Prior customer photo of the month
 

Apertura style kit.

"I really love the mount! Easy to paint, looks perfect. Nice simple set to put together, Glued on all places I could. A couple layers of primer and light sanding made the plywood edges disappear. Then a layer of indoor outdoor black semi-gloss trim paint.

Looks factory nice as if it was always made for the AD8. Swings like butter, stops and stays great with the new bearing on it.

I’m fortunate to have the lighter base easy to handle holding with the holes. Thank you very much!"

- Michael T. 1/4/26

"Finally got the mount stained and finished. Thanks again! It's so smooth! I love how it turned out."

Jake E.

2023 - Standard Solid Mount Kit (SSMK12):

Kit mount nicely finished by happy buyer. Well done Gwinn!

2022 - Standard solid mount kit (SSMK12) manual setting circles.

"Orion XT8 in just assembled kit mount. Sanding and finishing next. It works great. Thanks Mark!"

Jerel M.

2022 - Standard solid mount kit (SSMK12):

"Got the base, its awesome. It’s awesome to have a functioning dob now! Thanks Mark."

Val P. 

2025 - Custom solid mount kit large altitude bearings

12" SkyWatcher Collapsible with bearings rebalancing the tube. Ground board kept entirely under rocker box to stop from rolling during transport.

"I finished the base. The telescope is perfectly balanced now. Thanks for all the help!"

Nick L.

2025 Custom solid mount kit large altitude bearings
Sky-Watcher Flextube 300P with offset 18" bearings to correct the factory balance. Ground board kept entirely under rocker box to prevent rolling during transport.

Chris S - at Glacier Point, Yosemite.

2025 - Custom solid mount kit large altitude bearings
Sky-Watcher Flextube 300P with offset 18" bearings to correct the factory balance. Ground board kept entirely under rocker box to prevent rolling during transport.

"I finished the base, it’s perfectly balanced. Thanks for all the help!

Nick L.

2025 - Custom solid mount Clamshell Rings and large altitude bearings finished

"Mark - I've finished assembling the mount and it's great!"

Al T. 

Robert W. 

2024 - Custom solid mount clamshell ring with large altitude bearings,

12.5" split tube with binos.

Thanks Jeffrey J!

2024 - Custom solid mount small altitude bearings integrated height stand kit

8" Orion Dobsonian: "Great work. Very stable and smooth."

Thanks. John.

2023 - Custom solid mount, clamshell rings and large bearings kit

"I just completed the solid mount with large altitude bearing for my 8 inch f6 reflector. The tube is aluminum. The mount was finished with birch edging on the exposed cut surfaces and I further countersunk the wood screws and added wood caps to hide the screw heads. I upgraded the feet using hockey pucks for better resistance to ground moisture."

Anthony S.

Three mounts, identical height and width but for three different diameter telescope tubes. This allows interchanging of of telescopes on the mounts. Ordered by school science instructor for loaning to students.

2022 - Custom solid mount with large altitude bearings kit.

Al in Florida wanted to get his 8" Orion off the tripod it came on. Here it is in the stock rings , following his fine finishing and assembly work.

Thanks Al!

2021 - Custom solid mount clamshell rings with small altitude bearings kit.

"Thanks for the excellent, high-quality base. Here it is finished and ready to dazzle viewers."

John C.

2021 - Custom solid mount clamshell rings small altitude bearings kit.

"Excellent base. Just fantastic!"

Frank C. 

2020 - Custom solid mount clamshell rings with small altitude bearings.

"Your Dobsonian mount is light years ahead of what I put together when I ditched the clunky old German Equatorial. The motion of the mount is great."

Don M.

2020 - Custom solid mount clamshell rings with large altitude bearings kit.

Ordered with Sky Commander hardware for customer installed DSC. This mount was designed to meet the buyer's seated height.

"Thanks a great mount. I did some daytime testing and the view is steady with my hand on focus or taping on tube. The height of the base is a pleasure for using the scope while seated. Looking forward to a lot of great years of use."

Jeff W. 

2020 - Custom solid mount with small altitude bearings kit.

Shipped to Germany finished.

"The mount runs very smooth and is both very light and portable. Excellent. :) I can easily carry the complete telescope because of the smaller size and holes in both sides. This is a huge step ahead compared to the stock mount. Thank you very much for your effort."

Hermann 

2020 - Custom solid mount with large altitude bearings kit.

"I finished building the mount and refinishing the telescope. Attached are a few photos. They were taken at the club's observing site yesterday. I used the scope/mount to observe about a dozen globular clusters last night. It is working very well. Your dimensions were all perfect, it all fit really well. Thanks for your effort."

Steven P.

2019 - Custom solid mount clamshell rings with small altitude bearings kit.

"I have finished the mount . It looks terrific. I particularly like the dowels and holes."

Paul B. 

2019 - Custom solid mount clamshell rings and small altitude bearings finished..

"I tested my Mak-Newt several times on the mount during the week I'm glad to report that it works fine and looks great too."

Romaine G.

2019 - Custom solid mount clamshell rings with small altitude bearings finished.

"It looks great! Can't wait to take it for a test run."

Scott C. - Takahashi MT-160.

2019 - Custom solid mount with small altitude bearings kit.


"The tube now balances nicely. There is no problem collapsing the tube with the larger, offset bearings and show how much bulkier the stock mount is."

Will S. 

2018 - Custom solid mount clamshell rings with small altitude bearings finished

"Mark's commitment to his customers is truly amazing. Thank you again for everything you did, Mark. I am truly grateful and very happy with my mount."

Patrick S.  

2017 - Custom solid mount clamshell rings with small altitude bearings kit.

The telescope is working very well. I added encoders to use with my Argo Navis. You did a very nice job on the mount as the pointing accuracy is very good. The scope is an Orion ( English) VX10L, 10" f/6.3. Thank you for all your help with this project. I am happy to recommend your products and services."

Ellis E.

2017 - Custom solid mount clamshell rings kit and small altitude bearings kit.


Ron asked for a replacement for his 10" Orion mount, and a clamshell with bearings 6" to fit the 10" mount. Two telescopes one mount!

"Stand arrived this evening. Great job! Looks super, works great. The most amazing part is that it weighs 1/1,000th the weight of the original Orion stand!! Geez!! The real reason that I wanted the mount, so I could put my 6" to good use also. I had no mount for it before, now it looks good enough to sell. BUT - I won't!!"

Ron D. 

"Hi Mark, thanks for the nice work you did. It is much lighter than the stock base."

Brian F.

2023 - Standard Apertura style collapsible mount with azimuth setting circles.

"I weighed the base you made for me and it was 23 lbs, a full 10 lbs lighter than the stock particle board OEM base!"

Darrel H.  

2018 - Standard Apertura style solid mount finished.

"Beyond functionality and weight, your mount looks great and I am happy to have in the room now. It is still a great change for this scope. It is so much lighter, and a heck of a lot nicer than the standard mounts that come with these or any similar scope.'

Douglas M. 

2025 - Apertura style collapsible mount with EZ setting circles kit
EZ Setting Circles.
Requested Eyepiece Caddy

"The AD10 stand exceeded my expectations and looks awesome. I took pictures so future customers can see the care and detail you place into your Dob stands - particularly the collapsible models. I LOVE the eyepiece stand and it fits perfectly all the big ol' 2" eyepieces."

Neely C.

2023 - Lightweight solid mount kit with large altitude bearings.

Love the base and mount! Great product! The mount from Orion was like 25+ pounds. Heavy. The lightweight mount weight 14.5 pounds.

Bethel T. 

2025 - Custom collapsible mount clamshell rings and large altitude bearings kit.

"The mount holds a fine OTA - a 6" Russian Maksutov Newtonian which is a heavy tube but the mount handles it with zero complaints. In fact, this quick-out setup that anyone in my family can use with very little training, I'll now consider an heirloom. Yes it's all that nice and I thank AstroGoods so much for the custom work in making this setup possible."

Leon Zebrick
Mandeville, Louisiana
Member Pontchartrain Astronomy Society

2025 - Custom collapsible mount clamshell rings and large altitude bearings and height stand kit.

John K set his up still unfinished mount with large bearings and stand checking fit and stability. The separate stand was designed to put eyepiece at his wife's standing eye height at zenith. Very considerate and thoughtful. John found a deal on a tube only telescope, we designed and made the mount and large bearings to fit.

Next on to fine sanding, stain and finish.

2024 - Custom collapsible mount clamshell ring with large bearings kit.

"I spoke with you several times in late 2022/early 2023 and ordered a Dob mount kit. I completed it in early 2023 and have been using it ever since! It is great!"

Murray H.  

2024 - Custom collapsible mount clamshell rings with large altitude bearings and EZ adjust setting circles finished.

"The movement is greatly improved much easier to stop on an object and keep it in the field of view with small incremental movements. Super happy with your creation!"

Marc L 

2022 - Custom collapsible mount with small altitude bearings kit

"Had first light last night. I think the mount will work well for me (see picture). The collapsing design was a major selling point."

Joe C. 

2022 - Custom collapsible mount, clamshell rings with large altitude bearings finished.

Orion SkyQuest XX12i: "The mount arrived, it’s amazing! You are a true artist and master craftsman. Everything fits like a glove and looks great. I had high expectations and this mount exceeded them.

Ian C. 

2021 - Custom collapsible mount with large altitude bearings kit.

"I finally finished up my mount. I’m very happy with it. I’m pleasantly surprised how solid the mount is…even with the collapsible nature."

Joe J. 

2021 - Custom collapsible mount and clamshell rings with large altitude bearings kit.

"I have finished my scope and I love the mount that you have made. Thank you again!"

Justin Q.

2021 - Custom collapsible mount and clamshell rings with large altitude bearings kit.

"What a beautiful job you did on this mount. Thanks for the care and precision that went into rendering this functional art object. I am impressed by the precision and intricate carpentry."

Mick B. 

2021 - Custom collapsible mount kits

"They perfectly pivot and rock so nicely. I made the mirrors but never expected that I would ever have mounts as fantastic as these! Thank you so much!"

Lou B 

2020 - Custom collapsible mount and clamshell rings with small altitude bearings kit and integrated height stand finished.

"Went together very nicely. Really can't say enough about how much thought you put into the design. Wow! Very elegant and stylish, love the legs!!"

Kevin L.

Ken L.

2019 - Custom collapsible mount and clamshell rings with small altitude bearings kit.

"Finished the scope this. Thanks for your help. My 3 granddaughters and I painted out Zodiac signs on the scope and mounted the optics this weekend. Having your mount available made the job a lot easier for me."

Mark N. 

2018 - Custom collapsible mount and clamshell rings with small altitude bearings kit.

"EXCELLENT!

Thanks, you guys do great work."

Pete M.

2016 - Custom collapsible mount with small altitude bearings kit.

"Mount works perfectly, going from zero to slightly over 90 degrees. Altitude movement is silk smooth; azimuth movement is firm and precise. Mount height and tube clearance were spot-on! There´s about one inch of clearance."

Marcelo I. - Rio, Brazil  

2024 - Height adjustment stand kit

6" Orion Starblast. "I received the stand for the Orion Starblast 6 this morning. It fits the telescope perfectly. This will enable me to sit down and operate this table top telescope. Thanks!"

Brad M. 

2024 - Integrated height adjustment stand kit

8" Orion Dobsonian: "Great work. Very stable and smooth."

Thanks. John.

2021 - Height adjustment stand kit

"Fit like a glove, firm and no wiggle. Gonna paint it black. Thanks so much, this it the perfect height for me." 

Jason H. 

2020 - Integrated eight adjustment stand finished

Built with removable tripod legs for added height (see original mount height on table).

"Went together very nicely. Really can't say enough about how much thought you put into the design. Wow.

Very elegant and stylish, love the legs!!"

Kevin L

2019 - Tripod adapted and tabletop solid mount with small altitude bearings.

"Just beautiful! That is one good looking mount. It fits the CG4 like a glove, is buttery smooth, rock solid and is the perfect height for me for viewing while standing (I’m 5’10”). I couldn't be happier. Thanks a bunch Mark, I look forward to working with you again sometime!"

Lisa W. 

2019 - SCT on a custom solid mount kit

"I thought you might be interested to know that I've now got your mount paired up with a matching equatorial platform and working well. Life is good!"

Greg L

2023 - 5" bearings upgrade kit

"I’m finally sending a photo of the Big Bearings on my DIY 10” Dob. They have made a noticeable improvement in “sticktion” which keeps the tube steady at zenith, and on target at public outreach events. (The original bearing setup was too low in friction)".

Russel H.

2023 - 5" bearings upgrade kit

Attached to 10" Discovery, making elevation more stable with improved motion.

I just finished installing the new bearing. It works great. Almost hated to paint it to match since the craftsmanship looked so nice. But this way it matches the scope and stand.

Mark L. 

2021 5" bearings upgrade kit

"Works great, and looks even better! Good product, and you're a great person to deal with. I posted this picture to CN, and mentioned that I was very pleased with the quality of the parts. Thanks for the excellent product."

Bill S. 

2019 - 12" altitude bearings Kit

"Was able to use the SkyWatcher Dob with the Big Bearings upgrade. Super smooth motions in alt. Very happy with the results."

Greg W

2024 - Clamshell rings with large altitude bearings.

"I got the 10" scope finished. Had it out last night for the first time and I'm very pleased with it. The clamshell assembly also fits my original 13" rocker box allowing me to use the Dob Driver 2 tracking system. Sweet."

Stephen S.