New homemade launch pad

[Rigel]

Re-entering this hobby, I was a bit disappointed in available launch pads.

Being an amateur astronomer with tripods all over the house I rigged this up.

It will accept any size rods, easy to level and adjustable height

 

[BEC]

Yeah, when you have a nice tripod like that available, you can make a very useful no-kneeling-required pad.

 

[Sandy H.]

Re-entering this hobby, I was a bit disappointed in available launch pads.

Being an amateur astronomer with tripods all over the house I rigged this up.

It will accept any size rods, easy to level and adjustable height

My only recommendation would be a larger blast deflector to minimize the amount of stuff getting on the aluminum. BP or APCP residue on aluminum can make things get pretty corroded and a bigger blast plate is at least a bit of insurance to keep your nice stuff nice for longer.

Sandy.

 

[Rigel]

My only recommendation would be a larger blast deflector to minimize the amount of stuff getting on the aluminum. BP or APCP residue on aluminum can make things get pretty corroded and a bigger blast plate is at least a bit of insurance to keep your nice stuff nice for longer.

Sandy.

Good idea, that's an easy upgrade

 

[Hobie1dog]

Good idea, that's an easy upgrade

A cooking lid from Goodwill with the single knob removed works great.

 

[Rigel]

A cooking lid from Goodwill with the single knob removed works great.

Oh that's a real good idea, Wifey won't even miss one, Not.

So off to Goodwill

 

[Grant_Edwards]

My only recommendation would be a larger blast deflector

I like ceramic tiles. They don't short out the clips when they drop during launch. Don't breath the dust when you're drilling holes in them...

 

[tooth]

never heard that tip about using a ceramic tile - awesome idea!

 

[shockie]

Got a brand/model name for that tripod?

 

[Handeman]

I like ceramic tiles. They don't short out the clips when they drop during launch. Don't breath the dust when you're drilling holes in them...

I like them too but found they work better when glued to a plywood backing. They tend to last a lot longer that way. Still can't beat a sheet of SST though.

 

[carlsonmjc]

Looks like an early Celestron CG 4 type tripod. Just remember to get a good Polar alignment before launch.

Mark C

 

[Hobie1dog]

I ordered a keyless drill chuck off of eBay that has a 3/8 - 24 female thread in it and got a proper bolt and converted my new tripod over so that I could put any size rod in it very quickly.