A while back the subject of the terrible positions the EP of an equatorialy mounted newt can get in.

I finally remembered who had originally come up with this idea and found the instructions. They're very simple, everyone who has used them says they work really well. Like all ATM projects, almost everyone can find ways to modify an idea for a particular application.

So, here are the basic Wilcox Rings.

http://www.andysshotglass.com/wilcox_rotating_rings.html

Of all the homebuilt rings I've seen, these are the best idea. 

I did some thing similar by buying an extra set of tube rings. You counter sink the screws at the ring hinges and mount them so the flush sides of the inner and outer rings are together. Get some sticky side felt pads to place between the two rings as bearing surfaces. Cut the felt pads to the thickness of the outer ring and stick them to the outer rings. You then flush the outer rings up to the inner rings and tighten the outer rings. loosen the inner rings until you are satisfied with the rotation smoothness. I did that mod to my 10" for about $50. I also made a handle out of 1" diameter oak dowel and painted it. The handle stops any flexing between the front and rear inner rings. Also made some handles for the outer rings to make rotation easier. Here is a image of the double ring set up. I feel it looks quite professional and not "cobbled". Normally the eyepiece in this image would have been pointing at the ground!

Yea John , I've seen the Wilcox deal on andys and it has more than sparked a few ideas , including what JJ is talking about . So I'm still tossin' it all around , but both are really good ideas . Thanks for the response!........Dave

I've used a few newts that had no means of rotating the focuser into a decent position, enough to get a person to take up another pursuit.

There are dozens of ideas for simple rotators around. Eric Wilcox's idea is one of the best to show up lately and quick and painless to make.

I have a rotating UTA carrying the focuser on my truss design, so I don't have to rotate the entire tube.

One night of using a scope that I had to do gymnastics to get to the focuser and I'd be building something. 

I documented my picture above to help others see how easy this set up is. It adds about 5 lbs to a 10" scope. 

Yours is another nice and simple solution. I'm surprised it ended up at 5 pounds of weight.

I think most people think it's a terribly complicated operation for some reason. 

 Johnm

The tube rings for a 10" are about 2lbs each and the handles probably added another 1/2 lb. For smaller telescope the weight would be much less.