Another Garbage Telescope?

Would you believe this telescope was destined for the trash too?

Here's what happened, I ordered my first telescope from the Meade Outlet via Ebay, a DS-2130AT with tripod, Goto computer, ect. It got roughed up in the shipping, damage to back of mirror and such and mirrors way out of alignment. After some hassle with UPS and Meade Customer Service they sent me out a NEW replace tube, very well packed.

I asked what do I do with the old tube, ship it back? "No, you can just throw it away". What? Not me, sooner or later I knew I would figure something out.

I decided I would try to salvage it and turn it into a Dobsonian. Once I bought a collimator, I was able to get the damaged tube's alignment close to normal. Then it was time to design a base. After studying the PVC options and other things at Home Depot I finally got a design in my head.

They had a shelving unit for $13, but it took me 3 Home Depots to find it in stock. I used some PVC plugs and some other weird fitting to hold the plug. Because of the rectangular part of fitting, it helped it mount to shelving and also serves as handle. The PVC on PVC was sliding too much and rolling forward and backward a bit when position the scope at different angles for observations. Lining the holder with cut up mousepad did the trick to create enough friction and also take up some of the forward/backward slack space.

The shelving unit is particle board, so I am going to have to invest in some braces to reinforce most of it. I still have to do a rotating bases, which I'll try the LP between the wooden circles. But instead of mounting to base, I may see if I can make it detachable, but putting guide blocks for the stand to fit between.

I have put the 2" eyepiece holder onto it so I'll be able to use my Rini eyepieces for wide views. It may be only 5" mirror, but the under $25 price tag makes it an incredible setup!