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[timothy]

Hi All
I was wondering if anybody has a link to a site that has plans to build a parallelogram and tripod for my binoculars.

Thanks

[Kalvis]

Here are a few good links I have come across for parallelogram mounts. Some of them have only pictures, some also include plans with or without a tripod:

home.wanadoo.nl/jhm.vangastel/Astronomy/binocs/binocs.htm

www.gcw.org.uk/bino/binonet.htm

www.astronomydaily.com/atm/binomnt.asp

home.att.net/~dale.keller/atm/binoculars/keller/kellerbino.htm

www.astro-tom.com/projects/binocular_mount.htm

members.aol.com/scottw8088/binoc.html

Another approach to mounting binoculars is to attach them directly to a chair. Take a look at these links:

www.geocities.com/lwraif/SimP/

www.cloudynights.com/ATM/comet_couch.htm

Personally, I have contemplated all of these designs and found that the most appealing ones are beyond my craftsmanship abilities. What I constructed for myself this past summer was a hybrid of many approaches shown above. It didn't come out that great, so I guess I'll just have to keep on trying.

Good luck,

Kalvis

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Kalvis,

Thank you for your first post which is full of great information. The question was there just waiting for you to register and answer.

I haven't used the "scissors" set-up, but just utilize a tripod. The parallelogram eats up a lot of room, but it looks good and it stays where you leave it.

Now, if the skies just would clear....Nobody buy any equipment for awhile!!!

[timothy]

Kalvis
Welcome and thanks for all the links. I met a fellow astronomer/ rocketeer at church last week and found out he had a pair of 100mm binoculars that he was using hand held? So I told him I would get him plans for a paralelagram. I knew someone hear would be able to help.

[Kalvis]

A tripod link which I found very useful was this one:
www.umich.edu/~lowbrows/reflections/2003/dnelle.1.html

Used crutches, both aluminum and wood, are easy to find at thrift stores for under $10/pair.

The only modification I made was to use extra large sized hinges (such as for garden gates), about 5.5" wide, to attach the crutches to the top platform. Having the hinge pivot protrude beyond the edge of the platform allows the legs to swing up 180 degrees for easy storage.

Simple, thorough and easy-to-follow plans for using crutches to construct a parallelogram mount can be found on pages 297 through 300 in the book StarWare by Phil Harrington. I don't recall the exact edition (perhaps edition 3?), but you can find it in most lager libraries. These plans are not in the most recent edition of StarWare sold in bookstores.

Hope it finally clears up tonight!

Kalvis

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

LMAO!!!!!

I haven't laughed so much at a post since an attempted attack here on me on the Forum.

This is just too cool! It's so simple and yet practical. Of course, why didn't I think of it before? I am seriously now thinking about this set up.

So many applications. I have had a few emails stating that their wobbly tripods made their scopes useless. Other than purchasing overpriced tripods, they were out of luck.

I have wooden ones in the attic, but the metal frames are the way to go...And adjustable, as the author says. If I get anything from this forum, (which has been a lot), this would be it.

Kalvis, I owe you one. ;D