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  #1  
Old 20-03-2017, 10:44 AM
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Octane (Humayun)
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Observatory under way!

Hi all,

After what seems like an eternity, my observatory build is finally under way.

The hole was dug shortly after my father's death in September when I took some time off work to grieve.

Since then, I've either been working overtime/oncall, away on 4WD trips, had prior engagements or the weather didn't play ball.

But, yesterday was the day. A good colleague of mine came to help me with the form work and mixing of concrete. He's just built a house (that will be featured on Grand Designs) and owed me a favour as I helped him out a few times. Also, he missed getting his hands dirty, so, what better way to get them dirty again than to build a pier?

The hole is about 830mm below ground, then, I decided to have a 500x500x95mm skirt/box for a little extra stability (and, to also keep my observatory computer and other power supply stuff on, and then the rest of the pier above ground. All in all, it's about 1300mm from bottom to top in one single monolithic structure. The pier is 300mm in diameter.

12 bags of concrete (our maths was bang on!) and a bunch of rebar later, I have what is presented in the images.

It's not much concrete compared to what others have built, but, it will be more than apt for what I intend to do with it (remote imaging). It'll only have a G-11/FSQ/STL on it for now (with a view to migrate to a Paramount of some description in the future). I will later build a 1.5mx1.5m wall structure around it and then bolt an Absco pool pump cover shed on top of that so that the roof clears the scope at the counterweight down position. The roof will be modified to slide on castors/rails. The whole thing will then be automated.

P.S. My body is aching today from mixing 240 kg of concrete. :O

Cheers.

H
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  #2  
Old 20-03-2017, 11:04 AM
glend (Glen)
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My back is in sympathy pain. Have fun.
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Old 20-03-2017, 07:13 PM
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alan meehan (Alan)
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A good start there H ,
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Old 20-03-2017, 07:37 PM
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RickS (Rick)
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Good luck with the project, H!
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Old 21-03-2017, 09:29 AM
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Octane (Humayun)
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Thanks, guys!

Thanks to this awesome bout of rain, the setup is getting plenty of water to cure itself with.

H
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Old 21-03-2017, 10:30 AM
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The rain was perfect timing for you H - it'll make that concrete super rigid.
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Old 21-03-2017, 12:44 PM
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Octane (Humayun)
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Couldn't have timed it any better.

You'll have to come over at some stage, Lewis. I'm thinking I might even dig another hole and install that pier I bought off you in Queensland, too, for ad-hoc imaging.

H
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Old 22-03-2017, 12:24 PM
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ZeroID (Brent)
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Nice one H.
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Old 22-03-2017, 09:44 PM
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Somnium (Aidan)
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That is the really exciting, god luck with the build. The large amount of concrete bags and back breaking work is the reason why i decided to go with the surefoot footings.
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Old 23-03-2017, 07:11 AM
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Octane (Humayun)
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Cheers, guys!

Aidan,

Damn, I didn't know about Surefoot or mega anchors.

Can you detail the process you undertook to get a quote and do the install? Are you happy with it? I have a steel pier that I'd also like to install for ad hoc imaging for guests. How much would I expect to pay for one Surefoot?

Thanks!

H
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Old 23-03-2017, 08:19 AM
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PM sent ( i didn't want to hijack the thread)
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