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  #41  
Old 21-10-2019, 06:33 PM
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marc4darkskies (Marcus)
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Stage 2 completed!

The deck is finished - a two week build. Very pleased with how it turned out! I'll be leaving it and rinsing with water every few days for a couple of weeks before I apply decking oil. Apparently, Merbau leeches tannins and oils and darkens in sunlight and it's best to wait until that process completes before applying oil. I'll only be oiling outside the observatory walls too so I'll erect the observatory first. I did think of painting it but it looks way too pretty to paint!

Gene, the builder (Lomaco Constructions in Goulburn), did a great job IMO! He went out of his way to satisfy my design and rigidity requirements and his attention to detail was excellent!

All progress pics HERE
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Last edited by marc4darkskies; 21-10-2019 at 09:48 PM.
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  #42  
Old 22-10-2019, 07:26 AM
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marc4darkskies (Marcus)
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Stage 3 begins

Reassembling the 2.3m Sirius observatory. Dome halves are back together.

It was dirty before I stored it in the barn for 2 years. Now it's filthy! First I'll be pressure washing and giving it a thorough once over with a good car wash. Then I'll use a mild cutting compound followed by a polish and a ceramic wax coating.

There's lichen growing in places too. This grew while it was in use in Sydney.

I'll get it clean but it won't be a glossy as-new finish again.
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  #43  
Old 22-10-2019, 11:35 AM
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strongmanmike (Michael)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by marc4darkskies View Post
The deck is finished - a two week build. Very pleased with how it turned out! I'll be leaving it and rinsing with water every few days for a couple of weeks before I apply decking oil. Apparently, Merbau leeches tannins and oils and darkens in sunlight and it's best to wait until that process completes before applying oil. I'll only be oiling outside the observatory walls too so I'll erect the observatory first. I did think of painting it but it looks way too pretty to paint!

Gene, the builder (Lomaco Constructions in Goulburn), did a great job IMO! He went out of his way to satisfy my design and rigidity requirements and his attention to detail was excellent!

All progress pics HERE
With out a doubt, the best thing about that photo....is the standard of footwear
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  #44  
Old 22-10-2019, 12:11 PM
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marc4darkskies (Marcus)
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Yes, clearly I'm trying to maintain amateur astronomer dress standards. No wait ... that means I shouldv'e worn sandals with socks!!
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  #45  
Old 22-10-2019, 01:23 PM
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strongmanmike (Michael)
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Yes, clearly I'm trying to maintain amateur astronomer dress standards. No wait ... that means I shouldv'e worn sandals with socks!!
Go Geoff!
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  #46  
Old 23-10-2019, 07:01 AM
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multiweb (Marc)
ze frogginator

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That deck looks like a million dollars. Very cool.
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  #47  
Old 23-10-2019, 12:43 PM
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marc4darkskies (Marcus)
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Definitely a look to aspire to and emulate!

Quote:
Originally Posted by multiweb View Post
That deck looks like a million dollars. Very cool.
Thanks Marc!

Now imagining what kind of observatory I could build with a million bucks!
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  #48  
Old 24-10-2019, 12:42 PM
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Just seen your project for the first time Marcus and it's looking really good. A great set of construction images too.
Cheers, Chris
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  #49  
Old 24-10-2019, 01:32 PM
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marc4darkskies (Marcus)
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Just seen your project for the first time Marcus and it's looking really good. A great set of construction images too.
Cheers, Chris
Thanks very much Chris! I'm not even in the same ball park when compared to your sensational masterpiece, but it will get the job done!
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  #50  
Old 24-10-2019, 02:38 PM
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Lookin good Marcus.

Greg.
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  #51  
Old 25-10-2019, 02:36 PM
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Lookin good Marcus.

Greg.
Thanks Greg!

Well, I've cleaned all 6 wall panels (still got the dome to go) and I've just done a test with the cutting compound (Meguires Ultimate compound). Not a bad result (see pic - the right hand side is the raw washed surface) but I can see this is going to be hard work and take a while!! I need to do all 6 panels and dome twice - the second round is a polish only.
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  #52  
Old 25-10-2019, 05:30 PM
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Spiffy Bro!

Greg.
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  #53  
Old 27-10-2019, 11:12 AM
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marc4darkskies (Marcus)
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Initial clean (pressure wash and car wash) of all surfaces is finished. It's still wet hence the glossy look. The surface is completely matt because of oxidation and the lichen has left surface marks. However, my testing indicates I should be able to remove the marks with cutting compound and restore the surface to maybe 80% of it's original gloss finish ... but it will take a lot of elbow grease!
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  #54  
Old 01-11-2019, 02:58 PM
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marc4darkskies (Marcus)
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Holy mackerel!! This isn't easy ... as the red face testifies (it's 32C today)! I've patched a couple of chips and done 4 out of 6 very oxidised wall panels now with 2 rounds of compound (cutting) polish and one round of "Super Resin" polish plus a buff. I've got 2 left to do then the dome followed by a spray of liquid ceramic wax. I reckon I'm getting to about 70% of the original finish. The moral of the story is maintain your fibreglass dome on a regular basis!
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  #55  
Old 02-11-2019, 05:35 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by marc4darkskies View Post
Holy mackerel!! This isn't easy ... as the red face testifies (it's 32C today)! I've patched a couple of chips and done 4 out of 6 very oxidised wall panels now with 2 rounds of compound (cutting) polish and one round of "Super Resin" polish plus a buff. I've got 2 left to do then the dome followed by a spray of liquid ceramic wax. I reckon I'm getting to about 70% of the original finish. The moral of the story is maintain your fibreglass dome on a regular basis!
I hope you have an electric buffer/polisher......
Great work so far


(If you come to Canberra you can borrow my electric polisher)
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  #56  
Old 04-11-2019, 08:26 AM
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marc4darkskies (Marcus)
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I hope you have an electric buffer/polisher......
Great work so far


(If you come to Canberra you can borrow my electric polisher)
Cheers Matt! I have a small Ryobi buffer that can do some of the work but I do most of the cutting by hand. Thanks for the offer though!
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  #57  
Old 05-11-2019, 08:48 PM
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alan meehan (Alan)
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really nice job Marcus that's a nice dance floor , one suggestion hand rail on the stairs in stainless will finish it and be safer as well just a thought
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  #58  
Old 07-11-2019, 04:16 PM
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marc4darkskies (Marcus)
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really nice job Marcus that's a nice dance floor , one suggestion hand rail on the stairs in stainless will finish it and be safer as well just a thought
Hehe ... thanks Alan! I did dance a jig on it when it was finished ... and it didn't bounce at all.

I designed the stairs to have wide and broad treads so I think they're safe enough - they're certainly better than my last obs. When I'm old and doddery enough to need a hand rail I'll get out of the game and find another hobby

PS: I'm still polishing!
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  #59  
Old 10-11-2019, 02:36 PM
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marc4darkskies (Marcus)
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Polishing finished!

The shine is back!! After 2 rounds of cut & polish (3 rounds in places) and a round of "Super Resin" polish I'd say around 70% of the original shine has been restored. Still have to spray the ceramic coating on but that can wait until it's assembled.

Next steps are to oil the deck and assemble the dome!

All progress pics HERE
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  #60  
Old 10-11-2019, 07:12 PM
PaulSthcoast (Paul)
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Hi Marcus,

cut and polish and super resin you say ?

Sure its not all the elbow grease ?

Great work, looking good !!

Paul.
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