magnilux - Astronomy Technology Today

THE “HOME DEPOT” SCOPE
Image 2
Easy-to-attach wheelbarrow handles for added for easier mobility.
Design and Construction
The design is that of a basic Dobsonian
with 24-inch and 12-inch lengths of
12-inch diameter cardboard concreteform
tubing (Sonotube equivalent) held
together by three aluminum shower-curtain
rods. A solid tube would probably
have been almost as light, but the design
I opted for provided a nice handle and
places to attach altitude bearings and a
movable counterweight/battery box. No
pictures were taken during construction,
but all major parts of the telescope can be
seen in the accompanying photos (Images
1a-1c). I'll explain a few aspects of the assembly
which aren’t as obvious.
I began by drawing templates for the
1/2-inch plywood tube end-rings, cutting
out the rings with my hand-held saber
saw, and attaching them to the ends of the
tube sections. I used a few small nails
rather than glue for this process, because I
wanted epoxy resin (applied after final assembly)
to be able to flow into spaces between
the wood and the cardboard – it’s a
64 Astronomy TECHNOLOGY TODAY