Astrokev

The wealth of response regarding that corner has got me thinking and I think you're all probably right. Sharp things in the dark are asking for an unpleasant incident. I'll put my thinking hat on and see what I can do. That's got to be good for another few thread pages ?

5 hours ago, JamesF said:

I don't feel even remotely close to finishing mine yet

James

You've no chance of beating the length of my thread James; you work far too quickly and efficiently! ?

Laying down the challenge there.....

5 hours ago, yesyes said:

 

BTW... Are you trying to beat Gina's record of the longest build thread?

Damn, I've been rumbled!

i think it actually says more about me being a slow worker! ?

But I'm nearly there.....

49 minutes ago, Rusted said:

Hi Kev,

If that is the door opened right back to the wall then I'd put a 45° mitre on the end of that shelf.

There is a potential risk of injury from being trapped between the door and the sharp corner of the shelf.

Well, let's say there would be, if that was my door and my shelf. 

Thanks ? . I was going to put some kind of rubber door stop on the end of the shelf but, to be honest, this was to prevent the door handle bashing into the wall and gouging holes in it, or bending the handle. I hadn't considered the risk of personal injury so thanks for that!

Well, it's not much, but it's a start - on the shelving that is.

It was pretty miserable out there with blustery showers. I did as much as I could inside the observatory with the roof closed but, for the longer lengths that needed cutting, I got a bid fed up with being rained on so called it a day. The basic method and sizes are worked out though, which is good, so shouldn't take me long to finish the shelving off the next dry spell we get. The plan is to put a single ~6" shelf around three sides of the scope room to put the paraphernalia we seem to need in the middle of the night; bit safer that putting them on the floor and stepping on them!

2 hours ago, JamesF said:

You apparently have an astro blog that's sadly in need of an update, too

James

Yep. I'm going to replace that with a website once I get round to it.

1 hour ago, Stargazer33 said:

Oh if my little foray into imaging is anything to go by, you will be WELL distracted by understanding digital imaging, let alone mastering it Kev! ???

Thanks!  I'll keep you posted ?

1 hour ago, Gina said:

  Mine works - nuff said!!

...…and that's all that matters Gina .

As I've touched on a few times in this thread, in addition to finally doing something I've been promising myself for decades, my build has been a project to help keep me focussed after going through a tough few years in my personal life. This is not the right place to expand, but building my observatory has helped provide some momentary distractions to help me deal with life's challenging (probably the most challenging) events. My love of practical astronomy had fallen by the wayside over the past umpteen years, mainly due to work pressure I think. Since opting for early retirement, that pressure has gone, enabling me to re-engage with the practical side of the hobby (before I'm too old to do so!). My wife was very supportive of me doing this crazy hobby, and always encouraged me to build an observatory, but I never did. Well, now I have, and although she's not here to see it, it gives me some small comfort knowing that it's what she wanted.

Sorry for this rather self-indulgent post. The weather's lousy, my kids are away today, and I'm stuck inside on my own - I guess feeling a bit sorry for myself. The world will be a happier place once the sun returns and I can finish building the thing. Although this will be a shame in a way, as I'll need to find something else to challenge my mind, hopefully once I can start using it in earnest this will continue to provide the focus and distraction I need. Mastering digital imaging is on the list!  

1 hour ago, Rusted said:

Blimey! Real door handles, locks and posh mouldings for the architraves? ?

I feel so inadequate. I don't even have any architraves! 

I went for the rustic, sawn finish, 4x4s and an untidy gap.

Do you think anybody will notice?

I doubt it. And even if they do, would they care? Probably not.

This is just the perfectionist in me. I'm certainly not doing it to impress anyone. 

If it concerns you, you may be pleased to hear I won't be filling any of the screw holes. Shock, horror, what will the neighbours think! ?

Had a pretty good day today. Weather held up, which was a bonus, although there's definitely something brewing. The wind was starting to pick-up by the end of the afternoon, so I locked down the roof with the turnbuckles, just in case.

I finished fixing the door handles on the inner door, then completed bits of ply above both doors that I'd missed when I lined the walls. Then I fixed door stops on the inner door, and architrave around both sides of the inner door and around the inside of the outer door. So, at long last the walls and doors are now complete!

Before packing up I measured up for simple shelving around the scope room, which is the next job. Not sure the weather will hold up tomorrow, but if it's dry I'll try and get out to buy some timber battens and make a start on this.

So, my to-do list is now pretty short -

1 - Make and fix shelving in scope room

2 - Paint scope room walls

3 - Put down foam tiles in scope room

4 - Paint warm room

5 - Fix door seals around the inner door to help insulate

6 - Put down carpet tiles in warm room

7 - Make desk-of-sorts in warm room (and possibly shelving / cupboard)

8 - Install electrics

1-6 should be easy to do over the next few obsy-days. Haven't given any thought to the desk yet, and the electrics may take a little longer  

23 minutes ago, Merlin66 said:

Blob of BlueTac on the wire???

 

Was just about to say the same as I read James' post ?

A little more progress today. Managed to hang the inner door without too much problem, then spent ages hacking out a slot for the lock. Just need to fit the handles tomorrow and I have two working doors. Woo-hoo! 

Wonderful! It must feel great to be out under the stars again. 

BUT - don't fall into the trap of not finishing the to-do list! Easy thing to let happen now you're operational. 

5 minutes ago, Rusted said:

Lucky devil!  The only thing we were allowed to take home were colds and 'flu.

I'd use a continuous strip of something like good quality, self adhesive draught excluder.

Otherwise you'll be wasting valuable observing time constantly re-dressing the pier gap. 

Yes that's a thought. I have loads of that as well!

Actually, I've just remembered. I have a huge box of foam in the cabin (the stuff that's partially cut into little squares for storing fragile equipment in drawers/boxes - a useful unwanted item from work ?).  I'll probably use some of that; easy to work with and very soft so no risk of transmitting vibration. 

26 minutes ago, wimvb said:

Only after you drop that one little screw down there, you realise how important it was. ?

I'd also avoid rockwool in that gap. It's itchy and generates dust when handled.

Yes I thought that too, but this stuff seems fine. I used it in the warm room and have been handling it without gloves with no adverse reaction at all. 

Great

Didn't have much time today due to regular Monday toddler sitting duty ?, but I did manage a few minutes to screw the cable conduit to the pier and to refit the flooring. The gap around the pier is only about 1cm, so not big enough to lose anything important down there, but I'll still put something in the gap. Not sure whether to use left over rock-wool, or maybe some offcuts from the foam tiles.

1 hour ago, JamesF said:

Ah, see, you can't beat a list

Looks good though.  Getting very near to finishing now.

James

Thankfully, yes. 

All my other projects and jobs have been well on-hold for far too long now (all residing patiently in a list!). 

41 minutes ago, JamesF said:

These days I can't remember everything that needs doing unless I have a list.  And I try to avoid thinking about how long it is.  I can at least console myself with the fact that it's far shorter than the list of other stuff I have to do around the house and garden

James

Yes, I'm the king of listing. I have a list to organise my lists ?

Glorious day today, with not a cloud in the sky. Boring chores all morning in the house, but this afternoon I cut out the door frame for the hinges in the sunshine in a T-shirt and was actually sweating! What's going on with the weather ?.

So, here're a few pics of today's progress. I made the door with smaller studding than the outer door, which meant I could actually lift the thing, which was a bonus!

Once the hinges were on, I offered it up to the frame and checked for fit. Seems pretty good, so next job is to cut out the door liner for the hinges. I've bought the same door furniture as the outer door which is possibly overkill, but provides a second layer of security should anyone get through the outer door.

Inspired by @JamesF here's the list of remaining jobs -

- Fit internal door & architrave

- Fit door furniture

- Paint scope room walls (blue) and warm room walls (? but not blue)

- Lay foam tiles in scope room

- Lay carpet tiles in warm room

- Make & fit shelving

- Make & fit desk / cupboards of some sort

- Fit electrics

- Do anything else I've forgotten

1 hour ago, JamesF said:

It's been a lovely weekend here.  A little breezy yesterday, but whilst I wasn't quite prepared to switch to shorts today it was certainly comfortable enough to be t-shirt weather.  I've pretty much been outdoors from after breakfast until gone sunset both days.  Unfortunately I've not made huge amounts of progress with the observatory (again) because of catching up with other things that need doing.

However, I have made a list of jobs that I need to get done.  Two lists in fact, one for things that can be done now without needing to buy more materials and the other for which I do need further purchases.  On the first list I have:

James

Lists are really useful, but I found can also be quite demoralizing as they serve as a blunt reminder of just how much work there is still to do! Fortunately my list is getting quite short now

A bit more progress made today. Door frame completed - just ready to cut-in the hinges and door lock. With a following wind I hope to at least get some hinges on tomorrow. Famous last words, perhaps!  

Lovely, warm and sunny this afternoon and it was a joy to potter about in the observatory.

I put up the door lining between the warm and scope rooms. Once I'd finished making sawdust I finally sprayed the pier. I could've left it as it was but, if I'm honest, red oxide isn't my favourite finish. It's now a pleasant shade of slate grey

I also started to make the door, which I could do in the garden so as not to contaminate the fresh lick of paint with more sawdust. Both sides are cut from 9mm ply. I didn't have enough studding to make the inner supporting frame, so this is a job for tomorrow. While I'm out buying wood, I may also get some paint for the walls to co-ordinate with the pier. Again, I could leave the walls as they are, but I'd rather give them at least a single coat to help protect them from damp and dew, especially the end grain along the top edges. Once the walls are painted I'll put the foam tiles down, which arrived yesterday.

Starting to come together.

1 hour ago, sloz1664 said:

That looks truly amazing Steve. Anyone have any suggestions for restoring a white dome?

Steve  

Step 1 - paint it green ?