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  #21  
Old 15-09-2019, 11:33 AM
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Sounds like a lot of fun getting back to the scope at the top of the studio. Very convenient. Yes the trains made my brick office shake.

I am still not sure why everyone digs a square hole and builds up from the bottom while most buildings are built on drilled 450 diameter piers. Drilled and filled in one day by one contractor and could not cost more and yet would be deeper and stiffer. Not hard to fill yourself with a barrow.

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Originally Posted by bojan View Post
It will be something like this:
https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/430284-pier-diameter/?p=5555324

Many more ideas are here.
In highschool times, I spent many, many evenings in the dome of the Zagreb's Observatory... it's telescope is mounted on brick arch ~0.75m square, 4~5m high on the upper floor of the building..
Yes, the whole building (11th century tower) was shaking when occasional truck passed through the street below, but due to isolated wooden floor of the dome, our own movements inside did not affect the scope (for visual).
And, it will be only me in the studio (or the setup will be operated remotely from living room) so... I do not expect problems.
I only hope the pier will eventually stabilise quickly and not move significantly over lnger period of time..
One funny thing is also the same (or similar).. to my young days.. the smell of the pigeon poo was overwhelming during summer evenings when climbing on the wooden stairway (the space between stone walls and woodwork was infested by them).. and here in Mt Pleasant my neighbour keeps pigeons.. so I am also sor of travelling back in time with this project :-).
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  #22  
Old 16-09-2019, 09:36 AM
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Concrete blocks are also quick to place and the overall cost is the ~same...
I decided not to do it myself, it would have done it 10 years ago but in my 70'ies .. it is better for me if someone else do it :-)
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  #23  
Old 16-09-2019, 04:21 PM
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Yes, in your case inside a building, filled reinforced concrete blockwork is the way to go. Glad you have someone to help.

I just wonder about the logic in an open field with access to machinery, disturbing all that ground. Even screw piles might be better.
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  #24  
Old 17-09-2019, 09:35 AM
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Well, next week is a go for pier.
Concreter can't say which day when exactly, but job will be finished by Thursday 26th (Friday is AFL holiday in VIC).

On coming weekend I will try to cut the square hole in existing concrete slab (using angle grinder, diamond disk and plenty of water), the cut off may then be used as a base for pier at the bottom of the pit.. all depends on concreter.
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  #25  
Old 27-09-2019, 12:37 PM
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Pier is in place...
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  #26  
Old 30-09-2019, 08:32 PM
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Well done Bojan. Cut the concrete and got the pier in. Looks good and solid.
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  #27  
Old 01-10-2019, 12:46 PM
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Yep, it should be sufficiently stable.

What's not shown on images is the hole we dug (~75cm), where the pier sits.
Next step is to build the lid and then open the roof....
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  #28  
Old 17-10-2019, 01:39 PM
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Just bought 4 of those:
They will be mounted on the outside wall of study, to support those.



Getting there.. slowly but surely.



After the rails are mounted on the roof, I will need couple of sunny days to remove the color bond sheets from the roof (and expose the obs to the sky) and place new sheets on the sliding frame.....
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  #29  
Old 20-10-2019, 04:30 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bojan View Post
Just bought 4 of those:
They will be mounted on the outside wall of study, to support those.


Getting there.. slowly but surely.



After the rails are mounted on the roof, I will need couple of sunny days to remove the color bond sheets from the roof (and expose the obs to the sky) and place new sheets on the sliding frame.....
Great to see you are getting there the first thing I look for is how you are going.
Alex
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  #30  
Old 20-10-2019, 07:12 PM
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Alex,

thank you for your moral support :-)
It is a slow progress, but I am not in a hurry... I am thinking obs to be operational by end of Jan next year.
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  #31  
Old 20-10-2019, 09:51 PM
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I am in a hurry and it is still a slow process.
I honestly thought mine being so simple would be finished in a month.
Alex
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  #32  
Old 21-10-2019, 06:15 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by xelasnave View Post
I am in a hurry and it is still a slow process.
I honestly thought mine being so simple would be finished in a month.
Alex

Well, mine could also be finished in 2 man/weeks in total...

But because I am still working for the man full time, and Ballarat is 120km away... I simply have to be patient with all this.

Also, I do not want to make another conceptual mistake.. because once something like this is done (like removing perfectly good roof) it is very expensive to go back a step. Not to mention the explaining the situation to SWMBO...

So... no hurry.
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  #33  
Old 21-10-2019, 09:35 AM
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I had some great news this morning.
Went out the drive and there are two workmen in the way sitting at a card table having morning tea...they moved of course but told me that the dirt road is in the process of being paved...even though a little way from the road the dust was worrying me...so hopefully by the time the observatory is fine nished the dust problem won't be there.
I am just so lucky.
Alex
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  #34  
Old 21-10-2019, 09:59 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by xelasnave View Post
I had some great news this morning.
Went out the drive and there are two workmen in the way sitting at a card table having morning tea...they moved of course but told me that the dirt road is in the process of being paved...even though a little way from the road the dust was worrying me...so hopefully by the time the observatory is fine nished the dust problem won't be there.
I am just so lucky.
Alex
Did you asked them to help you with obs?
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  #35  
Old 21-10-2019, 10:16 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bojan View Post
Did you asked them to help you with obs?
No I don't need any help.
It's near done. I only have to drive in the star pickets mix half a mtr of concrete, screw down the floor and its more or less done.
Putting up the telegraph poles for the van pup tent seems difficult but I can do it.
It's funny with crook legs I have introduced all sorts of things to lift and move stuff that and patience gets all sorts of jobs done.
I hope to move some batteries that it takes three big men to move just with my new stuff..endless chain (2 of) little turfer lots of rope and ramps.
I find it satisfying.
Alex
Alex

I have both piers complete and all the bolts.
Alex

Last edited by RB; 21-10-2019 at 10:34 AM.
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  #36  
Old 29-12-2019, 12:41 PM
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Work is progressing.. too slow for my taste but considering heat and my age... I'm guessing it can't be much better
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  #37  
Old 26-02-2020, 07:23 AM
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Progress so far.. during un-planned holiday (company I worked for went belly-up. It will re-surface like phoenix, but it still remain to be seen if I will be re-instated...)
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  #38  
Old 26-02-2020, 08:27 AM
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Sorry to hear about the company but take advantage of the turn of events. Little and often is the key. Good luck and don't over extend yourself.
Alex
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  #39  
Old 01-03-2020, 01:15 PM
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Looks like it is rolling nicely.
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  #40  
Old 01-03-2020, 02:22 PM
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Yes, movement is smooth.
to prevent rain ingress, I used 70mm brush (Bunnigs).. I hope it will be sufficient.
Anyhow, possible refinements (and I have couple of them on my mind already) will be much easier from inside, once the roof is opened (this will be done in the next couple of weekends... because as the things are at the moment, I will have my job back (in the new/old company), starting from tomorrow) .
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