Mounting Hardware
Flexure is invisible until you see it in your stars. A dovetail that shifts a fraction of a millimetre under load, a guide scope on a soft bracket, a saddle clamping on one point instead of a face — each produces elongation that no processing corrects. David Astro carries mounting hardware items in Canada: dovetail bars and clamps, tube rings, saddles, side-by-side plates and adapter plates, in Canadian stock.
Getting this right is mostly a matter of matching standards and eliminating single points of contact. Tell us your tube diameter, mount saddle and payload and we will specify hardware that holds it rigidly.
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Baader Z(AP) Dovetail Bar Mark IV - 470mm fits C8/C9.25/C11
Length: 470mm OTA Compatibility: Celestron C8, C9.25, C11 Mount Compatibility: Zeiss / Astro Physics Standard Design: Tangent Dovetail Bar Model: ...
View full detailsCelestron 11-inch Dovetail bar - CGE
11-inch Overall Length CGE "Wide" Dovetail Standard Engineered for Celestron CGEM and CGX Mounts Provides a Rigid, Low-Flexure Connection for Imag...
View full detailsCelestron 14-inch Dovetail bar - CGE
Attaches to 14" Celestron Schmidt-Cassegrain and EdgeHD Optical Tubes CGE-style dovetail for secure mounting on compatible equatorial mounts Provi...
View full detailsCelestron 8-inch Dovetail bar - CGE
Mounts 8-inch Celestron Optical Tube Assemblies CGE (Wide) Dovetail Format Compatible with CGEM, CGEM II, CGX, and CGX-L Mounts Provides a More Ri...
View full detailsCelestron 9.25-inch Dovetail bar - CGE
Attaches 9.25" Schmidt-Cassegrain and EdgeHD OTAs Compatible with CGE and Losmandy D-style mount saddles Pre-drilled for Celestron 9.25" OTA mount...
View full detailsCelestron CGE Universal Mounting Plate
Directly fits Celestron CGE, CGE Pro, CGEM, and CGEM-DX mounts Pre-drilled with 1/4”-20, 5/16”-18, and 3/8”-16 threaded holes Accepts standard tel...
View full detailsCelestron Dovetail Accessory Bar for RASA 6"
Adds 14.2" of CG-5/Vixen style dovetail mounting space Designed specifically for the Rowe-Ackermann Schmidt Astrograph (RASA) 6 Lightweight 11.2 o...
View full detailsCelestron Dovetail Accessory Bar, RASA 8
Adds a top-side accessory rail to the Rowe-Ackermann Schmidt Astrograph 8" Accepts accessories designed for CGE or Losmandy-D style dovetail plate...
View full detailsCelestron Universal Mounting Plate - CG-5
Adapts accessories to Celestron CG-5 and Advanced VX mounts Accepts standard telescope mounting rings Provides a platform for cameras and spotting...
View full detailsCelestron Universal Piggyback Mount
Attaches a DSLR camera to your telescope's optical tube Enables long-exposure, wide-field astrophotography Uses your telescope's tracking to elimi...
View full detailsDavid Astro Finder Base
David Astro Triple Finder Base
Explore Scientific 50mm Finder Scope Rings - Standard Height
Designed for 50mm finder scopes Standard height profile at 93mm Lightweight at only 3.9oz (110.6g) Three-point adjustment thumbscrews for precise ...
View full detailsExplore Scientific 50mm Finder Scope Rings - Tall
Designed for 50mm Finderscopes Tall Profile for Comfortable Viewing Angles Quick-Release Dovetail Bracket Multi-Point Adjustment Rings Large, Glov...
View full detailsExplore Scientific 50mm Finder Scope Rings for Right Angle Finder
Designed for 50mm Aperture Finder Scopes Dual-Ring Bracket with 6 Collimation Points Quick-Release Dovetail Foot (Base Sold Separately) Large, Glo...
View full detailsExplore Scientific Camera Dovetail Plate
Adapts cameras to any standard Vixen-style saddle Multiple slotted mounting points for precise balancing Includes a standard camera mounting bolt ...
View full detailsExplore Scientific Cradle for David Levy Comet Hunter and TED152mm Telescope
Custom Fit for David Levy Comet Hunter & TED152mm Telescopes Hinged Ring Design with Oversized Thumbscrews Integrated Carry Handle with Access...
View full detailsExplore Scientific Cradle for White 127mm
Inside Diameter: 5.2" (131mm) for a precise fit Dovetail Length: 8" (203mm) for stable mounting Compatibility: Explore Scientific White 127mm T...
View full detailsExplore Scientific Finder Scope Base with Mounting Screws
Weight: 1.4oz Dimensions: 50mm L x 51mm W x 25mm H Provides a secure base for Explore Scientific finder scopes Includes mounting screws for instal...
View full detailsExplore Scientific Medium-Vixen Style Saddle Plate
Vixen-Style Mounting Profile Solid Extruded Aluminum Construction Black Anodized Finish for Durability Medium Length for Versatile Balancing Light...
View full detailsExplore Scientific T-Shaped Finder Scope Base for Essential Series with Mounting Screws
T-Shaped Finder Scope Base Designed for Explore Scientific Essential Series Telescopes Compatible with all Explore Scientific Finder Scopes Create...
View full detailsFarpoint D Series Dovetail Camera Mount
Our 7 inch long D size dovetail bar with a standard camera mount thread (1/4-20). This system lets you mount your DSLR camera and lens directly on...
View full detailsFarpoint D Series Dovetail Camera Mount Quick Release Adapter
Farpoint Dovetail Camera Mount Quick Release Adapter attaches a camera (or another accessory that uses a tripod mount) to a quick release saddle. T...
View full detailsFarpoint D Series Dovetail Plate - Celestron 9.25" SCT
Safely attach telescope optical tubes with Farpoint Dovetail Plate – Celestron 9.25 Inch SCT.Losmandy “D” size 17" dovetail plate, radius blocks, a...
View full detailsDovetail Standards and Building a Rigid Connection
Nearly all mounting hardware follows one of two dovetail standards, and mixing them without the correct clamp is the most common cause of a telescope sitting loose on an otherwise good mount.
- Vixen-style dovetail (approximately 44 mm): The lighter standard, fine for small refractors and visual loads up to a few kilograms.
- Losmandy-style dovetail (approximately 75 mm): The wider, stiffer standard used for heavier optics and imaging trains where flexure must be minimized.
- Tube rings: Sized to the tube's outer diameter and lined to protect it; rings allow rotation for framing without unbolting the optic.
- Mount saddles: The receiving clamp on the mount head. Dual-fit saddles accept both standards, and face-clamping designs grip more securely than a single point screw.
- Side-by-side plates: Carry two optical tubes on one mount with balance adjustment in both axes.
- Adapter plates: Convert between standards, add accessory mounting points, or raise a guide scope clear of an obstruction.
Why Choose David Astro for Mounting Hardware
Rigidity is cumulative. Every joint between the optic and the mount either holds or contributes to the error you spend the night chasing.
- Standard matching: We confirm your mount's saddle type and specify a dovetail that fits it fully, rather than one that seats on an edge.
- Flexure diagnosis: If your guiding shows drift that guiding corrections cannot fix, we will look at the mechanical chain with you — usually it is a guide scope bracket or an undersized dovetail.
- Tube diameter fitting: Rings are matched to actual measured outer diameter, since nominal aperture and tube diameter are not the same number.
- Authorized dealer: Genuine hardware with full manufacturer warranty, shipped from Canadian stock.
- No cross-border fees: Canadian orders ship domestically with no duties or brokerage charges.
Mounting Hardware in Canada — Frequently Asked Questions
- Vixen or Losmandy dovetail?
- Losmandy for anything above roughly 7 kg or for imaging where flexure matters. Vixen is adequate for smaller refractors and visual use, and is lighter and more common on entry-level mounts.
- Can I put a Vixen bar in a Losmandy saddle?
- Only with a dual-fit saddle or an adapter clamp. Forcing a narrow bar into a wide clamp results in point contact, which is exactly the condition that causes slipping under load.
- Why do my stars elongate only on one side of a meridian flip?
- That pattern usually indicates differential flexure rather than tracking error. Check the guide scope bracket, the dovetail seating and the focuser drawtube, in that order.
- How do I size tube rings?
- By the tube's outer diameter, not aperture. Measure the tube itself, or tell us the exact telescope model and we will confirm the correct ring size.
Chasing flexure?
Tell us your tube, mount and payload and we will specify hardware that holds it solid. Ships from Canada with expert support.