DIY pier

[Anthonyexmouth]

starting to plan my pier, cant decide over concrete or steel or even steel filled with concrete.

if concrete im thinking 8 or 10 inch and metre high with internal power routing for a socket. 

is 8" wide enough? i've only got an heq5 at the moment but may want an eq6-r later. 

anyone got any experience and advice on pitfalls i can avoid?

[stash_old]

1 hour ago, Anthonyexmouth said:

concrete or steel or even steel filled with concrete.

Used 8" plastic under ground pipe filled with concrete topped with VW golf brake disc's works perfectly for my AZEQ6/GT - just remember to implant the steel screw rods in the final secion of the concrete pour using a template to keep things straight while the concrete goes "off". 

Pro using Plastic pipe

1. No painting - i like brown LOL

2. No rust - except for brake disc's and bolts

3. Light to move around on the built.

4. Cheaper than steel.

Cons:

1. No adjustment once concrete poured - hence use templates and supports for the pipe

2. Heavy work mixing concrete even with a cement mixer.

Whatever you choose hope all goes to plan ?

[Gina]

Most of me pier is 7.25" diameter concrete using a cardboard mailing tube for support while the concrete set and that has an EQ8 mount on it.  Solid as a rock!  Well, it is rock ?  I would have used plastic pipe if I could have got it when I built mine 7 years ago.  Used rebar and some SS 14mm threaded rod bent at the bottom end and held with a wooden "template" while the concrete set, as post above.

[Dr_Ju_ju]

I used a double air-con ducting construction, filled with concrete.

A 300mm diameter outer, sunk 2M into the ground, then a smaller 150mm plastic duct, in the middle into which are fixed stainless steel rods, which hold the mounting plates.  There are some pictures here somewhere.

[Anthonyexmouth]

2 minutes ago, Dr_Ju_ju said:

I used a double air-con ducting construction, filled with concrete.

A 300mm diameter outer, sunk 2M into the ground, then a smaller 150mm plastic duct, in the middle into which are fixed stainless steel rods, which hold the mounting plates.  There are some pictures here somewhere.

2 metres in the ground. not sure i've ever had to dig footings that deep. 

[Dr_Ju_ju]

I have a powered ground auger, which made it easy.....

[JamesF]

To save Peter the trouble I'll also mention the "Todmorden pier"

If you've not seen postings about them already, in their simplest form they're hollow concrete blocks bolted end to end to achieve the height you're after, bolted into concrete slabs or a foundation block.  Lots cheaper than steel, based on the prices I was being quoted for my observatory, and far less work mixing concrete.  If you search the forums you'll find a few examples.

I'm not going to say they're "better" (however you might define it) than steel or concrete-filled plastic/cardboard.  Just different.  But worthy of consideration, certainly.

James

[Chriske]

Hi,

Steel pier filled with loose sand. It does absorbs vibration far better than any material.
You should fill it completely, and most of all the sand should be firmly pressed.

[Anthonyexmouth]

6 hours ago, Dr_Ju_ju said:

I have a powered ground auger, which made it easy.....

So there's no issue with it being only 300 wide, I guess the depth compensates. Could do the same, I've got an auger, biggest I got is 250 but could hire a 300. Would you use a 150 post again or go bigger?

[Dr_Ju_ju]

the 150 was to reduce the size & lift it above the 300, so that there was no possibility of mount & pier clashing...

[Anthonyexmouth]

10 minutes ago, Dr_Ju_ju said:

the 150 was to reduce the size & lift it above the 300, so that there was no possibility of mount & pier clashing...

Ah ok, how high was the 300mm? Have you got a picture?

[Dr_Ju_ju]

This may give you a better idea

    

[Anthonyexmouth]

17 minutes ago, Dr_Ju_ju said:

This may give you a better idea

    

Cool, think I might plan something similar. Going through deck so might bring 300 to deck level then 200 above that. Nice and neat using a hole saw and auger. 

[spillage]

The same as @stash_old. Only difference is that I used 6" black reinforced plastic pipe. I dug down about 700mm and 1x1m and then used and auger to bore 8" holes in each corner down another 900mm and one in the middle to fit the pipe.