Go Back   IceInSpace > Equipment > DIY Observatories

Reply
 
Thread Tools Rate Thread
  #1  
Old 18-11-2017, 07:49 PM
Trekrider (Barry)
Registered User

Trekrider is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Perth, WA
Posts: 52
Another ROR possibly?

Work has commenced on my home Obs - as you can see in the photo's I have put in a 1 cubic metre block of concrete to mount the pier a friend made up for me to sit the EQ6-R on.

I plan to make up a wooden frame with posts set in more concrete for the floor (just over 3m x 3m) - not sure yet if I'm going to use floorboards or just a couple of sheets of marine ply for the floor. I will put a hole in the centre where the pier is so that no part of the floor or its supports touches the pier or the block.

I still haven't decided on the actual shed yet. I can get a 3m x 3m shed from Bunnings for $429 and modify the roof so that it becomes a ROR but I wonder if I would be better off building the shed from scratch so that I can insulate it and design a better ROR for it? A dome would be nice but way too expensive for me.
Attached Thumbnails
Click for full-size image (Hole.jpg)
181.9 KB138 views
Click for full-size image (Plinth.jpg)
162.3 KB134 views
Click for full-size image (Pier.jpg)
48.5 KB152 views
Click for full-size image (EQ6-R Mount.jpg)
91.4 KB143 views

Last edited by Trekrider; 18-11-2017 at 07:50 PM. Reason: Typo
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 18-11-2017, 10:41 PM
glend (Glen)
Registered User

glend is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Lake Macquarie
Posts: 7,033
You will want good stability in your floor so use tongue and groove structure ply, which is intended for flooring. Plain sheet ply will flex at the joint between panels, the tongue and groove stuff diesn't flex. Make sure you put in enough cross beams. Have a look at the photos of my build in the Obs forum. I built mine on the floor a wall panel at a time, then raised them and screwed them into the support beams and floor. A timber shed will not sweat like a metal shed and is cooler, much cooler, in summer.
Have fun.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 18-11-2017, 10:58 PM
Trekrider (Barry)
Registered User

Trekrider is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Perth, WA
Posts: 52
Quote:
Originally Posted by glend View Post
You will want good stability in your floor so use tongue and groove structure ply, which is intended for flooring. Plain sheet ply will flex at the joint between panels, the tongue and groove stuff diesn't flex. Make sure you put in enough cross beams. Have a look at the photos of my build in the Obs forum. I built mine on the floor a wall panel at a time, then raised them and screwed them into the support beams and floor. A timber shed will not sweat like a metal shed and is cooler, much cooler, in summer.
Have fun.
Thanks Glen, I had a look at your build which gave me some good things to think about. Great tip on the tongue and groove too.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 27-11-2017, 07:24 PM
Trekrider (Barry)
Registered User

Trekrider is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Perth, WA
Posts: 52
Progress

After leaving it a week the plinth was good to go for drilling as I wasn't using expanding bolts. Got the pier mounted using 200mm M12 studding held by Sika AnchorFix. It's turned out as good as I hoped and gives a nice dull 'thud' when I tap it.

I decided to give it a go and was impressed with the images I managed to capture - they certainly look sharper than when I was just using the tripod. It will be so nice when I can set it all up properly and leave it in place - a proper table would be good too.

Now to get on and build the actual shed - I've decided to go with a wooden frame and marine ply sides with a roll off roof.
Attached Thumbnails
Click for full-size image (Pier 10.jpg)
100.1 KB138 views
Click for full-size image (Pier 11.jpg)
80.5 KB137 views
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 29-11-2017, 12:31 PM
rally
Registered User

rally is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 896
Nicely done all round.

Nice welding too - someone knows their craft
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 29-11-2017, 01:24 PM
Merlin66's Avatar
Merlin66 (Ken)
Registered User

Merlin66 is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Junortoun Vic
Posts: 8,904
Looking good!

You should consider something like the TSOIV concept - easy, light and effective.
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...&highlight=tso
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 29-11-2017, 01:52 PM
Trekrider (Barry)
Registered User

Trekrider is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Perth, WA
Posts: 52
Quote:
Originally Posted by Merlin66 View Post
Looking good!

You should consider something like the TSOIV concept - easy, light and effective.
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...&highlight=tso
Thanks Ken, I was looking at a tin shed to begin with but have gone away from that idea over concerns that it will get very hot in summer and will also suffer badly from condensation. The work involved to build a frame for the shed and roof to make it ROR also negates the advantages of just buying a shed from Bunnings - if I have to go to all that trouble I may as well just build from scratch anyway.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 29-11-2017, 01:53 PM
Trekrider (Barry)
Registered User

Trekrider is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Perth, WA
Posts: 52
Quote:
Originally Posted by rally View Post
Nicely done all round.

Nice welding too - someone knows their craft
Thanks, I'm lucky to have a mate who is a welder by trade
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 29-11-2017, 02:21 PM
Merlin66's Avatar
Merlin66 (Ken)
Registered User

Merlin66 is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Junortoun Vic
Posts: 8,904
Barry,
I went through exactly the same thought process.
Yes, it can get hot in summer... but that's when to open the roof!
Never had any significant issues with condensation, even in UK winters.

The additional support frame is no more than basically a few lengths of 2" x 2" and one sheet of 6mm ply cut into strips to make the side and end seals.
The "trick", if there is one, is to find a suitable shed with a slightly gabled roof which can be removed leaving only the walls.
I'm sure Paul can supply more detail.
For the overall investment a few hundred $$$ - I think around $350 all up the TSO has given ten years of satisfactory performance, and hopefully has another ten ahead of it.
Edit: from the photo you can see the simplicity of the inner frame....
Attached Thumbnails
Click for full-size image (TSO_100_0873.jpg)
58.1 KB123 views
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 29-11-2017, 09:17 PM
Trekrider (Barry)
Registered User

Trekrider is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Perth, WA
Posts: 52
Well, I used to be indecisive, now I'm not so sure
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 30-11-2017, 06:13 PM
ZeroID's Avatar
ZeroID (Brent)
Lost in Space ....

ZeroID is offline
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Auckland, NZ
Posts: 4,949
+1 for the tin shed conversion. Mine is a slightly back sloped roof cheap Chinese thing ($400 ) with a timber frame around the top edge braced in the corners and a few stiffeners down to floor level at the corners. Hasn't blown away yet. The supplied roof was useless, it now has a centre split roof system that just slides along the top edge 'rails'. I can keep most of the roof closed during an evening with minor adjustments every hour or so.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 30-11-2017, 08:59 PM
Trekrider (Barry)
Registered User

Trekrider is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Perth, WA
Posts: 52
Ok, I'm back to plan A - 3m tin shed from Bunnings
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 01-12-2017, 06:57 PM
Trekrider (Barry)
Registered User

Trekrider is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Perth, WA
Posts: 52
My procrastination actually paid off - went and picked up the shed today and it was reduced to $399. Got to be happy with that
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 11-01-2018, 10:07 PM
Trekrider (Barry)
Registered User

Trekrider is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Perth, WA
Posts: 52
Progress at last

It's been a while - more planning and then finding the time to get the work done.

As you will see in the attached photos, I cleared the ground under the obs and put down weed matting. I then put the joists in and made the floor from marine grade ply lined up with the joists so that it doesn't creek when you walk on it

The walls went up on rather a windy day which was fun but with five of us not too bad. I was able to bolt it all down through the flooring into the joists then made up an angle iron frame for the top of the walls.

Today I finally got the roof on and it works a treat - rolls nicely with one hand.

Next up are tie down points so that the next big wind doesn't see the roof sailing off into the distance - I've put ratchet straps over it for now, just in case.

After that will be shuttering around the roof/top of wall area to stop horizontal rain getting in.
Attached Thumbnails
Click for full-size image (Under Base.jpg)
183.2 KB119 views
Click for full-size image (Complete Base.jpg)
169.8 KB129 views
Click for full-size image (Walls.jpg)
128.2 KB116 views
Click for full-size image (Roof On.jpg)
96.7 KB121 views
Click for full-size image (Roof Half Off.jpg)
123.5 KB125 views

Last edited by Trekrider; 11-01-2018 at 10:08 PM. Reason: typo
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 12-01-2018, 06:51 AM
ZeroID's Avatar
ZeroID (Brent)
Lost in Space ....

ZeroID is offline
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Auckland, NZ
Posts: 4,949
Looking good. You definitely won't regret it. I use my gear anytime there is a bit of clear sky.
Been chasing sunspots over the last three weeks ( pretty quiet ) and I can power up, check the sun, take an avi, close down and be processing the video in about 30 minutes. No way I'd do that if I had to setup the EQ6 every time.
Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old 27-09-2018, 07:12 AM
Lee's Avatar
Lee
Colour is over-rated

Lee is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Newcastle, Australia
Posts: 2,414
Good effort Barry - did you finish protect the exposed edges of the ply deck at all?
I only ask because the obs I built in 2007 has had significant rot in exposed endgrain areas of (heavily painted) exterior ply. I'm busy at present replacing some rotted panels (luckily fascia only rather than structural).
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 27-09-2018, 07:36 AM
Wavytone
Registered User

Wavytone is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Killara, Sydney
Posts: 4,147
Hi Barry,

... was there any consideration as to how the block of concrete was to be removed ? Looks like a PITA for a future owner who doesn't want a shed there...
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 27-09-2018, 08:45 AM
glend (Glen)
Registered User

glend is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Lake Macquarie
Posts: 7,033
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lee View Post
Good effort Barry - did you finish protect the exposed edges of the ply deck at all?
I only ask because the obs I built in 2007 has had significant rot in exposed endgrain areas of (heavily painted) exterior ply. I'm busy at present replacing some rotted panels (luckily fascia only rather than structural).
Yes, this is a real problem, ply endgrain wicks in water and lead to delamination, at the very least black fungus. Marine ply helps prevent delamination but should still be sealed on the ends ( a good boat building epoxy is great sealant). I had a little but of end grain wicking on my obs floor at the southern wall junction, but caught it quick and duct taped over that section, still it took me six months to dry it out completely. A moisture metre helps locate it.
Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old 27-09-2018, 08:52 AM
glend (Glen)
Registered User

glend is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Lake Macquarie
Posts: 7,033
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wavytone View Post
Hi Barry,

... was there any consideration as to how the block of concrete was to be removed ? Looks like a PITA for a future owner who doesn't want a shed there...
A shed like that is pretty easy to dismantle. What are the building regulations for it in WA? In NSW, if it is small enough council permission is not required, but it will not show up on your lot plan if your trying to sell later with it in place. Re the concrete, my footing is there till the next ice age gouges it out. I figure it could be a bird bath base.
Reply With Quote
  #20  
Old 27-09-2018, 08:24 PM
Trekrider (Barry)
Registered User

Trekrider is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Perth, WA
Posts: 52
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lee View Post
Good effort Barry - did you finish protect the exposed edges of the ply deck at all?
I only ask because the obs I built in 2007 has had significant rot in exposed endgrain areas of (heavily painted) exterior ply. I'm busy at present replacing some rotted panels (luckily fascia only rather than structural).
I have to confess i haven't done anything with the exposed ply so far - every time I look at it I tell myself that I must but life just seems to get in the way I really must though.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +10. The time is now 09:06 AM.

Powered by vBulletin Version 3.8.7 | Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Advertisement
Testar
Advertisement
Bintel
Advertisement