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  #21  
Old 30-09-2019, 02:39 PM
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marc4darkskies (Marcus)
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yes...with the chainsaw I believe!
3 chainsaws no less! ... but not all at once I figure it'll take me a year to clean up the mess from that blasted snow storm.

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Originally Posted by Paul Haese View Post
That's a great start Marcus. Can I suggest a modification? Perhaps put in another pier and build a roll off shed. If you have two piers you can have two systems working at the same time. Scope dome are starting to build roll off kits and that might suit you.
Well, 2 scopes would be nice but being that I'm a poor retiree I can only dream about that. I'm just hoping everything still works so I don't have to spend any money on equipment. I must say, Scope domes are some nice kit - especially now they have a door in the side panel! Maybe I'll win the lottery!
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  #22  
Old 30-09-2019, 03:17 PM
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Originally Posted by marc4darkskies View Post
Well, 2 scopes would be nice but being that I'm a poor retiree I can only dream about that. I'm just hoping everything still works so I don't have to spend any money on equipment. I must say, Scope domes are some nice kit - especially now they have a door in the side panel! Maybe I'll win the lottery!
Or you could get a loan from the bank and set up a medium sized roll off roof and host others equipment for a fee. I am working on doing something like this now too. If you do that and hire out your own equipment I am told by the accountant that purchase of equipment is then a depreciated expense. The caveat is that it is only on new equipment, not that which you already own. It can make a bit of coin and pay a bit for equipment to be bought. Only thing is you will become a real farmer. You'll need to be around quite a lot to ensure equipment is working.
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  #23  
Old 30-09-2019, 04:01 PM
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Or you could get a loan from the bank and set up a medium sized roll off roof and host others equipment for a fee. I am working on doing something like this now too. If you do that and hire out your own equipment I am told by the accountant that purchase of equipment is then a depreciated expense. The caveat is that it is only on new equipment, not that which you already own. It can make a bit of coin and pay a bit for equipment to be bought. Only thing is you will become a real farmer. You'll need to be around quite a lot to ensure equipment is working.
Not. A. Chance!! Good luck to you though mate - renting out equipment can be lucrative but the workload in having to keep everything humming and whinging users happy is more than I would want to deal with. Astronomy is my hobby and I want to keep it that way, esp as I head into my golden years.
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  #24  
Old 30-09-2019, 08:29 PM
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Well done. That is some tricky formwork .
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  #25  
Old 08-10-2019, 12:08 PM
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Deck building commenced

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Originally Posted by Sunfish View Post
Well done. That is some tricky formwork .
Thanks Ray. It's actually quite simple really!

The deck construction has begun! I'm having a local (Goulburn) deck building guy do the work. MUCH faster than doing it myself although I did tell him how I wanted it built.

Post holes laid out and dug.

All progress pics HERE
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  #26  
Old 08-10-2019, 12:46 PM
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Wow look at all the sinkholes
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  #27  
Old 08-10-2019, 04:26 PM
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Wow look at all the sinkholes
It's a holy site.
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  #28  
Old 09-10-2019, 11:43 AM
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Looking forward to your upcoming images with your big RC Marcus.

Living in a dark site would be a tremendous advantage.

Greg.
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  #29  
Old 10-10-2019, 10:27 AM
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Looking forward to your upcoming images with your big RC Marcus.

Living in a dark site would be a tremendous advantage.

Greg.
Thanks Greg. Lots of work to do before imaging starts but looking forward to seeing what a difference dark skies make. I think it will be the new year before everything is installed and working again! We'll see.
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  #30  
Old 10-10-2019, 10:30 AM
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Post holes concreted with stirrups in place. Work is moving ahead nicely. Bearers and joists next. Guessing hardwood decking will go in next week.

All progress pics HERE
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  #31  
Old 11-10-2019, 12:01 PM
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Bearers are in! Rain and hail has stopped play for a little while now.
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  #32  
Old 11-10-2019, 01:05 PM
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Looking good. So are you doing this work yourself now Marcus?

Mike
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  #33  
Old 11-10-2019, 01:25 PM
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Looking good. So are you doing this work yourself now Marcus?

Mike
Thanks Mike. No, leaving it to the professional. I decided that a 4m deck was beyond my capability in any reasonable time frame. I'm the project manager though . Weather permitting it could be done by the end of next week. He was out in the pouring rain today still working but retreated when it started to hail!
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  #34  
Old 14-10-2019, 06:18 PM
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Joists and bracing done

Joists were attached using triple grips. After checking stability it was clear that while rigidity in the N-S direction was excellent, the E-W direction was quite wobbly (as some of you might expect). The design was augmented with bracing as indicated on the diagram and included bottom-of-post to bearer braces on the E and W sides and bearer to bearer bracing in the middle section. Nogging was also added.

E-W rigidity is now excellent with no significant movement of the deck at all after a solid kickl! The builder also attached tension straps, as can be seen in the first picture, to insure that squareness is retained. This also improved rigidity.

Steps are next, then the decking boards (Merbau)

All progress pics HERE
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  #35  
Old 15-10-2019, 03:39 PM
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Steps are framed and decking boards are going on!

There will also be a "skirt" of decking boards going around to hide the bearers and joists so it will look prettier. After that some mesh to keep the rabbits and snakes out and a door for sub floor access.
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  #36  
Old 15-10-2019, 03:59 PM
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Wow, some serious engineering there...look at those steps...should take the weight of me, carrying you, carrying your telescope, easily

Me thinks this is not a $2K job like my toothpick construction was..?

Mike
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  #37  
Old 15-10-2019, 04:05 PM
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Very tidy project with some good sub floor bracing and easy shallow steps and although the post bases are not webbed , they are short and plentiful.

Are those braces and bearers h3 treated?
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  #38  
Old 15-10-2019, 04:29 PM
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Wow, some serious engineering there...look at those steps...should take the weight of me, carrying you, carrying your telescope, easily
That's for sure. It's a little over-engineered but that's what I like to do! I didn't want the deck wobbling / shaking / making a noise when the dome rotates - esp since it's relatively high off the ground. Anyway, I could park a truck on this thing!

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Me thinks this is not a $2K job like my toothpick construction was..? :lol
You thinks right. 6k on the button. Materials alone were 4.2k. And I only did it because Gail insisted!

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Very tidy project with some good sub floor bracing and easy shallow steps and although the post bases are not webbed , they are short and plentiful.

Are those braces and bearers h3 treated?
Thanks Ray! Yes, all H3. I kid you not, this thing is very solid and rigid. Essentially my design but the builder added a few ideas (of course).
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  #39  
Old 15-10-2019, 05:37 PM
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You thinks right. 6k on the button. Materials alone were 4.2k. And I only did it because Gail insisted!
By the looks of it, I think that is a good deal ...you must love Gail

Mike
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  #40  
Old 17-10-2019, 12:47 PM
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By the looks of it, I think that is a good deal ...you must love Gail

Mike
Yes I think it's a good deal too. It's a bit more than I wanted to spend mainly because of the hardwood decking boards. But it's build to last and it'll look good.

So it's nearly finished now. Should be done and dusted by Monday - the builder is off tomorrow. The deck is finished and the skirting is going on. I think it's looking pretty sweet . The stairs will also be clad with boards.
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