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Simple Shed Idea for astronomy : Please look and comment.

deepview

By deepview
in DIY Observatories

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deepview

deepview

Posted
Posted

Hi All,

Just thinking of a simple shed design to take off the roof if its light weight design.

I would like you ideas on, would it work? and what matirals would best used?

I can see i need to move the door to the side so i can access the roof bolts.

Please help with ideas as i have the mount for the sky watcher that i can bolt to the ground after the shed setup.
post-11688-0-83969100-1443214269_thumb.p

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Tinker1947

Tinker1947

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Polycarbonate will make a lightweight roof, getting hold of it and lifting it off may be difficult due to its size not the weight......i got round the size problem with a couple of scaffold poles and some 125mm castors with the rubber tyres removed....

DSC_1658.jpg

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Zakalwe

Zakalwe

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You could get a heavy duty tarpaulin (one off the side of a curtainsider truck would be perfect, if you have a van breakers near you.). Fit some eyelets into it and then use a cord threaded through to secure it to some hooks fastened along the side of the obsy. Not the securest solution, but very light and easy to remove and refasten.

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JamesF

JamesF

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You could get a heavy duty tarpaulin (one off the side of a curtainsider truck would be perfect, if you have a van breakers near you.). Fit some eyelets into it and then use a cord threaded through to secure it to some hooks fastened along the side of the obsy. Not the securest solution, but very light and easy to remove and refasten.

There are places that make covers for trailers from the same sort of stuff.  They'll usually put the eyelets in for you too.

James

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deepview

deepview

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Polycarbonate will make a lightweight roof, getting hold of it and lifting it off may be difficult due to its size not the weight......i got round the size problem with a couple of scaffold poles and some 125mm castors with the rubber tyres removed....

 

DSC_1658.jpg

I like the idea of rollers and slide it off just not got much room so trying to keep it small to cover the mount.

If i could get a small shed to cover the mount i would be happy.

Ive got knee problems so hopping to get some one to build it and make it so i can setup the mount and leave it with out polar aligning every time.

Going to use some software to align one its setup.

Got lots of plans, once im happy ill setup the eq6 as well.

Thanks for the message.

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deepview

deepview

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You could get a heavy duty tarpaulin (one off the side of a curtainsider truck would be perfect, if you have a van breakers near you.). Fit some eyelets into it and then use a cord threaded through to secure it to some hooks fastened along the side of the obsy. Not the securest solution, but very light and easy to remove and refasten.

Hi , Ive got some tarpaulin and like the simple idea, could make it like a curtain and slide it over.

Give me some new ideas.

Thanks for the ideas. Back the drawing bord before i build.

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Scorpius

Scorpius

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An alternative that some people use when they have limited space is a small shed that only just covers the telescope and rolls away completely, at which point it can be used as a shelter for a laptop etc.

James

Initially, I considered trying something like this.

The plan was to recess treated 4x4’s (or even better – 4x6’s turned edge ways) about halfway in the ground, then mount some sort of tracks on each one. The shed would be set on rollers attached to the bottom boards supporting two parallel walls (two longest walls if building's rectangular) and some type of stops (heavy duty L-brackets?) would be affixed to the timbers on both ends – and on both sides – to keep it from rolling too far and falling of the tracks. This would allow it to be placed back in the same spot each time & the ability to also use it as a “control pod” would be a big advantage to this design. You’d need to roll it far enough away from the scope not to obstruct its view – or at least in the direction of an obstruction that already exists.

The timbers would need to be placed on solid ground, leveled along their lengths - & from side to side – & placed exactly parallel to one another for it to work effectively.

Never came to fruition once I decided to tackle a more ambitious project but in retrospect, a “rolling shed” would have been much cheaper & less time consuming to build. If you decide to try it, I’d recommend a permanent (or semi-permanent) pier which should be done before shed construction begins. The door should not have a threshold and should be on the side opposite direction of travel so the scope & pier can pass through the open door when the shed is rolled away..  :smiley:

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deepview

deepview

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Initially, I considered trying something like this.

The plan was to recess treated 4x4’s (or even better – 4x6’s turned edge ways) about halfway in the ground, then mount some sort of tracks on each one. The shed would be set on rollers attached to the bottom boards supporting two parallel walls (two longest walls if building's rectangular) and some type of stops (heavy duty L-brackets?) would be affixed to the timbers on both ends – and on both sides – to keep it from rolling too far and falling of the tracks. This would allow it to be placed back in the same spot each time & the ability to also use it as a “control pod” would be a big advantage to this design. You’d need to roll it far enough away from the scope not to obstruct its view – or at least in the direction of an obstruction that already exists.

The timbers would need to be placed on solid ground, leveled along their lengths - & from side to side – & placed exactly parallel to one another for it to work effectively.

Never came to fruition once I decided to tackle a more ambitious project but in retrospect, a “rolling shed” would have been much cheaper & less time consuming to build. If you decide to try it, I’d recommend a permanent (or semi-permanent) pier which should be done before shed construction begins. The door should not have a threshold and should be on the side opposite direction of travel so the scope & pier can pass through the open door when the shed is rolled away..  :smiley:

Hi, Thanks but can you send a image or design so i can see what you mean.

Or do you mean like the shed below?

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gtis

gtis

Posted
Posted

Hi All,

Just thinking of a simple shed design to take off the roof if its light weight design.

I would like you ideas on, would it work? and what matirals would best used?

I can see i need to move the door to the side so i can access the roof bolts.

Please help with ideas as i have the mount for the sky watcher that i can bolt to the ground after the shed setup.

attachicon.gifshed design.png

Hi

I was thinking about the same design using a tarpaulin or thick sheet of plastic

Fixing it on the long side and on the other sides bungee cords and screw eyelets

When I want to use it un clip the bungees and just throw it over the long fixed side

This is only to house a pier ,I will put the scope on when I want to use it

Neil

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han59

han59

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Hi,

Like the idea of a plastic shed but i will have to find the right size. Thanks for the idea. :grin:

If you look around you find many metal or plastic sheds. The problem with most is that the roof is assemblied in pieces. The metal sheds often have no floor which is an initial disadvantage. I prefer a raised and closed floor to keep it dry and insects and mice out. This 4x6 is the only one I found available having a roof out of one piece of material which is a pre in the wet climate here. Inner floor size is 110x176 cm, just enough. My next version will be most likely a wooden shed version with a “bat wing” roof. But very light removable roof could be good alternative.

This is a nice example of metal shed with removable roof:

http://www.rc-astro.com/equipment/old_observatory/

Han

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Scorpius

Scorpius

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Posted

Hi, Thanks but can you send a image or design so i can see what you mean.

Or do you mean like the shed below?

Can’t offer a design based on experience with building one myself but here’s a few links & an image found on CN that should give you a general idea of the basic design…

http://stargazerslounge.com/topic/234625-mikes-roll-away-shed-observatory/

http://www.philharrington.net/swo/index.htm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNW-ZDyyw-I

post-37916-0-21685700-1444057585.jpg

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ollypenrice

ollypenrice

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Posted

Can’t offer a design based on experience with building one myself but here’s a few links & an image found on CN that should give you a general idea of the basic design…

http://stargazerslounge.com/topic/234625-mikes-roll-away-shed-observatory/

http://www.philharrington.net/swo/index.htm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNW-ZDyyw-I

attachicon.gif5711830-5697636-20130224_135327.jpg

Yup, I think this is the way to go. I built two like this but I missed a trick which would have made life so much easier.

Use a pier which you build first, and then set up the rails. I've used all sorts of wheels but I think the best are upward pointing vee section male rails and female metal wheels. They are made for rolling garden gates.

Then make a flat plywood floor which runs on the wheels-rails. Cut a slot half way into it to allow it to roll round the pier and then but up against it to define the closed position.

Assemble whatever cheapo garden 'sentry box' style shed you like on the plywood base.

Incredibly simple. One of my two is still going strong after over ten years. The other I dismantled when I built a bigger observatory. The roll-off sentry box really does work and makes a warm room when rolled off.

Singlin on here made a superbly attractive version with a nice timber shed but cheapo plastic sheds would also work fine. Put some insulation inside the roof to drive condensation onto the walls and so away from the scope.

Olly

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