Getting level quickly with a door wedge

A tripod’s levelling screws are very useful. But if you want quick results, you can also make life easy for yourself with a few wedges.

Any observer who can mount his telescope on a fixed column can be very happy. Unfortunately, every time I want to spend an evening observing I have to set up my telescope on the terrace, and level it from scratch each time. If my heavy 10-inch LX200 Classic is sitting on the tripod, the adjustment screws are not so easy to operate without the help of second person. Tighten the tripod screw, check the spirit level, correct again, holding onto the telescope all the while – this can be a lengthy process.

So when my eyes landed on a few wedge-shaped door stoppers one day, I had an idea. Why not use the wedges for fine adjustment to the tripod legs? Since then, I have set the tripod screws to a fixed height, and I no longer use them. Instead, to level the telescope, I attach it to the tripod and then push the door wedges under the tripod feet. I hold the telescope and keep an eye on the spirit level as I use my foot to push the door wedges under the tripod feet until the telescope is level. Two wedges are enough, sometimes I only need one.

When purchasing door wedges, make sure that the contact surface is not too small, otherwise the telescope could slip if you knock it in the dark. Besides, larger wedges distribute the weight of the telescope over a larger area. My wedges are 13cm × 4cm in size.

Author: Oliver Klös / License: Oculum Verlag GmbH