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Here's a binocular mount I made for my 11x80 and 20x80 binos, inspired by an article in Phil Harrington's excellent book "Star Ware" (first edition), in "The Homemade Astronomer" chapter. His is made of aluminum, but mine's made of scrap oak and plywood instead. It was almost too easy to build, and works wonderfully!
Here's another binocular mount, this one inspired by Tom Clark in Amateur Astronomy magazine #22, which sports traditional Dobsonian-style Teflon-on-laminate bearings and motions. Amusingly enough, my example of this type of bino-mount is detailed in Phil Harrington's new Third Edition "Star Ware"
Each of the two types of bino-mounts shown here have their strengths and weaknesses; the
parallelogram type can be raised or lowered without disrupting the aim, making
it the better choice for public star parties and other shared viewing. It also
requires a smaller 'footprint' from the tripod it is mounted on. But it isn't
nearly as rock solid as the Clark mount. The Clark mount requires a hi-boy
tripod with the much greater spread of the tripod feet, and cranking the
vertical center post to obtain the correct height of the oculars. But oh boy, is
it ever smooth and solid!
Email Kurt Maurer at: NGC704@aol.com