| Project by TheCaver | posted 377 days ago | 630 views | 2 times favorited | 7 comments | ![]() |
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I needed a nice, steady tripod to hold a 4 bar binocular mount for astronomy purposes so I built this.
Its made from quartersawn cherry for the main legs and tray arms, paduk for the leg guides and tray sides, walnut for the main rotating mount, and oak ply for the tray base.
I made some aluminum plates with a hole in the middle so that the legs are adjustable, which I should really replace with brass. The mount is made from (3) 6/4 walnut blocks joined at 60 degree angles, as are the cherry tray support arms. I also made a swivel mount from some 3/4” baltic birch.
This was pretty easy to build and is very sturdy.
If anyone wants some pics of the actual mount or anything, just let me know….
JC
-- Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known. -Carl Sagan






























7 comments so far
MsDebbieP
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14156 posts in 1054 days
posted 377 days ago
that’s GORGEOUS.
looks really sturdy as well :)
Beautiful colours
-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
Bill Akins
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236 posts in 592 days
posted 376 days ago
That is awesome. Did you have a plan or build it on the fly? That makes me want to build a wooden one and chunk the cheap tripod that came with my telescope.
-- Bill from Lithia Springs, GA I love the smell of sawdust in the morning.
Topapilot
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123 posts in 734 days
posted 376 days ago
Hey JC,
I’d love to see the whole setup with binoculars if you’ve got a picture.
Thanks,
Robb
Dan Lyke
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607 posts in 1019 days
posted 376 days ago
Yeah, I’d love to see a big overview shot with binocs mounted too! I’ve got a friend who’s into astronomy, recently bought a new house and is in the process of sinking a pier so that he can have easy alignment. He’s got a bunch of really beautiful machined metal hardware, but your tripod is a lot prettier.
And I don’t think I can quite see from the pictures, what’s your locking mechanism on the leg extension?
-- Dan Lyke, Petaluma California, http://www.flutterby.net/User:DanLyke
TheCaver
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292 posts in 733 days
posted 376 days ago
Got very busy tonight, please bear with me on the extra photos, I should get to them tomorrow night.
I had no plans, just winged it, and after looking at it, the tripod deserves better hardware :)
I’ll get those pics posted as soon as I can….Thanks for the kind words….
JC
-- Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known. -Carl Sagan
APLJaK
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47 posts in 261 days
posted 180 days ago
Hi JC
I would be very interested in seeing more pictures, especially of how you are locking your legs.
-- APLJaK Woodworking, Okanagan Valley, BC
a1Jim
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16770 posts in 471 days
posted 180 days ago
Hey JC
good looking tri pod I like the contrast of woods
-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon