Change the location of the topic previously under ATM and DIY. I have started a remote control observatory and title means it is designed for a rental property.
I have completed a slab strong enough to mount the pier and found at auction a table that had a small amount of water damage. (Although I can't find it).
I am now at the stage awaiting for the metal plate for welding which I hope will arrive next week and currently sealing the table with a marine sealer so it can remain in the weather. A lot to do on the mechanical front and on the electrical front working on the automated processes.
I doubt I will get it done before I start Uni but hope that after I start the rest of the work will be relatively easy. I really miss imagining so this is to be design to reduce the amount of setting up and pulling down as possible while being portable enough to move when I move.
Interesting, I've not seen that sort of concept before - a table around the scope.... will you cover it all with a tarp or similar??
You must be stronger than I am, that 90mm thick piece of concrete must be at the limit of portable!
It is not really portable in the true definition of travelling scope but based on a rental property. I can get it removed and relocated to new premises if my lease expires or in the past the owner wishes to sell the house.
I can dismantle the table and I will be putting a roof on it which is only in concept at this stage.
I am not expecting it to be completed before my Uni course starts but maybe at least to be able to store everything outside as the shed is getting a bit cluttered.
The table is currently being marine coated so that it can withstand most if not all weather it can be thrown at it. Currently on my 3rd coat of clear finish now.
In about 1 week I should have started the welding and may have finished the clear coat by then as well.
Update, only small but important, have place 3 coats of marine clear finish on the table and join together. I have covered them but have already test the water penetration by accident with great success. Unfortunately the accident just prior to the clear coat drying completely leaving a small white stain on the table. Only a couple of drops though.
I have now came up with a simple solution for the cover but now just waiting on the metalwork to arrive for the pier.
Another part complete, The pier for the observatory is almost complete with a bit of sandblasting and a lick of paint, it will be ready for installation.
First thing, the pictures do not do me much justice. I have only just started welding and on this occasion for experimental reasons I used flux core MIG wire.
It was the final 3 welds that I realised where I went wrong so most of the welding sticks but it is at least solid.
I hope to use Gas welding techniques in the future as I still have a load of welding task to complete but may wait till I finish this semester of Uni before getting the gas gear.
Needless to say the final 3 welds were a lot better once I increase the wire speed. The second image is my worst weld
My brother is a good welder and had a look. Said my welding is not bad towards the end. Still having difficulty locating a sand/abrasive blasting company to clean it up, they all seem to stop intakes for small jobs.
I also gave up on finding sandblasters that were willing to take a small job. Most think a small job is a 6x4 box trailer. I use rust converter after cleaning the job with metho. To date no rust on any of my work unless it has been heavily scratched or rubbed.
i haven't tried much looking for a sandblaster at the moment, my University studies have kept me occupied at this early stage, there is always something that impedes progress on the obs.
I hope once settle in i will be able to recommence. My brother has been hobnobbing around with cars and mentioned a product called Norton Rapid Strip wheel (or something similar) looks like the rough side kitchen sponge. As I have some paint to remove I will hopefully try this one. He told me to get it from supercheap auto.
With weather still a bot iffy I had to work a bit late this evening to re-cover the table, but managed to get the pier mounted although the bolts had a slight misalignment making a bit difficult to finish the bolting. Looks like I need a bit more height though.
I have not interatted much as it get busy after a semester or two of studies I am so busy with many project but mostly re-building my workshop.
I have made a temporary update to my rental property observatory and it is not coming together with some light on the end of the tunnel.
As I do not have enough money to play with i have used some item that are temporary but seem to be quite strong.
In this update I have used the original EQ5 tripod base plate intead of getting a built unit, This will change in the future. If anyone has some open source plans available to build one it would be appreciated.
Anyway the photos show the build so farand the mount installed, I have installed in every nook and cranny (with silicon to follow) to seal up and moisture points that could get into the system.
The changes that i epect to make is the cover for the scope. I noticed that with the base as it is there is still plenty of room. This means that I could forget the table top shown in the picture shown in the original post. I am still undecided. By not placing the table top I expect to save an enormous amount on the final construction but may restrict my ability to place solar panel on the roof. I need to weigh up the pros and con's with a potential wind generator off to the side near the shed.
I want to make this system self substantable with the potential for installing in a remote location if it works out.
I already have a plan, although I have to complete my wood workshop completed before continuing.
As I have cut the bottom of the table base approx 100mm, this has left me a 200mm available space to house a 1 x 1m box on top to house all the electronics. This was an unexpected surprise and a pure accident of the build but hreat to boot.
I have decided to build a micro dome to cover the scope but time may not permit so I suspect I will start with a simple box construction so i can get it done before Uni starts.
The heat of the past few weeks has made time for construction limited, the unfortunate by product of WA vacation periods
I think overall the construction is not planned at this stage and is just built upon as required, I am sure ince it is complete similar constructions can easily be done and easy modifacation as well. So far no requrement for changes so far as yet
Find some more time to continue the build by creating a storage section for all my electronics and stuff.
First image - shows the split base idea that allow the whole section to be removed with all the telescope parts in place. Screws located on the base are design to remove half and slide it out for any changes. I may have to do this as I have placed it 90 degrees out. So I will complete the build to test the idea and rotate the whole thing 90 degrees once complete.
The idea is semi permanent not designed to be changed continually but on occasion including when rental tenancy requires us to vacate. our lease is due in a couple of months.
Third and fourth image is the frame used to house all the electronics etc. The four section on each corner will house draw slides and drawers so they can be slid out to display all the gear if needed.
Final image is the cabinet I picked up at auction. The 2 door version pick up for $0.45c each. The drawer runners will be removed and re-installed in the unit, far cheaper than buying new runners and I recycled.
Made an awful error on the build, I should have built it outside the base place then fitted it , instead I tried to install it piece by piece while installed. Although nothing is actually wrong, it took a hell of a long arduous process to get the build. If I measured then installed it would have served me better.
Hi All, another update.
I picked up a number of cans of Thompson Water Seal. I sprayed the whole thing from the concrete excepted the mount of course. I have only just completed the second coat.
This stuff is really great! After the first coat last night (hence the can in the dark), I forgot to place the tarp over it last night and this morning the dew came of as water droplets. It did what I wanted.
The spray soaks into the wood and concrete through the pores, while the non porous material like the melamine it creates this membrane that does will prevent any ingress.
I will be selling the rest of the cans I don't need after I have completed, I believe I have a massive excess of spray cans. I have a few more things to waterproof than the Observatory.
If anyone doesn't notice the idea of slitting the top section in half is brilliant. I rotated the storage area around 90 degrees with only a few screws. If I didn't split it, I would have to take off the mount and anything else on top before removing the storage area. I was able to neaten up the screws and put on side panels.
Uni will start soon so I am running out of time. I think I will be able to get the storage area complete before I start but things will slow down after that. Not enough money to get what I want done.
Another update and due to commencement of uni very soon I have decided to take a different tact so that I can get the majority of the structure completed.
There is a couple of small issues which are easily rectified but requires me to purchase stuff that I am currently not able to do. So instead I decided to use some existing wood I have available to create a template to the storage.
After completing this I realised this is the best way to go as it allows me to build and test the product very very cheaply and look at improvement that can be managed once funds become available.
As mentioned earlier, I managed to purchase some office furniture some of which I have not shown so far as I have an enormous amount of it. For this project the cost of the wood so far for the top section is approx $20.00. That includes everything, the frame, the bottom the top section the drawer runners and even the screws.
With the prototype almost complete, I will be able to start the dome section. I will be setting everything up shortly to measure the height required versus the radius of the top table to determine whether I go for half a dome or 3/4 dome.
The photos show little although there are 4 drawers that are set as shelves on drawer runner and facilitate sliding out for operation and repairs. The whole top section is completely isolated from the pier with the high density foam sleeves around the unit, but only time will tell how much vibration it will stop.
I have one major change to make and that will be done in the future and that is to remove the table base and replace it with a much wider drop to completely isolate the pier concrete and the table and dome section. I did not do this at the time as this has been and extreme budget build and table I got to place the gear on only cost about $50.00 or less. Not sure of the exact price. I have another one as a outdoor setting that cost a little more.
I have only just started welding and on this occasion for experimental reasons I used flux core MIG wire. 
The second image is my worst weld 
