How I lug around my CGEM mount

I don’t have an observatory so I have to lug my set-up outside and back into the house every time I use it. The mount is the heaviest part so I created some wooden accessories to make this exercise a little less painful.

Here I have placed the CGEM mount on a wooden platform and attached a wooden carrying handle. I normally store the mount on the tripod when I am not using it. To move it I will attach the handle and place the wooden platform where I know I will need to set down the mount.

The platform is made from 3/4″ plywood. The center hole is slightly larger than the post that sticks out on the bottom of the CGEM. I in-set four 3/8″ dowels to stop the bottom of the mount from resting on the platform. At one point I thought I might grease the underside of the mount and I thought that the dowels would stop any grease from transferring to the platform. I never added grease so now I would just drill the center hole clean thru and forget about the wood dowels. I also think I would make it about a inch higher. The counterbalance rod just clears the floor right now.

The wooden handle is made from hard maple. The angle surfaces on the sides of the handle match the angles on the Mount’s telescope mounting platform. The small wooden block stops the handle from being able to slip off. The handle is held together using drywall screws.

The handle is very strong and secure when I am using it. I have one hand on the handle and the other is on the counterbalance rod. If I have to open a door I can hold the mount by only the handle.

Works great!

Peter