Organikmechanic

Hi Thorsten and thank you for your comments, they are appreciated. The lens I ended up using had a diameter of 1⅜" (35mm) with a focal length of 6" (150mm). My source book suggested a 2" (50mm) lens with about an 8" (200mm) focal length. I believe the latter lens to be easily available. I think I put some in the amazon link I provided - they are classed as 'educational lenses'All the very best from Normandie and wishing you good luck with the collimation and do get back to me if you have any problems. Clear skies, Andy

Hi, glad you liked the project. The reticle wire I ended up using is a strand from a normal domestic appliance. I checked the diameter with a micrometer and it measures just .007" I believe the real problem in this layout is that the binoculars under test had a 10X magnification and the finder scope has a 6X mag thus making the resulting image 60X larger. As I said in the Instructable, I constructed the entire apparatus from stuff in my workshop, so I kind of made do with what I had. But, you're right to suggest coming down in wire diameter would help. I could also see that adding a biconcave lens in the optical path would reduce the reticle image size so there's plenty of scope for improvement (excuse the pun).Many thanks for your comment and suggestion and best wishes from Norma...

Hi, glad you liked the project. The reticle wire I ended up using is a strand from a normal domestic appliance. I checked the diameter with a micrometer and it measures just .007" I believe the real problem in this layout is that the binoculars under test had a 10X magnification and the finder scope has a 6X mag thus making the resulting image 60X larger. As I said in the Instructable, I constructed the entire apparatus from stuff in my workshop, so I kind of made do with what I had. But, you're right to suggest coming down in wire diameter would help. I could also see that adding a biconcave lens in the optical path would reduce the reticle image size so there's plenty of scope for improvement (excuse the pun).Many thanks for your comment and suggestion and best wishes from Normandie, Andy.

Hi Brian, there are some beautiful memory boxes for sale and you are right they make great presents but actually creating them yourself, you can add those little touches that make them unique to the person who receives them. We had so much fun making this box and have a lot more in the planning stage! All the very best from Normandie, Andy

Thank you for such a great comment! These boxes make wonderful presents and are such fun to put together. Have a fantastically inventive time and all the very best from Normandie, Andy

This is a brilliantly described and undertaken project that you've done. I especially like the roof counterweight system. I'm envious of your wonderful low horizons. Dark skies and best wishes from Normandie, Andy.

Hi, yeah I think there was a certain amount of good fortune in having to only adjust the one objective. Nevertheless, it would not have been too onerous a task to have loosened the second lens in its' cell. I believe this is something that I may have to do (eventually) in order to align the optical axis with the mechanical axis of the binos. At the moment, though, I'm just enjoying using them without any discomfort. Thanks for your comment and Best Wishes from Nornandie, Andy.

Hi, that sounds like an unusual concept and I can understand why you found it so difficult to achieve both. Was this on an older pair of binoculars? Thanks for your comment I really appreciate it. The bracket I made was to fit my equatorial telescope mount and hence that is why it is a little strange-looking, but it certainly held the binos securely for collimaton. Best Wishes, Andy.

Thanks for your comment, I'm glad you enjoyed it. If you're able to look at the objective lens cell you should be able to see the locking ring that secures it (remove the dew cap first). The eccentricity is barely detectable unless you're looking for it. If you've got clean binos but they are 'out of whack' what have you got to lose? It took me quite some time to pluck up up the courage to do this to mine, but like I said they were just collecting dust. Good luck, Andy.

Hi, good point. I believe I'm right in thinking these are waterproof? If so I suppose the last thing the manufacturers would want is to have any chance of breaking the seals even when setting the collimation at the factory. It's ideal to have the screws visible for just such a task. Best wishes, Andy.

Hi there, 15 pounds is 2 weeks organic grain for all our poultry! Plus this is an old car, they don't make them for it - a big car parts firm actually wanted to give me a gas strut and then get me to film a review of it but even they couldn't find the right one for it. As for breakers yards, I really miss those take-your-own-spanner ones in the UK, here in France everything is removed, polished up and put on a shelf with a silly price tag. All the very best, Andy

Hi Lydia, You are very welcome! Love your avatar, is it Clara Bow? All the very best, Andy

HaHa! Your broomstick is a step up from my original pallet plank (you don't get splinters from a broomstick). Thanks and you are very welcome. All the best, Andy

Thanks Lydia!!!!!!