Hi Folks, I've decided to make a pier to reduce some of my setup time of an evening. I've got good access to just about any size of RHS or Schedule 40 pipe I want, and a full machining shop at my beck and call, so the actual fabrication shouldn't be too much of a challenge. What size should I use for my pier though ? I'll be mounting a Meade Ultrawedge on top of the pier and then my 10". I'm sure bigger is better, and I could go up to 16" schedule 40 , but I reckon somewhere around 6" is probably overkill enough once it is filled with sand .. any thoughts ? Is 6" too large ? Is 6" too small ?
It will be out in the open for the time being, but once we finalise our move, I'll unbolt it and it will become the pier for the roll off at the new place.
I'll get this started.
I built a pier that is bolted to 4 studs sticking out of concrete, lower than the grass surface.
I used 6" steel pipe, about 4mm thick (I can measure this if you need). Given a newt it is only 600mm tall.
The AP mount (and a proliferation of previous mounts) have all fitted via an adaptor of some sort.
I have 12 volts to this pier and this powers the mount and anything else that I throw at it. From this same 6" stuff I built a second one, this time on wheels.
Need pictures, just ask. There are plenty of folk who have piers so you will no doubt glean all manner of ideas.
Gary
I have only ever built cement piers. But I would say for your steel pier make it as big in diameter as possible without it getting in the way. If you can get 6" diameter steel, don't make it out of anything less. The old saying is a mount or in this case pier cannot be too rigid.
I built mine as big as possible without getting in the way then filled it up with river sand...I'm not planning on moving anytime soon and who know's what scope you may want to mount on it 2 years down the track...lol
I love my Pier....I have grown very attached to it...hehehe
I cant help but notice that most piers fabricated here , are not made to eliminate the need for a wedge, why is that guys,,,when I make mine ill build the 17 degrees into it. Is there anything wrong with that approach ? am I missing a point here...mine will look like half a snorkle..
Not sure why I would bother to build in the lattitude angle to be honest. I liked the concept of a perfectly flat (yeah right) top, to make alt/az adjustments easier.
The mounts I have had on mine have all had the polar altitude as part of the mount (G-11, EM200, AP600E), so the flat top has been what has been required. What mount will you put on it, and don't forget Strikers future-proofing concept, who knows what mount you will have in years to come.
Go for both. Make the pier strong enough and at a good working height with a flat top base, the mounting holes on the top plate can be made to suit the bottom of the wedge. Make up a new "wedge" from plate and fit to pier. That way you have all the bases covered.
I can use my pier for both the Genesis TV GEM mount and the Super wedge for the 12" LX200.
Thanks folks, Gbeal, the idea of power coming out of the pier is attractive, I might build in a 240V and 12V powersupply, I'll also be running cat5 out there to hook up the laptop rather than wireless I'm currently running.
SirDystic I think the concept of latitude built in is nice, but there is no room for error, or movement, and that ( asimov ) is also why I'll fill mine with sand over concrete at this stage, as we are planning a move, and I don't want to leave the pier behind ( we are just settling on a property under dark skies ). Once we move it'll be minimix time !
Striker, that is about the sexiest pier I've seen, is it fabricated out of SS ? Great Idea ! I might have to copy that idea, i'd not even thought of weather ! We've got some 316 and 304 out the back of the workshop in 8" sched 40, so that may be the answer, then I'll fab the mounting plate out of plate steel as that will be covered, and my ss welding leaves a lot to be desired .
Go for both. Make the pier strong enough and at a good working height with a flat top base, the mounting holes on the top plate can be made to suit the bottom of the wedge. Make up a new "wedge" from plate and fit to pier. That way you have all the bases covered.
I can use my pier for both the Genesis TV GEM mount and the Super wedge for the 12" LX200.
Way to go. Makes swapping and changing mounts pretty easy.
excellent.
Fully stainless steel...thats what happens when your father in law is a stainless steel boiler maker...you have to take advantage of the family in law when possible....lol
That bottom plate on mine is solid just like the top 2 plates and I couldn't even lift the bottom plate on my own.
I'm telling you the pier wont be that sexy if I had to move it...hehehe
Al,
for the 12 volt, I used an old computer power supply, and it is about 15 meters from the pier (inside the hanger). Once it is 12 volt DC it is a simple 2 core wire that is slightly underground along the kerb/grass edge. From the ground it sneaks into the bottom, and up inside the hollow pipe, then out to a selection of four RCA female sockets. These sockets are "up under, and pointing down", so as to reduce the water problems.
The whole thing was made when I had a G-11, and as well as the 4 RCA, there is a simple fitting to give 12 volts to the mount (then the G-11). RCA's get used for dew heaters filter wheel etc.
Only snag is I "stalled" the 12 volts one night with a camera that drew more power than I thought. Electricity was never my strong point.
Go for it.
Gary
Striker the SS looks excellent, I've got the SS put aside out the back 8" Schedule 40, according to my calcs it should take a pivotal load up to about 850-900 kG at one metre with zero deflection, now I just need to work out the height required, I based my calcs on 1100mm which I'll settle on more than likely, draw it up and fab away ! I'm thinking I'll have the top adjustable plate spigot into the underside of my wedge for some overkill rigidity.
gbeal, great idea, I'll follow your 'lead', excuse the pun, on that one,
I've got some conduit to run up the inside of the pier so I can still fill it with sand and have conduit grometts to run the cable in. The heater control I'll also mount inside the wedge in a removable door for maintenance, and run the RCA's to the underside of the first mounting plate. I've got a sparky mate who'll run 240 out to the pier and mount a weatherproof switch for me so I can plug the laptop in. I'm also thinking I'll mount a couple of red leds on the underside of the first top plate so if I have visitors over I can turn them on to identify any stray cables.
Now all I've got to do is borrow an air pistol and take out the 2 street lights that stream into our yard
Hmmm nice idea but it might look a bit sus, being as it's only my yard on the corner Oh well, we've just put in an offer on some property out of the city, so all going well it will be someone elses problem in a couple of months!
, but I reckon somewhere around 6" is probably overkill enough once it is filled with sand .. any thoughts ? Is 6" too large ? Is 6" too small ? 
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Oh well, we've just put in an offer on some property out of the city, so all going well it will be someone elses problem in a couple of months!
