customer comments

Customer Comments

DDCAP

I ordered the bracket as well as PWT's newest 2" DDCAP. I originally wanted a nice dust cover for my TOA but after speaking to Shahin, he explained the benifits of his DDCAP. The most important being that it absorbs moisture and with me living in South Florida, humididy is a real problem. After receiving my order, I took everything out of its boxes and just admired the precision machining that went into this. I don't know how much better he can make it..

Brian

I just received the DDCAP that I ordered from you last week and it is a beautiful piece of work! I can't believe that you sell something that is so beautifully machined for only $ 45.00.

Darryl

My two DDCAPs arrived today. I am very impressed! They both look wonderful and I intend to tell all my astronomer buddies about them.

Thank you for making such a thoughtful product!

Bob

Monolith Support System

I am down from the mountain and the Monolith has had it's first workout. It past with flying colors. The PWT was setup on uneven ground with a slope of 3.5 ft in 100 ft. I chose to set the feet height adjusters in the middle of their range allowing adjustment in either direction. The pier was rough leveled using the adjustment provided in the longest leg. Final adjustment was made using the aprox 1 inch foot adjustment on each leg. Using the four bubble levels a precise level was achieved. The five locking screws of the Full Index Adapter (FIA) were unlocked and turned to true North using a marine compass placed on top of the FIA cross axis. The deviation at TMSP was 19 degrees East so 341 degrees was set on the compass. This makes for a very precise alignment. The telescope equipment was placed on the PWT and using a sprit level was leveled on the horizon in two positions as done in the AP manual. With the mount set to the correct latitude the telescope's crosshairs pointed accurately to the horizon.

Now for the big surprise. At five in the afternoon with the Sun still in the sky the mount (AP1200) was unparked from position 1 and directly slewed to Arctures. The star was in the field of view! This represented about 1/2 degree error using just a magnetic compass and a level. I now proceeded to do a Tpoint analysis run in the daytime using a crosshair eyepiece without having to turn on the crosshair illumination. In just a few runs I was down to under 15 arcsecs in both axis. That accuracy was good enough to achieve
round stars with a 15 min unguided CCD exposure.

I took less time to setup the pier than it does to tell about it. The legs were extend and pier leveled in just a couple of minuets. I have never had a setup that went this fast and effortlessly. Once leveled there was nothing else that needed to be done except add equipment and enjoy astronomy.

The pier was smooth and precise. It was solid and could support any weight (500lbs) you could throw at it. I doubt that any amateur will need more weight caring capability than that. The take down was just the reverse of the setup without having to make measurements. Fold and lock three legs and you are on your way. Nothing could be more simple than that. This pier sets a new standard in design and portability as well as solid performance. Nothing out there comes close.

Features I liked:

1) the adjustable leg and feet for precise level
2) the FIA which makes polar alignment a snap.
3) the quick setup and easy storage.
4) the method of bonding material without welds.
5) solid performance and weight caring ability.
6) the unique way of storing the legs inside the tube,
7) the leg locking method.

Features I would like to see.

1) A caring case for protection.
2) static free material that would eliminate dust from collecting on the
pier. (I'm kidding Shahin)
3) A robotic arm that would set it up for you.

In other words I can't think of anything that I would change.

PWT has done a magnificent job in producing a world class pier that leaves all others in the dust.

Regards,

Andy

I took delivery of my Monolith 10"x36" with the full index adapter and Paramount color scheme on Wednesday, July 9 and am simply delighted!

I must say that the quality of the Monolith is superb and the workmanship shows great attention to detail. This tripod is a marvel of modern design and machining skill (precision machined from top to bottom). The engineering reminds me of what I saw when Ed Byers showed my dad and me around his machine shop in Barstow several years ago. Quality is not easily described but in the case of the Monolith, it’s simply amazing how much quality is there to be seen and touched.

The full index adapter plate allows you to point the mount to North without moving the tripod – very convenient. The adjustable feet allow fine adjustments to tripod height and are a nice complement to the adjustable legs that can be locked in virtually any position.

From top to bottom, the Monolith is the cat’s meow!

Clear skies.......Carl

To my surprise the Monolith arrived today and it is a sight to behold....far superior to the ....... pier in every way, shape and form!!!

Super easy to use. I have my Paramount ME on it right now with my FSQ waiting for Mars to rise and get over some trees. It's in the back yard calling me now. Just wanted to let you know; I made THE right choice!! Your product is just THAT GOOD!!

Thank you for making a wonderful product.

Dan

In this hobby, there is good equipment, there is high-quality equipment and then there is equipment that is so damn good it should qualify as art - the Monolith falls in the latter catagory.

I picked up my 42" Monolith serial number 24 from Shahin on Saturday. This unit was a standard black anodized with the full index adapter for the AP 1200 and 900 mount. The entire unit weighs about 45 pounds and is much more solid than any pier I have ever seen. BTW - I own piers by ... - they will all be up for sale in the near future.

In addition to the functional stability, which was obviously made possible by very careful design, the custom machining of almost every part is as good or better then any item I have ever purchased from any other manufacturer. The fit and finish is dead-on perfect, I know this because I was fortunate enough to be present when Shahin assembled the unit from parts. He is almost obsessive-compulsive about quality (he even lines up the slots on the push pins so they appear vertically aligned)!

Rick

QR finder bracket for Takahashi

The seeing wasn't quite perfect, however the TAK performed beautifully. It is a wonderful little scope. My Dad went up with me, he's the one I had mentioned to you that was a machinist at Aerojet (they made rocket motors, both liquid and solid fueled) for 40+ years. I pointed out to him the beautifully machined finder bracket and the desicant cap. He appreciated the beauty of your work.

Rich

It's here!!! AE just delivered it. The bracket looks just like what Takahashi should have done-very nice :-))))))

Brad

I just got back from a short 4 day holiday with some friends in the interior. Picked up the bracket you sent this afternoon. It arrived safely and I have to thank you very much. I just set it up with my scope and it looks great. I went to my first star party at Mt. Kobau and had a great time. I wish I had the bracket with me as it would have been great to show it off. Forest fires raged near by with the sky socked in during the day. Night cleared and we had great seeing. Best I've had so far..

Keith

The QR finder bracket is a top notch piece of hardware that's every bit the equal to my Takahashi OTA in terms of quality and fit and finish. You designed it the way Takahashi should have in the first place. I'm very pleased with my purchase and actually had a hard time selling my original finder bracket since I kept telling everyone who responded to my add about the QR finder bracket. I know of two guys who are placing orders.

To say the least, I'm very pleased.

Richard

SRP

I've been trying out the SRP and it's been working as advertised. Here are the last two images I took with it:

california.jpg
ic405_big.jpg

Ben

Just wanted to let you know that I have been using the Desiccant plug on my 10Xe now with great success. Being very humid here in Florida, with most nights having the water dripping from my scope. Have been using the camera numerous times since I am set up in an observatory. In fact since I have put the plug in I have not had any problems with moisture and have not changed out anything either. In fact I was at a Star Party in Chiefland Florida and figured that in the high humidity I took over 60 hours of images including the flats and darks
Still going strong

Mark