a lot of bags - big ones, small ones, specialized ones etc... I found this multi-pocket roll out tote...and I think it will serve nicely to hold the Sky-Fi. It fit remarkably well near the top of the inside case and wouldn't bother the mount head/computer motors... but how to attach? I thought I would rivet this mod...

Several rivets hold the bag securely and the new accessory bag keeps the items on-hand and safe...

One less bag/case to lug around and still have an open pocket to fill....

Now, onward to the Counter Weight....

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Counter Weight Holder for the Hard Shell Case

12 June 2013

The most difficult mod was the Counter Weight itself. Heavy at 12 lbs, it has to be near the bottom of the case, but how to install it? I had thought of sliding a bolt from the outside and using the weight's lock down bolt to secure it, but among my bolts...nothing had the same girth dimensions needed for a proper fit. Again, Home Depot was useless and it was my local Hardware store that came up with a possible solution - since they did not have any bolts large enough/with thread down to the bolt head. I got a hunk of threaded rod that was just the right size and associated nuts/washers.

Trying the parts out in a dry fit, it just would not work. The nuts were oversized and too big - lifting the weight up against the tripod legs.... And this was just too bulky and added weight.

As shown above in the pic, I went back to the trusty conduit clamps that I use for a whole bunch of things. Laying them out and slipping a weight within its grasp...it looked like it could work well.

Drilling holes in the clamps, we have plenty of bolts in the Astro Joe warehouse to secure them down...

Ratcheting down the clamps at 5 & 7 O'Clock, the clamps hold well and the downward force of the weight will help to keep the item in place. I cover the jaws of the clamps with the soft side of Velcro...

...The weight slips in tight and it's holding well.

With the tripod/mount in place, there is enough clearance between the weight and the tripod leg to prevent any rubbing/marring...

Now, i intend to coax the CG-5 to carry the C11...which weighs in at 29 lbs - dry. I will certainly need more counter weight and contemplating installing another clamp holder inside the case to carry another 12 lb weight. There is room near the feet for this....but I just dunno.... #dunno#

But...all the items necessary for CG-5 operation are now within one rolly hard shelled case - just add a telescope!

Gonna weigh all this tonight...just out of curiosity.