Blackwood observatory

[rumples riot]

Hi all, well not doing any astro related stuff at the moment because I am in the middle of constructing an observatory in the yard of my unit.

So far I have designed and had the pier built. I now need to mark the top plate for drilling so that the super wedge will work properly.

This weekend I am going to dig the hole for the concrete block that will support the pier. The pier is 1700mm high with three plates attached 400mm square. So the hole has to be quite sizable and then I also want to fill it with concrete. I really dislike mixing concrete, so that is a task I am not looking forward to.

After the concrete is set and cured in about a week I will chemset the holding down bolts into position and then set the pier into position. In the interim I will paint the pier with several coats of rust cure and enamel. Not sure of the colour yet.

Once this is done I will build a deck so that I can reach the top of the pier. Use some of my carpentary skills that I have not used for this last year.

So In the next couple of weeks I will submit shots as things take place to this thread. Wish me luck.:work:

[Comet Hunter]

Sounds great RR. Good Luck! I hope to have something up by the end of the year - will certainly make using the old 10"er alot more easier to use/setup for the night! Look forward to your pics.

[beren]

Ill watch with eager anticpation RR , best of luck especially with the concrete {hate the stuff}

[[1ponders]]

From an ex-builder and landscaper, I'm with you guys. Maybe we can start a "There's got to be another way other than concrete" forum. Would love to see ongoing construction photos Paul. I'm sure I wouldn't be alone in wanting to pinch some ideas. :cool2: :P

[gaa_ian]

Sounds like a great project
I will get some photos of the pier we have a our club site when I go out tomorrow night.

[rumples riot]

Well dug the hole yesterday for the Concrete plug. Hole dimensions are 500mm deep x 600mm long x 500mm wide. This did not happen without some mishaps. First was that I found the water pipe with the first blow of the crow bar. $200.00 later after a visit from the plumber hole completed. Still want to bell out the bottom a little just for added torque. Here is a shot of the hole and the pipe lagged.

Second thing that happened was that I put my back out. Just stood up while digging and felt it go. This morning it is better but still moving gingerly. Won't be mixing concrete until it is better.:mad2: Maybe one night this week.

[rumples riot]

This is the pier minus the top plate. I will strip and paint it today with several coats of enamel. Then I will apply another two coats in a couple of days time. The pier is 1700mm long and the plates are 400 x 400mm square. Threaded rods tapped and screwed into the secondary plate. Top plate goes on top where nuts and washers are.

[rumples riot]

This is the wedge sitting on the top plate. There is a slot for the azimuth adjustment. It can be seen at the back. The top plate must now be drived for the stud pattern of the wedge. Top plate is 8mm thick.

All steel components are a minimum of 8mm thick. Drilling of the holes will be undertaken by Metal Fabricators P/L with precision equipment. They assure me that the bottom plate and the secondary plate are within 20 seconds of 90 degrees. Best to get everything as close as possible right from the start.

The hole has been set of the north south line that I set up several weeks ago on the side of the wedge when I had the scope set up in that area.

Pier cost $500.00

Comments and questions welcome

[Striker]

Nice work Paul.......Too bad about your back...you sure do have to be careful......if it was me I would have made the wife dig the hole while I supervised.....

Looking good.....keep us posted.

[[1ponders]]

Sorry to hear about your back Paul, but you will be happy to know I :lol2: :rofl: :lol2: about your water pipe. You should know by now that its a given (ie murphy's 3rd law of construction), that if you drive your crowbar into unchecked ground you will hit

a) A stormwater pipe
b) IF it will cause more inconvenience to you, a water pipe
or
c) IF it will cause you to look like a fool and inconvenience your neighbourhood, a sewer pipe or if using an excavator, the main coax telephone line between WA and the EAst Coast.

:lol2:

I wish I had a $100 for everytime I've had that happen or seen it happen to someone else. And the usual time it happens, 1:00 pm on a Sunday afternoon, after the hardware is closed. :lol:

BTW I love your pier. I'm really looking forward to seeing it installed. Either that or the next installment of "Rumples Riot builds an Observatory" Sorry mate I'm a cruel b*s*a*d like that. At least it didn't happen to me this time.:P

[rumples riot]

No problems Paul.

Funny thing was I checked that there was nothing there. The pipe further down the units was much closer to the building. Some drunk put the thing in and it was at an angle to the building. Added to that I took the crow bar from a friend of mine who dropped it off and is notorious for his uncanny ability to find water pipes, telstra cables, sewer pipes (I helped him fix that; phew), stormwater pipes and electrical cables. Believe me he has hit them all several times. So I think it was his hoodoo that transferred straight to me; not long after that I did my back.

I should have known that I needed to ground out the crow bar first so that the hoodoo did not transfer to me. It was the very first time in years of building that I had hit a waterpipe. So felt like a complete goose as I went and told all my neighbours that the water was off. Most laughed knowing that I am involved in the building industry and thought that it was a great joke.

Anyway, I have painted the pier today with the first two coats, and will finish with the last two tomorrow. I will take some snaps for you all and show you the painted version tomorrow.

Stay tuned.

[[1ponders]]

Fortunately I've developed a phobia to crowbars so I'm unlikely to experience the thrill of hitting electrical cables. That's one I'm very glad to say I've not experienced. Though back in the 70's I was fortunate enough to see a backhoe dig up the main defence dept land line from Brisban to Townsvile. Didn't it hit the fan that day :lol2: Fortunately it had nothing to do with the job I was working on.:D

[rumples riot]

For an undate. Concrete was poured tonight but have some shots of the painted pier, overview of the site and framed up hole.

[rumples riot]

The overview, a little on the small side, but the sky is what is important. You can see the black shed which went in this year and is a steel cupboard. All part of the plan.

[rumples riot]

Finally the framed hole. Next week there will be a shot of the concrete finished (curing tonight), placement of the holding down bolts and the following week the fitting of the pier. Then the building of the deck. But for now this is where I am at.

[[1ponders]]

Are you going to have enough room in between those sheds. Doesn't look like you could swing a cat in there.

[rumples riot]

Not enough room to swing a cat, but enough to swing a schmidt cat. Pun o Pun. Don't worry that is where the scope has been for the last 3 months and that is where I took all of my most recent shots.

BTW, the green steel is my next door neighbours fence. Like I said I have a small back yard. 7 metres wide by 2.1 deep. However, it is enough to fit blackwood observatory in.

Stay tuned for more instalments.

[[1ponders]]

:lol2: Very witty kitty :P

[rumples riot]

Concrete is now dry and the holes for the set down bolts have been drilled.

The man from Hilti is coming tonight to help me set the chem anchors for the set down bolts. Seems that my Hilt tools are not tough enough to screw the 16mm set downs in place. The bolts will be able to hold 250kg per bolt and with the entire scope weighing in at 65 kgs I should be more that covered.

Anyway here is the latest shot of the slab.

Comments welcome.

[rumples riot]

Pier is chem set into position now and is plumb and level, now for the top plate which is meant to be ready for tomorrow. With any luck i will be able to catch the occultation this weekend.

[[1ponders]]

don't you have to let the concrete cure for AT LEAST a week before you put any strain on it. Looks like you'll miss the oculation after all, just like us northerners :P

Nice Job:cool2:

[rumples riot]

Noooooo, I can't miss the occultation

[mick pinner]

Paul,
Good to see somebody else going through the trials of the observatory (apart from the back I mean),just thought I'd send a quick photo of my pier set-up, 3.5 metres and 250mm dia, I had to get up to balcony height with the stainless steel guide ropes it doesn't move a millimetre (it worried me for a while being so long).

[rumples riot]

Well time for an update.

Top plate is painted and set into position and levelled.

The super wedge has been bolted into position and awaiting the scope to set the final position of latitude and azimuth. I will have to get a friend over to help me put the scope on the wedge (too heavy at the moment).

Once that is done and the wedge is set into the final position then I can build the deck. The reason for this is that I want to know that the pier is currently closely aligned with north south. If it is not then I need to move the pier. Much easier to do this without the deck in the way. Now to account for this I have made the sliding holes on the top plate the same size as those on the super wedge. Only a huge error in azimuth will require the pier to be moved. However, I want to be cautious all the same.

Anyway here is the latest shots of the top plate and wedge set into position.

Comments welcome

[rumples riot]

Closeup of the top plate and wedge.

[[1ponders]]

(Paul R quickly copies photos and makes notes) :cool2:

[rumples riot]

Lx 200 is now set in place ready for star drift alignment tonight. First test drive on new pier. Hopefully the basic alignment of the pier is good and I will have enough play to polar align. Anyway here is the shot.

Thanks to my mate Nick who lifted the scope into position for me.

What do you all think? Responses appreciated.

[[1ponders]]

I think you need a wider top on your ladder. (Sorry workplace health and safety officer coming out in me :) ) Looks great Paul, you won't know yourself with all the extra views you're going to get now. Congradualtions and well done. Ever thought of combining all this info into a review? I'd be really interested in the amount of flexure and movement in the system once its up and fully functioning.

[rumples riot]

Thanks Paul, I am planning on doing a how to do it when the deck is fully completed. Will look into things like flexure and the like when I write it up.

Thanks again.

[silvinator]

That looks excellent Paul H. Well done, you should be proud yourself.
Ditto on the ladder, my supervisor recently fell off a ladder as she missed the step - wasn't wide enough!
Hope your back is feeling better mate.
PS: what do the neighbours think? Looks like you'll have a good view of their yard too :P

[rumples riot]

Thanks Silvie, neighbours are cool, I cleared it with them prior to construction. Ladder is only temporary and deck is yet to come. Will post pics of that construction too. Just needs a little planning to complete. But am very happy how it looks at present.

[beren]

Looking sweet Paul.......just one question though whats the size / rating of the adjustable bolts connecting the two plates. Once the deck is done are you planning for a enclosure of some sort to keep the OTA in place .

[ballaratdragons]

Very proffessional looking job Paul.

Ditto what Beren said: weather enclosure?

[rumples riot]

Stuart, the bolts are 12mm steel bolts and they should hold 45 kg each. So they are more than adequate to maintain the position of the top plate under slew.

As for Weather control, that is something that I am currently toying with. I am think that I will put a small enclosure around the outside of the scope on the fence line and then a sliding roof on top that slides on to the pegola. Or a roof that can be just pulled off when I want to use the scope. Don't really know yet and I am sure that this will change with further development.

[Exfso]

Looks great Paul, do you have enough room to move the full 360deg around the pier?, obviously when the deck is finished.
I think I am going to have to go down the pier road on my observatory. Only prob is the floor is 5' above the ground. Would need a monster pier probably at least 10' above the ground..mind boggles.

Peter

[beren]

Cool Paul ........another thing how level was your wedge base to the plate ?

Dont know if its perspective but if your going to be viewing /imaging south is the back of the scope going to be flush with the fence?

[rumples riot]

Yes, there is at least two foot all the way around the scope. I can move freely all the way round. It is just the perspective of the shot that makes it look like there is not much room.

The wedge is directly bolted to the top plate and that is levelled into position with the cats eye bubble and double checked against a short level.

Peter as for pier design you could use something similar, but would need stabilizing vanes down the sides of the pier.

[rumples riot]

Well bought the timber for the deck today, well all except the actual decking boards. So might venture out this afternoon and try to do a little without straining by back. Which incidently is much better, although no where near where it was four weeks ago. More Chiro today and many more to come. Lucky I work from home or else I would be in trouble. This is not covered by workcover as the current injury happened whilst doing a home activity.

Anyway next installment of pics is on its way.

[Astroman]

Great work paul, looking good.

I am in the designing stage for a pier mount now to suit the eq6 (when I can afford to get it) will be made of some stuff I can find around the factory where I work. I try and collect as much "throw away" material as possible before building. Usually getting the boss' permission before doing anything.

May look similar to yours paul except I will add the vanes for stability.

[rumples riot]

Well I have completed the deck today, only yesterday and two hours this morning to complete. Just painting to go and the steps onto the deck.

I have taken some shots and will explain each in turn.

The first one is the angle of the observatory that I see from my back door. You can see the completed deck and pier with scope on top. I rather like the look of it now and will paint the decking blood red. The dressing and posts a black colour. The green fence will also be painted with the same black. I hve decided to make the colour scheme in the back yard black red and ochre with bright blue pavers.

Anyway to the first shot.

[rumples riot]

Now this shot is of the front of the deck. As you can see there is plenty of room for me to move around. The bearer of the pegola is going to be cut shorter and flush with the post. It is about 4 inches away from the scope, no hazard, but I don't want to knock my head on it.

[iceman]

Looks fantastic! What if it rains?

[rumples riot]

Now for construction tips. The posts were dyna bolted to the concrete with a stirup. Double bolting is very important here. It helps reduce the stress on a single bolt. The bearers seen just below the facsia dressing are 8 x 2" and are housed (cut into the post) and double bolted with galvanised bolts. The angled piece of timber is a raking brace. This stops the deck from raking (wobbling) and creating a potentional collapse. Every thing is double bolted again.

[rumples riot]

I will get to that in a mo Mike.

Now this shot is of the under deck construction. You can see the bearers and the joists (the timber that has the decking nailed to it). Each joist is nailed then triple gripped (metal angles) into place. This provides further strength especially where I have canterlevered the joists over the bearer at the other end. The joists are 4 x2". Overall this construction should be able to take the weight of 4 people easily. It is better to have more strength than not enough.

[rmcpb]

Paul,

I'm impressed!! The whole setup looks great (what about rain?) and you have the most understanding neighbours I have ever seen.

Congrats

[silvinator]

It's just looking better and better Paul, excellent work. Very nice workmanship there. You should go into business and build us all one mate :D

[rumples riot]

Now for the last shot. this shot shows the detail of the deck. The dressing on the side covers all the joints and gives a completed look to the deck. It is a 6 x 2" fascia board. Mitred into place. You can also notice that the deck is completely isolated from the pier. Most important that the deck should not touch the pier. Any movement on the deck would translate into the pier. The pier concrete block can also be seen and that too is isolated from the surrounding paving and concrete. This means that there is nothing that will vibrate the pier as I get up and off the deck during long exposures.

Now as for rain. The scope is currently being double tarped of a night time, however there are plans afoot to enclose the entire area with a sliding roof onto the pergola. Failing that, when the scope is fully aligned to my satisfaction I will take the scope off the wedge; leaving the wedge in place and aligned to the pole, and then the scope will be put in its case. This will provide and easy setup as I only need to bolt the scope back onto the wedge and astrophotography can commence as soon as the scope cools down.

The gaps in the decking will allow rain and water to easily pass through and the entire deck is constructed of permapine so that it will not rot quickly.

Now for your comments and questions. Many thanks for following this project.

[silvinator]

How wide are the gaps in the deck? I'm just getting images of filters and whatnot falling through them...

[rmcpb]

I'm envious of the whole set up but are you sure you just want to double tarp something that expensive. As well as great neighbours don't you have any light fingered people or those with a vandalistic tendancy?

I would be worried about that setup even where I live.

[rumples riot]

Thanks for the generous comments guys. Having a building trade does help with envisioning the end result and the know how. I wanted to explain the entire steps as most people in the hobby would find this very daunting, however it is not as hard as you might think. Planning and care when cutting timber is all that is needed. Being handy helps, but carpentry is not meant to be mysterious.

As for my neighbours, yes I am lucky, I have plans to extend the walls of the fence up so that they feel more secure. I had a lot of talks with them about it first and got their approval long before construction started. The extension of the walls will also help with wind reduction as I am now confronted with this menace.

Anyway thanks for your comments.

[rumples riot]

To stop filters and the like hitting the dirt underneath I have purchased carpet strips to go around the deck while observing.

As for the light fingered people. These people do exist in this area, but there are not many. Besides they must jump a 2100 high fence just to get the scope. That is after they walk up my neighbours drive way, which has an enormous Gate. Not easily climbed over. As I am home most of the time (I work from home) if they want to try and steal it while I am home, I am sure that I can give them a warm welcome. Six years in the army and ten years of full contact Karate training that needs to be utilised!!!!!

That being said though I am careful about theft and that is why I built the observatory. I was setting up in the unit car park for 6 months everynight and having to run back to my unit when I left something that I need. This way I can setup without the hassle of theft being an issue.

regards.

[[1ponders]]

Looking good Paul, looking good. :cool2: :clap:

[Comet Hunter]

Looks great Paul! Well done mate!! Will surely make observing and imaging alot more pleasant experience. :cheers:

[mick pinner]

Here's hoping for clear skies so you can reap the rewards for your hard work and obvious skills.

[rumples riot]

Well used the observatory for the first time tonight. Couple of things discovered.

For one, I jagged the height of the pier, when the scope is aimed at or near the zenith it is the perfect height when sitting in one of my outdoor chairs. So I can sit down and view the heavens. First time for that. Nice on a Autumn evening to sit there and view away.

Second, that I am going to need a work bench for things such as laptops and boxes.

Third, the alignment needs a little refinement. It tracks perfectly for 5 minutes on drift alignment, then starts to move. Good for limited photography but it needs to be near ten minutes to work well.

Forth, I am going to need a power supply to the pier itself so that I can hook up a dew heater and run the scope. I currently have power coming from under the deck which is powered from the laundry.

And finally the steps need to be made soon.

Other than that if the clouds would just go away for a week or two, so that I can catch up on all the photography and viewing that I have missed out on for the last 4 weeks. That would be good, tonight was clouded out, so I guess that is part of the curse.

[beren]

Thats looking great Paul , just realized it would have been a effort to get the OTA on the wedge before you put the decking in, i can see easily now the space now around the pier/scope but whats the view like from the western side is the roofline of the house a fair obstruction. Have you tried the smart drive function yet and pec training {may help with the tracking}.

[rumples riot]

Stuart my roof is to the South or behind me in the square on shot and my neighbours roof is sort of North east. Neither roof line provides an obstruction now. The scope can see 85% of the sky now and I am very happy with that.

As a matter of fact I have not set pec yet, but have got smart drive function on. The star that moved was the one at the zenith and it only moved half a star on the cross hairs in 6 minutes. The one to the east did not move at all in 10 minutes. That I figure should be good for two hours tracking with minimal corrections. however, I will do pec training and this might help a little better.

Thanks for taking the interest.

[Exfso]

Very professional effort Paul, wish you were around when I built mine. Yours looks to be very well planned and executed, unlike mine that was somewhat done on the fly as it were. My biggest mistake...not planning for a pier..It is going to be a nightmare to put in now..

:astron:

[rumples riot]

Not so Peter, jigsaw and some concrete and some timber and it is all done. If my back is up to it I help. Its not hard, just looks like it is hard. Least that is what I say to my employees when i give them a mission. Missions are good, you learn things from them.

Thanks for the comments

[[1ponders]]

You've touch on something I was going to ask you Paul. Is there enough room on the deck for essentials like laptop/camera gear/ accessories/esky. It looks like a pretty snug fit up there. Maybe you could build a cabinet around the base of the pillar but not touching it, to store things in til you need them.

[rumples riot]

Paul, there are plans in the back of my mind for some sort of platform / desk. Where it will be located exactly, I don't know at this stage. Nor do I know what shape it will take. Yes it is a snug deck, but I must work with what I have got. Some more thinking to be done yet.

[h0ughy]

:astron: I must say I am impressed to the levels a person will go to to achieve a goal. That is despiration extrodinaire. I haven't quite reached that level yet but i am not far from it.

Congratulations on a job well done.

What do you do for cover?

h0ughy
:confuse3:

[rumples riot]

Thanks I think!

I use an all weather stacked chair cover with plastic bag underneath to add exta protection against dust and moisture. In really rough weather I take the scope off the wedge and then reassemble later when the weather clears. I have now added the stairs and will update this thread to show the finished product. Want to paint everything first. Really pleased with how it is turning out.

[h0ughy]

:bowdown:

Paul

Anyone who has gone to the trouble of building a structure for the worship of their hobby is truely a worthy and wise person. My wisdom has yet to come, and past the roadblock (the wife)!

Have you added power to the pier assembly yet?

Houghy

[rumples riot]

Thats in the pipe line as it were. A mate who is an electrician will be coming here soon to put in out door power and some out door lights. While he is here I will get him to put power on the pier.

[rumples riot]

Here's the latest update, got sick of using the small step ladder that I have to get on the deck, so over the weekend and yesterday I constructed the steps, I kept it in the same style as the deck and am very happy with the results. I went overboard on the construction as usual, but at least I know that it will not collapse especially when moving big heavy objects.

Still some further dressing that needs doing and then finally paint.

To the right of the steps I am going to construct a full length cupboard that will house all the items that are in the bench. The bench will go and this will tidy up that end of the court yard, ready for new pavers.

Anyway there you go.

[rumples riot]

Well have finished the dressing on the stairs and painted everything. I am extremely happy with the selection of colour.

The face of the stairs is painted with charcoal and the decking painted with cedar oil. The fence will get spray painted with charcoal in the near future. Hate that green.

Anyway here is the finished product.

[[1ponders]]

That looks fantastic Paul, well done :clap: :clap: I'm amazed at how much you've managed to fit in, in such a snug space. I look forward to seeing it when its finished to your satifaction

[rumples riot]

Here is the latest installment of the observatory. As you can see from the shots I have now removed the old bench and put in a vertical cupboard (yet to put the door on it). I have installed the ED 80mm and dew heater. Anyway here are the shots.

[rumples riot]

A closer shot.

[mick pinner]

very nice RR very nice indeed.

[h0ughy]

nice work.

[Comet Hunter]

Looking good Paul, well done! :cheers:

[iceman]

Looks great, nice paintjob.

Is it polar aligned? Let's see some great DSO work! :poke:

[rumples riot]

Yes Polar aligned Mike, and am waiting till the next new moon. Maybe the following weekend.

[atalas]

Looks very comfortable Paul ,congrats.

Louie:2thumbs:

[Comet Hunter]

Do you use a portable table to do your imaging with Paul? Thought of fitting a bit of bench space to the top of back fence - simply sliding down over the top rail of the fence while you're out there?? Looks to be the right height :) Surely in the dark next door wouldn't notice for those brief few hours ;p ... Or maybe the side fence is the back fence ?? :D

[Striker]

Looking good Paul.....looks neat.

[rumples riot]

Andrew, I currently setup all my imaging equipment on the deck and stand near the deck or I sit on the steps. There are several advantages to this, First I am partly undercover from the pergola above my head, so I don't get cold and dew on me. The other is that I am totally away from the scope, so no heat blooms from me or any of my equipment can disrupt the image. Also in the months to come I plan on extending the height of both fences so that I can put a roll off roof onto the pergola. This is the final solution to the construction of the observatory.

In addition to the above I do like to stand when I am imaging, I feel more energetic about what I am doing.

Anyway, that is something to consider for the future, so I will keep it in mind.

Thanks for the comments.