Simple question: observatories from Bunnings?

[FrancoRodriguez]

Hi folks! I really do apologise if this has been done to death, but it's actually quite difficult to find info on this...
I'm going to make a 10m^2 obsy. I think a 4.5 x 2.5 would do nicely. What are people's opinions of garden variety (is that a pun? not sure) prefab metal sheds? They're very cheap compared to wooden alternatives. Can these easily be modified to make a roll off roof? I'd like something ideally with squatter height at the sides but a steeper sloping roof, to allow for the greatest viewing angles whilst still accommodating a 12-14 inch CDK (I'm yet to get this). Any advice at all would be greatly appreciated as I am a complete novice to the manly arts. I do have a builder friend who can help though.
Clear skies peeps!

[doppler]

Most of those smaller DIY prefab Bunnings sheds don't have a proper frame so the roof is an integral part of the structure and cant be removed.
Rick

[FrancoRodriguez]

I've thought of this issue. It would probably be pretty easy to reinforce it with external or even internal trusses, no?

[glend]

Forget those prefab metal sheds, they can't support a moving roof. You might as well build proper braced walls. There are plenty of examples here on the forum. Learn to use the Search function.

[Wavytone]

Rick is correct, having had one many years ago they can't be modified without making the sides hopelessly unstable - I'd be looking at other solutions.

[Ukastronomer]

Here was mine

http://www.spacegazer.com/index.asp?pageid=97497



.

[bojan]

You can move the whole shed I guess....
Here is what I built a looong time ago (~40 y ago, for my 10").

The shed was on wheels, moving away from pier on tracks.

[xelasnave]

I built a garden shed observatory similar to the one Bojan posted.
You will need an internal frame and lining which is easy to fabricate because you are just adding stuff..you roll the whole lot off so you need a door and wheels. I looked at building another recently but as I had other materials sitting around I did not go that way.
I would concentrate on the cost of the frame and lining...also insulate it.
Good luck.
Alex

[Merlin66]

I used a TSO (Tin shed observatory) for many years...in the UK, moved it to Belgium, then back here to Oz.
It was a Canadian designed 8' x 6' shed with a separate roof structure and constant wall height. Made it easy to get a ROR.
Internally stiffened with 2 x 2" frame.

[Atmos]

There was a thread about a year ago about using a pool pump shed as a small open roof observatory. Weather sealed, not overly large but with an openable roof and quite on the cheap.

[StuTodd]

Tin sheds are absolutely fine for an observatory building!
Ken has alluded to this here and - http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=35163

You really do have to brace the inner walls with wood of course and simply modify the roof to a roll-off system.

I built one to house a spectroscopy set-up due to Ken's post. If Ken Harrison uses one, you should have no problems :), I haven't had any issues with a tin shed.

[LewisM]

Србија?

[bojan]

Не.. Хрватска. Петриња крај Загреба :-)