My back had just made me realise what an asset an observatory will be to have at home. I am now very limited to what I can carry or move and I am glad that I got an EQ6 for portability and my new scopes to go with it, small and easily handled.
But my beloved Meade 12" needs a home, and I have been and seen many different observatories over the net, and even Strikers here in IIS. I like Striker's concept and practicality, but I am not that handy at making things. I thought of using a garden shed with Tony's ideas for the rail tracking. I have limited space but wish to maximise the setup of the observatory asmuch as possible. Cost too is a major factor, as I don't have much to play with.
5ash recently posted details about insulation, that looked like an excellent and very practical idea to adapt into any shed. some furthere details of this and cost would be appreciated.
Members of IIS, could you send in your observatory details?
Houghy, the construction of a "Striker" type observatory can be completed easily with only basic hand tools. You don't really need any experience. If you can use a hand saw and drive a nail that's about all the skills you need. It would be a little more expensive than a Tin Shed but infinitely better. Maybe some local IISers with carpentry skills could assist. I did only one year of woodwork in first year high school, yet managed to build a holiday home of my own design, from scratch, using just hand tools. If I can do it anyone can.
I reckon if you twisted Ed and George's arm, they might be able to help you build one Dave.
They seem kinda handy with their handies.
Mike if I twist it then they wouldn't be able to help
you are right though, maybe I need to have a shed raising day, put on a BBQ with some drinks and get all the supplies ready then go for it.
One thought I did have was to get a slab down then build the shed to suit the slab with colourbond walls and roof, timber frame and the c purlins as the rail. that insulation material could be fitted to the internal walls and roof.
I have had a post sitting in the drive for 8 years now that I got from a service station when it was being pulled down. I was going to use that as a basis for a pier originally, I don't know now what I will do with it
Find the auction quite hillarious myself. Sorry to hear about the bad back. Had back surgery in '94 myself. Flared up a couple months ago and was affraid I might have to go under the knife again but it finally healed up.
Take care
Find the auction quite hillarious myself. Sorry to hear about the bad back. Had back surgery in '94 myself. Flared up a couple months ago and was affraid I might have to go under the knife again but it finally healed up.
Take care
Thanks for the concern. I am hoping to aviod surgery at the moment. You know its funny, when I was 20 I could lift a car, or a fridge without beating an eyelid, now anything over 5kg is a worry. I am a large guy, and those that have seen me can vouch to that fact, however I am now a fragile as tissue paper. I think a new Me will be forthcoming next year, along with the observatory.
yes I have looked at a treco garden shed, I was looking at
Model Number Roof and Slab size Height Base Dim. (outside) Door opening
Width x Depth Width x Depth Height x Width
109S 3.07m x 2.78m 2.03m 2.95m x 2.68m 1.70m x 1.38m
this design seems to have the roof separate from the walls which would allow me to do something with it. it is on my seriously considered list. i think they are around the $600 mark
I highly recommend having your own Observatory...sure I would prefer it in a dark site....but you put up with what you have got.
Its not that hard but I did have a retired Carpenter to help and had use of all his tools.
It took a lot longer to build and was much harder then I first thought...but you know once you completed something it's always easier after the hard works has been done.
I could never have completed the observatory by myself....their is a lot of figures and measurements you have to take into account to get the roof working properly..
If you need some more photo's or questions just ask me David.(Huffy)
Houghy, I had never built anything bigger than a matchbox, then I built my house, plus my observatory, the observatory came first, I built my pad first then was given an old garden shed and went from there. All the best with the bad back, try to keep well .astroron
Houghy, I had never built anything bigger than a matchbox, then I built my house, plus my observatory, the observatory came first, I built my pad first then was given an old garden shed and went from there. All the best with the bad back, try to keep well .astroron
Ron,
Can you provide some more detail photos of the observatory, that would be great!
I also forgot to mention my observatory ended up costing a lot more then I thought.
$1000 for slab with extra pier slab at depth of 1 meter
$500 for the pine Frame work
$500 for the steel frame for the roof & steel u frame for the roll of roof.
$400 for the colour bond roof and cap with screw nails
$100 for front door and lock
$600 for the chamfer exterior boards
$100 for paint both undercoat and final coats.
Plus I gave me my neigbour $1000 for labour and use of all his tools...it took 4 weeks to build.
Plus lots of other extra's....not much change out of $5000.
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