Dob stage 1 complete (there is hope for us all)

From working with wood myself, and putting the weight etc of your project, I'd go for 1" thick marine plywood. It is pricey but will not warp and last for years with one treatment.

Seanie

I used a single sheet of 20mm MDF and don't forsee any problems with it. I don't think thered be a problem with marine ply either.

Trevor,

I used a single piece of 3/4" WPB plywood for each side. I do not see the point in using two pieces (as in Picture except that it would allow you to alter the height or the bearing diameters without having to remake the box.

One piece is always lighter, more accurate and will be more rigid than two joined pieces as shown.

Use at least 3/4" Marine grade ply for the mount

A sheet of real Marine ply will cost you as much as what you will have spent on the 'scope so far, and be very difficult to source! WPB is what most people incorrectly call marine ply and is waterproof and stable. You will however come accross the occasional internal void at times in WPB and the outer wood is not as pretty as Marine ply.

I used a single sheet of 20mm MDF and don't forsee any problems with it

MDF is ok, specially if you use the Bathroom grade that is more moisture resistant and protect it well.


Michael

Have finished the mount with .75" wpp. I made the sides 3ft tall and 16" wide. There was however a slight problem with this, in that initally the top back part of the sides were not as stable as I would have liked. One well placed piece of wood(acting as wedge) seems to have solved the problem though.

The lesson learned is that a 3FT tall and 16" side may be a little over ambitious, but I think I just about got away with it. If I was starting again, I would keep the sides to some where in the region of 12", for more stability, and probably keep height of sides under the 3ft.

I dont know why I opted for 16" sides in the first place, I guess I thought it would lend stability. One plus side is that with the 3FT sides, the eyepiece should just about be at my eye level when the scope is pointed at the zenith.

I am just waiting to get my side bearnings, and I should be able to finsh the Project. I promise I will post some pictures, as soon as It is complete.