I'm hearing you about going bog-eyed at triangles! I had to cut through my 6mm plywood for a 3v dome with a clapped out old makita jig saw! Next time I will get a high quality cutter of some sort, build a decent jig and electric sand all the edges after cutting, before assembling.
How did you join your triangles mate? I came up with an idea of making small pentagons or hexagons that screwed in the centre of the triangle joins. This solved a lot of problems and really pulled the structure VERY RIGID!
I'm hearing you about going bog-eyed at triangles! I had to cut through my 6mm plywood for a 3v dome with a clapped out old makita jig saw! Next time I will get a high quality cutter of some sort, build a decent jig and electric sand all the edges after cutting, before assembling.
How did you join your triangles mate? I came up with an idea of making small pentagons or hexagons that screwed in the centre of the triangle joins. This solved a lot of problems and really pulled the structure VERY RIGID!
Slightly diferent approach,, cut all the triangles 1 or 2 mill small ,,,used construction adhesive and 4.5 mm pvc moulding and 4 mm hardwwood ply. Its just the shape I wanted, over that is going 20 0z chopped mat and polyester resin, inside 20 oz glass tape on the seems 2 inches wide again with resin. the bit Ive done so far is really stong, I dont think Im going to get any issues with sag , when I cut the slit in, the rollers will be located according weight distribution in the bottom ring of the dome as opposed to the bases ring, just to be different....
Gee Shawn we just took a dome the same size to the tip, brand new . You should have said something would have saved you building one
Sorry just kidding ,
Looking great ... spelling correction "Geodystic" is the way it spelt in Aus
alex
Cutting the Slit in was a bit of a challenge, I expected all sorts of movement, but no worked out well,,framing up the slit is trickier than appears.. Ill write a DIY for IIS when its finished ,,Ive made a few expensive mistakes along the way, but I dont see how you cant build one for less than 1500.00 and a weeks spare time. If given the right guidance,, latest pics are here.. http://ravenshoe.net/bbs/YaBB.pl?num=1156672005/0
Be more coming soon, Ill write a DIY honest.. as soon as its finished..
Very nice job Shaun! Looks like you got the new goods instead of the recycled ply that I used. Tell me your plans with coating the plywood. Rubber paint? Fibreglass? It is going to cost me around $600 bucks to glass mine. I've been waiting to win lotto for months now!
Very nice job Shaun! Looks like you got the new goods instead of the recycled ply that I used. Tell me your plans with coating the plywood. Rubber paint? Fibreglass? It is going to cost me around $600 bucks to glass mine. I've been waiting to win lotto for months now!
As yo can see Ive done the bottom layer I used hardwood bracing ply. your right about the cost of glassing, this is where i can save you money.
1, buy a 20 liter bucket of polyester resin,,its cheaper.
2 use light chopped strand the nedium is to absorbant, uses too much resin.
3 buy a couple of packets of 10x cheap chinese brushes, cheaper than thinners and the brushes goot buggared anyway.
3 Dont forget to put in the catalyst like I did,,
Lots more pics to follow,,sums, rational, insanity, etc,,will put in some order later. but for those who are following,,feel free to tell me how NUTS I am...LOL
I said I would not post until it was shiny and white.
All finished, And am in the process of writing a DIY, for this project. From Inception thru all types of insanity and paraniod behaviour, thru to this , Conception..
I thank all my friends here for the kind words that kept me going...And Barry If you read this and ask me how much it cost all up,,,be forwarned I intend to lie ,,,
Here it is, 5 meter Geo Dome, with up and over and slide down. Total weight approx 250 kg...
. You should have said something would have saved you building one
, 
... spelling correction "Geodystic" is the way it spelt in Aus
