[Lee]

I'm planning on a roll-off observatory soon, with a steel pier for the G-11. Looking on cloudynights' pier design article, gives specs for piers that look like an elephant could lean on it whilst imaging at 40 metres f/l and not get a trail....

After some basic investigations I'm thinking of a pier around a metre long, made of 168mm OD steel pipe (4mm thick) welded to a plate of steel (prob 10mm thick). Should I need gussets at the base? Do I really need bigger than this?

Any DIYers have any recommendations/cautions????