Hals Posted October 30, 2020 Share Posted October 30, 2020 (edited) It's going to be nothing fancy but I'll finally have an observatory. It will be a lift off roof initially but I will convert it to a roll off next spring when the weather turns. Started on the pier, I've gone for a Todmorden pier on cost grounds. Purchased the blocks, dug out the base and concreted in. Built the pier, fixed with bolts and adhesive. It's as solid as a rock. Next step is to fit the pier adapter, brake disc type for my HEQ5, after I've drilled out bolt holes in it. The paving slab is only there because I was using it to stand on as the garden was soaked after a lot of rain. Pier faces North with the picture facing South. I have good views all around apart from some trees in the South which can't be helped. Cheers, Pete. Edited November 1, 2020 by Hals typo 15 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
souls33k3r Posted October 31, 2020 Share Posted October 31, 2020 Nice one, would love to be on this journey with you and see how you progress through it. Good lucky mate. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stargazer33 Posted October 31, 2020 Share Posted October 31, 2020 Good start. I hope to start building one next spring/summer. Our old 8x10 foot shed needs replacing. When we do that next year I'm going to modify the old one, reducing it in size to use the wood for repairs. I'm hoping to incorporate a warm room, but it depends on how much of the shed needs repairing/replacing. Good luck with your build. Look forward to following your progress - diy observatory porn! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hals Posted November 1, 2020 Author Share Posted November 1, 2020 Got the brake disc pier adapter drilled out to attach to the top of the mount, aligned North and fitted. I've direct mounted it because the top of the pier is bang on level. I've fitted an M8 bolt as an azimuth pin and tested it with the mount head - works as advertised! No pics yet because just as I finished the heavens opened. I've covered the adapter over to prevent any rusting prior to priming and painting because it's mild steel. As it stands now, at least I won't have to faff with a tripod and the next clear night I can get the mount polar aligned so I'll leave it attached from then on. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AstroNebulee Posted November 1, 2020 Share Posted November 1, 2020 On 30/10/2020 at 20:44, Hals said: It's going to be nothing fancy but I'll finally have an observatory. It will be a lift off roof initially but I will convert it to a roll off next spring when the weather turns. Started on the pier, I've gone for a Todmorden pier on cost grounds. Purchased the blocks, dug out the base and concreted in. Built the pier, fixed with bolts and adhesive. It's as solid as a rock. Next step is to fit the pier adapter, brake disc type for my HEQ5, after I've drilled out bolt holes in it. The paving slab is only there because I was using it to stand on as the garden was soaked after a lot of rain. Pier faces North with the picture facing South. I have good views all around apart from some trees in the South which can't be helped. Cheers, Pete. Great start, as someone that lives in a first floor flat with no garden as such, I'll follow your build with great enthusiasm, I'll never be able to have an obsy so enjoy watching people build theirs, clear skies 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swoop1 Posted November 1, 2020 Share Posted November 1, 2020 Pete, is that just a layer of shingle on top of concrete a,round your bottom block? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hals Posted November 1, 2020 Author Share Posted November 1, 2020 (edited) 3 hours ago, Swoop1 said: Pete, is that just a layer of shingle on top of concrete a,round your bottom block? It's a layer of gravel on top of some rocky clay, tamped down, with the bottom block set in and levelled then concreted in, and some more gravel over the top of the concrete. Edited November 1, 2020 by Hals Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swoop1 Posted November 2, 2020 Share Posted November 2, 2020 14 hours ago, Hals said: It's a layer of gravel on top of some rocky clay, tamped down, with the bottom block set in and levelled then concreted in, and some more gravel over the top of the concrete. Right. Looks a tidy way to finish off the base. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hals Posted November 2, 2020 Author Share Posted November 2, 2020 (edited) 13 hours ago, Swoop1 said: Right. Looks a tidy way to finish off the base. It will of course be hidden by the observatory floor in due course, I only put the gravel on to hid the concrete and mud ! Speaking of which I roughly marked out the base before the inevitable rain. The obsy isn't going to be large, 7ft x 7ft, a compromise that I had to make. It will be a converted shed, yes I know the general consensus is it's easier to scratch build but with my building being on par with a drunken chimpanzee it has to look reasonably tidy. So the shed\summerhouse obsy it will be. The impending lockdown will likely have an effect too, with regards to building materials, plus work considerations etc but I'll do my best. Edited November 2, 2020 by Hals 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hals Posted November 4, 2020 Author Share Posted November 4, 2020 Mount fitted to pier and polar aligned. Four corners for the base marked out, they don't look level in the picture but they are. Still got a fair bit of groundwork before building the base but coming on slowly. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hals Posted November 11, 2020 Author Share Posted November 11, 2020 (edited) Some progress. Base built, timber on concrete blocks. Weed membrane put down and covered with gravel. PVC pipe for the electrics running underneath. Floor built. All timber beams and the underside of the flooring have had three coats of preservative. Checked and all very sturdy, nice and level. Pier is completely isolated from the floor structure. At least I can image as is until I build the rest. I've decided to go for a roll off shallow apex roof from the outset now. The Obsy is 7ft x 7ft, large enough for my imaging needs with a 71mm widefield refractor and a 150 PDS. Since it'll be a converted shed/summerhouse I think I'm going to call it the Casita Observatory 😀 Edited November 11, 2020 by Hals 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigella Bryant Posted November 11, 2020 Share Posted November 11, 2020 Good progress, be worth it in the end. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AstroNebulee Posted November 11, 2020 Share Posted November 11, 2020 It's looking fantastic so far hals, your making short work of the build, I bet its so much easier when clear skies to mount the scope straight to the pier and get observing and imaging with no faffing about. Clear skies and look forward to seeing the build progress. 📷🌌🔭 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesF Posted November 11, 2020 Share Posted November 11, 2020 Indeed. Looking very promising. I've been very happy with my Todmorden piers, btw. You shouldn't have any problems there. James 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hals Posted November 12, 2020 Author Share Posted November 12, 2020 (edited) A bit more done. Built up the basic structure, just need to start strengthening it. Still pondering the rolling roof positioning. I have 75mm castors which have a total height of 100mm so I think I'll set the roll off support beams about 70mm lower than the shed sides to still allow a gap but not such a big one. If I sit the roll off beams at the top of the walls it will sit a bit too high for my liking. Still tons to do but progressing nicely 👍 Edited November 12, 2020 by Hals 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beulah Posted November 12, 2020 Share Posted November 12, 2020 Nice looking building... where did you buy it? It's an ideal size for something I have in mind... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hals Posted November 12, 2020 Author Share Posted November 12, 2020 9 minutes ago, Beulah said: Nice looking building... where did you buy it? It's an ideal size for something I have in mind... Got it from Robert Dyas Ltd. Search for Shire sheds/ summerhouses. Lots of designs, some pretty reasonable. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hals Posted November 13, 2020 Author Share Posted November 13, 2020 A bit more today. Strengthened the structure it's really solid now. Started on the roof construction too. Coming along nicely. Fresh timber has had two coats of yacht varnish to help with the rain I'll get before I get the roof done. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigella Bryant Posted November 13, 2020 Share Posted November 13, 2020 Looking good Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AstroNebulee Posted November 13, 2020 Share Posted November 13, 2020 It's looking amazing @Halsyour really zipping along with the build Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Len1257 Posted November 14, 2020 Share Posted November 14, 2020 Looking brilliant. However I think some diagonals in the walls would help to prevent long term racking? I had to use some steel cable and turnbuckles to correct one of my sheds that decided to wander off....... 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcj380 Posted November 14, 2020 Share Posted November 14, 2020 Looks great! From what I've read, more people are using concrete block piers instead of pouring concrete. Certainly easier than mixing by hand or having concrete delivered IMO. Curious how the long-term stability turns out. OTOH, if it gets out of plumb or whatever, it should be relatively easy to reseat or replace. Good luck! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smashing Posted November 15, 2020 Share Posted November 15, 2020 Looking good! Out of interest how much of the sky can you see with that, do the walls hinder in that regard at certain angles? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hals Posted November 16, 2020 Author Share Posted November 16, 2020 On 14/11/2020 at 09:26, Len1257 said: Looking brilliant. However I think some diagonals in the walls would help to prevent long term racking? I had to use some steel cable and turnbuckles to correct one of my sheds that decided to wander off....... Yes I'll probably do that in due course 👍 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hals Posted November 16, 2020 Author Share Posted November 16, 2020 22 hours ago, smashing said: Looking good! Out of interest how much of the sky can you see with that, do the walls hinder in that regard at certain angles? I should be able to see down to approx -20 Dec on the Southern view. Obsy is primarily for imaging so most of the time the scope will be at high elevation. I get a decent view all around. Next door's security light is more of a concern but the walls will mask that and I intend to fit blackout blinds on the windows. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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