The Astro-Tech 114mm are split hinged rings machined from solid aluminum and anodized black. The interior is felt-lined with white felt to help protect the finish of your scope. The felt lets you rotate the optical tube smoothly without scratching the finish, and it grips enough to hold the tube in place once you tighten the knob. That knob is oversized for a reason: you can lock and unlock it with cold hands, with gloves on, in the dark. A heavy nylon washer sits under the knob head to prevent it from marring the anodized surface. Small detail, but you'll appreciate it the first time you adjust the rings at 2 AM.
Each ring has five 6mm metric threaded mounting holes on the bottom for attaching to a dovetail plate. One hole is centered in the flat mounting boss; it's flanked by a pair on 40mm centers and a second pair on 60mm centers. That five-hole pattern matches most equatorial mount dovetail plates and gives you flexibility if your plate has non-standard hole spacing. An identical set of five holes on the top of each ring lets you bolt on a second dovetail plate for mounting accessories — a guidescope, a finder, a camera piggyback plate.
What's Included
- Astro-Tech 114mm I.D. tube rings (pair of 2)
- Hand-tighten locking knob with nylon washer (installed on each ring)
Features
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Solid aluminum construction, anodized black. These are machined from billet aluminum, not stamped sheet metal. The anodized finish resists corrosion and won't chip or flake the way painted rings do after a few seasons outdoors.
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Felt-lined interior. Protects the telescope tube from scratches during mounting and tube rotation. The felt provides just enough friction to hold the tube in position once the knob is tightened, while allowing smooth rotation when the knob is loosened.
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Split hinged design. Open the ring, drop the tube in, close it, tighten the knob. No need to slide the tube through a solid ring from the end — the hinge makes mounting and removing the tube a one-person job.
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Oversized hand-tighten knob with nylon washer. Easy to operate with gloves in cold weather. The nylon washer distributes pressure and prevents the knob from digging into the anodized finish of the ring.
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Five 6mm metric threaded holes — top and bottom. The bottom holes attach to your dovetail plate with a flexible three-spacing pattern (centered, 40mm, 60mm). The top holes let you mount a second plate for accessories like a guidescope or finderscope bracket.
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114mm internal diameter. Sized for refractors and small apos with 114mm OD tubes: AT90EDT, AT111EDT, Takahashi TSA-102, FS-102, original FSQ-106, William Optics FL-105, ZenithStar 110, and others.
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14.4 oz each. Substantial enough to hold a refractor securely without adding unnecessary weight to the mount.
Practical Tip
When you set up your rings, position them as far apart on the dovetail plate as the tube allows — wider spacing means more stability and less flexure. If you're imaging, that rigidity matters: even a small amount of ring flex at the tube translates to star trails in a long exposure. And before your first session, loosen the knobs, rotate the tube until the focuser is in a comfortable position for your usual targets, then re-tighten. You'll save yourself ten minutes of fumbling in the dark.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my telescope fits 114mm rings?
Measure the outside diameter of the tube — not the aperture (the lens), but the tube itself. If it measures approximately 114mm (about 4.5 inches) across the outside, these rings will fit. The product page lists compatible models including the AT90EDT, AT111EDT, Takahashi TSA-102, FS-102, original FSQ-106, William Optics FL-105, and ZenithStar 110.
Do these come with mounting bolts for a dovetail plate?
No. The rings include the locking knobs and nylon washers, but the bolts that attach the rings to your dovetail plate are not included. You'll need 6mm metric bolts sized for your specific plate thickness. Most dovetail plates ship with their own mounting hardware.
Can I mount a guidescope or finder on top of these rings?
Yes. Each ring has five 6mm threaded holes on top — the same pattern as the bottom. You can bolt a short dovetail plate, a guidescope mounting bracket, or a finderscope shoe to the top of either ring.
Are these rings the same ones that come with Astro-Tech refractors?
They are the same style. If your scope came with rings and you want a second set — for a different dovetail plate, a permanent pier setup, or a backup pair — these are the ones.
Optional Accessories
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Astro-Tech 9" Vixen Universal Dovetail Plate: A standard-width Vixen dovetail plate that bolts directly to the bottom mounting holes. Works with any Vixen-style saddle on your mount head.
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Astro-Tech 13" Losmandy-Style "D-Plate" Universal Dovetail Plate: Wider and longer than a Vixen plate — use this for heavier setups or mounts with Losmandy-style saddles. The extra length lets you space the rings farther apart for more stability.
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Astro-Tech Handle Kit for Refractors: Bolts to the top holes on the rings and gives you a carrying handle with a built-in mini Vixen saddle for a small finderscope or guidescope.
Final Thoughts
Tube rings are not the thing that gets you excited about a new setup. Nobody posts about them on the forums. But they're what holds your optics to your mount, and if they flex, slip, or scratch your tube, you notice every time. The AT 114mm rings are solid aluminum, felt-lined, well-machined, and designed with enough mounting holes to handle any dovetail configuration you're likely to encounter. If you're replacing stock rings that frustrated you, or building up a new setup from parts, these are the rings that disappear once you install them — you set them, forget them, and go back to looking at the sky.
