The Mettler wedge we looked at yesterday was acquired for our permanent pier project, scheduled for this Summer. Until we get the pier constructed, we will use the wedge with the giant field tripod of the LX200 GPS scope.

Setting up the Mettler wedge on the LX200 tripod required us to undo a modification we had installed a while back. The Peterson Mounting Assistant (PMA) is a plate which made it easier for one person to put the scope onto the tripod. We had to take off the PMA as it would interfere with the wedge. The previous owner of the wedge had used it with his 10" LX200, so everything was already properly set. We checked it anyway :-)

We would NOT recommend trying to put the scope on the wedge when the wedge is already on the tripod, as the height and angle make it all very awkward.  Instead, place the wedge on the floor, attach one of the mounting screws to the bottom of the scope, and with the assistance of your intern, position the scope on the angled platform of the wedge.

Once we got the scope on the wedge, we secured it with the side screws and the center bolt. Note that the scope is top heavy and can still tip over sideways. The entire setup is pretty hefty and definitely a two-person lifting operation. Actually, two people to lift and one to align the tripod underneath would be ideal. A "grab-and-go" piece of equipment this is not.

The incentive is definitely there for us to get a permanent pier in place, as none of us relish the thought of lugging this puppy around every time there are good conditions for astrophotography. [Permalink] -Mettler Wedge Setup