Your link to your photo page at http://www.astronomy.net/forums/atm/messages/29.shtml doesn't work. Could you send me where I can find the photos or information on homemade mounts for my telescope.

Dan Kimball Kimball@ocsnet.net : : Back in '75, I made a 6" reflector telescope as part : : of our telescope making shop class in high school (neat, eh?). : : Unfortunately, the tripod we made consisted of steel : : pipes and was totally useless because it never stayed : : in place. Needless to say, it wasn't used much.

: : Now, at long last, I'm getting my telescope from my : : parents house and I'm hoping to set it up for my own : : kids to use. I have looked high and low for a way to : : mount my telescope on a decent tripod, but I can't find : : a manufacturer that sells tripods without a telescope. : : I can't use a heavy duty camera tripod because the : : telescope is just too heavy for it.

: : Also, I'm not even sure how I can mount the telescope. : : Originally, it was attached to a U-shaped wood piece, : : which held a length of pipe.

: : Anyhow, please, PLEASE, if you have any ideas, email : : me asap.

: : Thanks in advance! : : Rich Cacace (rcacace@rocketmail.com)

: Rich, : I started building telescopes about the same time you : did, along with my brother. Things have come a very : long way in 20 years. The preferred method of mounting : a telescope like yours nowadays is the dobsonian mount, : as mentioned by the previous posting. I would URGE you : to take a look at this clever simple mount.

: You can check out some examples of them on our photo : page, and there are lots of resources here on the net : to help you make your own. It's simple, inexpensive, : and very stable and easy to use.

: Good luck!