The Finder
Making a 4.25 Inch Dobsonian
Reflector Telescope
The last item I built for this scope
was a finder. Part of my goal was to
build something removable so that it could be used on another larger scope,
should I choose to build one. The
optics were purchased from Surplus Shed. They consisted of a 2 inch objective, a
right angle mirror and another .965 eyepiece. In order to give the eyepiece a
cross hair, I glued two cat wiskers across the lens. Trial and error got it in the right place.
The housing was made from flat black
plastic that was cut on a laser cutter, and then glued together. In order to make it adjustable in two
dimensions, I glued the housing to a small piece of wood, which was attached to
a hinge. The hinge in turn was
attached to another thin piece of wood.
This piece was attached to a mounting block but allowed to swivel from
side to side. The pictures might
explain this better.
Bottom View
Top View
Hinge Opened
The
mounting block was mounted on top of the rocker box and set in place by two
short dowel rods.
Finally,
a small bungee cord is used to secure the finder in place.