[Lvas] Ideas for balancing a 12" SCT?

[David Blanchette]

At 02:04 AM 3/15/2008, you wrote:
>After adding a microfocuser, flip mirror, diagonal, and binoviewer, 
>the SCT gets becomes bottom heavy on the rear cell side causing gear 
>wear. Could this possibly be balanced with velcro, arm weights, 
>rubber bands, or other common household items - or without having to 
>go out and buy or craft a heavy counterweight system?

The problem with using velcro or rubber bands is that the counter 
weight can be on the order of 2, 3, even 5 pounds, depending on what 
you have attached.  You want to keep it connected to the telescope tightly.

Something I found a while back:  Aluminum T-slot and T-nuts, at this URL:

www.leevalley.com/hardware/page.aspx?c=1&p=52400&cat=3,43576,43580

I bought a 3 foot length, cut it to size, drilled a couple of holes, 
and attached it to the bottom of my LX200.  I had to buy a couple of 
longer screws to fit the existing holes on the scope.  I put several 
T-nuts in the slot, and purchase several dive weights.  Drill a hole 
through the dive weight, use a standard 1/4 inch bolt and wingnut, 
and I can attach and adjust weights up and down the tube.

-- David