Tweedledee Posted April 21, 2017 Share Posted April 21, 2017 1 hour ago, stash said: Forgot I had this is my bookmarks https://www.cloudynights.com/articles/cat/articles/how-to/pier-design-fundamentals-r1236 good to get to sleep on. Thanks for posting that, some useful info there. I like the recommendation for 36" of concrete base. Mine had a full metre cubed, just to be on the safe side in case of frost, earthquake, volcanic activity, ICBMs etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smithysteve Posted April 22, 2017 Share Posted April 22, 2017 12 hours ago, stash said: Forgot I had this is my bookmarks https://www.cloudynights.com/articles/cat/articles/how-to/pier-design-fundamentals-r1236 good to get to sleep on. All good info! mine like Petes is a metre cube. Some isolate the cube from the rest of the base but some say it is more solid to combine the cube with the 6" base. I have done the latter. Of course, whatever you do, your foundations are still sitting in the garden... and so can be subject to vibration from passing heavy vehicles etc. You can only do your best to minimise vibration. I rarely do photography so being a visual monkey my setup is excellent for my current and potential future photographic purposes. Having an 'almost' vibration free mount is a real advantage for visual and photography work. I generally sit or stand looking through my eyepiece, my eye just hovering above the eyepiece, using one hand on top of the pier to steady myself from moving. The image is rock steady in the ep, even though the scope is tracking, I hold my breath and take in the best view I can generate... magic! cheers! ? Bottletopburly 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stash Posted April 22, 2017 Share Posted April 22, 2017 Its ok to create an Anti Tank trap or pillar box's but soil type is the key IMHO - too heavy a base over a small area on poor sub soil (like mine - boulder clay - eck !) and it will try to reach Australia or clone the leaning Tower of P. I don't have to worry too much about vibration where I live but the wind causes me more problems with scope movement. Still its fun building your own! - I think Thinking about converting my trailer into a mobile Obsys so when I go to club meetings I have everything set up - ready for the clouds,wind and rain Elac meetings seem to attract Anyway good luck David with your build and tell the wife you need to build a summer house over the top and then you can use the pillar as a table - the roll off/on roof is for romantic evenings Tweedledee, Smithysteve and Bottletopburly 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweedledee Posted April 22, 2017 Share Posted April 22, 2017 Some good ideas there Clive. I like the dual purpose pillar table and roll off roof suggestion. 4 hours ago, stash said: I don't have to worry too much about vibration where I live but the wind causes me more problems with scope movement. Cut down on the brussel sprouts or don't stand so close to the scope. Smithysteve and stash 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bottletopburly Posted June 24, 2017 Author Share Posted June 24, 2017 Update so far ,Pier adapter ordered S/h £42,tube 140mm x 5mm found awaiting price but won't be an issue, messed up on that with billsons in kettering did have a piece now sold unless i want a 7m length but metals4u stock it so that will be sorted in a few days ,300mm x10mm base plate ordered with a 55mm centre hole have asked if fixing holes can be cut not sure if they can do that but tacked a request on to order not a big deal if they can't that was sourced from www.lasermaster.co.uk ,pipe was biggest headache did contact a local company they did not respond to my email and another one did but had nothing of the size i wanted so trawled the net far quicker when your working ,i was going to go to the scrap yard but they never responded to an email either.concrete base dug that just needs the concrete pouring though at the minute i am digging out front garden so pier is on the back burner as the front is at top of the priority list . Tweedledee 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smithysteve Posted June 25, 2017 Share Posted June 25, 2017 You are on the move David ? I had to move a greenhouse, put up a new fence, landscape the garden and install a new kitchen before I could start mine! ? Bottletopburly 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bottletopburly Posted June 25, 2017 Author Share Posted June 25, 2017 4 minutes ago, Smithysteve said: You are on the move David ? I had to move a greenhouse, put up a new fence, landscape the garden and install a new kitchen before I could start mine! ? Moving in the right direction , digging the base tied in with getting rid of the soil from the front garden so was a no brainier , need another skip though that will be the fourth x£130 a pop , though pier is on a separate budget and everything purchased on a need to basis ie if I need it , then it's ordered ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bottletopburly Posted June 28, 2017 Author Share Posted June 28, 2017 (edited) God give me strength i ordered a piece of mild steel from lasermaster simple task on their website ,from a list of shapes picked washer so 300mm dia 55mm dia hole in middle in 10mm mild steel today i had through letterbox thank god i have carpets not tiles, a 300x55mm rectangle x10mm mild steel ,though invoice clearly says shape type WASHER on a better note the pier adapter turned up . Edited June 28, 2017 by Bottletopburly Smithysteve and Tweedledee 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smithysteve Posted June 29, 2017 Share Posted June 29, 2017 Blimey don't drop it on your toes! It's prob diy, you should get a hacksaw and file through the post tomorrow ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bottletopburly Posted June 30, 2017 Author Share Posted June 30, 2017 Postman delivered today yay , top job this time despite initial mess up with order must say laser cut does a very neat job Tweedledee 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bottletopburly Posted July 12, 2017 Author Share Posted July 12, 2017 (edited) pier components assembled just pier base supports to get , friend is drawing on cad so I can have laser cut , pipe arrived and not cut square so needs a touch up with grinder , not HAPPY , taking shape nicely other than that Edited July 12, 2017 by Bottletopburly Tweedledee 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweedledee Posted July 12, 2017 Share Posted July 12, 2017 That should be very solid when it's bolted down. Bottletopburly 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Graham Posted July 13, 2017 Share Posted July 13, 2017 Looking good. Not teaching you to suck eggs but. One piece of advice. I notice you have holes in the Base not slots. When you are ready to fix it down put your mount on it and polar align by moving the pier. Make sure you have the azi adjuster centralised. The frustration to discover you don't have enough movement on the azi adjustment after it is fixed down is not even worth contemplating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bottletopburly Posted July 13, 2017 Author Share Posted July 13, 2017 (edited) 22 minutes ago, Graham said: Looking good. Not teaching you to suck eggs but. One piece of advice. I notice you have holes in the Base not slots. When you are ready to fix it down put your mount on it and polar align by moving the pier. Make sure you have the azi adjuster centralised. The frustration to discover you don't have enough movement on the azi adjustment after it is fixed down is not even worth contemplating. Cheers graham that's more or less what I'm going to do , bolt down put mount on I haven't yet drilled and tapped pier adapter , so PA then gaffer tape pier adapter to top plate , remove mount head and tap down , once I'm happy will get powder coated then should be able to re PA ,advice always welcome ?? ps owl hole still to cut , and designer friend just given me support bracket drawing so fire that off to laser master and I will be cooking on gas . Edited July 13, 2017 by Bottletopburly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bottletopburly Posted July 13, 2017 Author Share Posted July 13, 2017 Drawing for support brackets ,i do have drawings in dwg and dxf format should anyone want a copy just PM BRACKET.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bottletopburly Posted July 27, 2017 Author Share Posted July 27, 2017 Last piece to the jigsaw has arrived,hopefully get welded up in the next few weeks Tweedledee and Smithysteve 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweedledee Posted July 27, 2017 Share Posted July 27, 2017 Lovely job. Bottletopburly 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bottletopburly Posted July 27, 2017 Author Share Posted July 27, 2017 2 minutes ago, Tweedledee said: Lovely job. Thanks pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bottletopburly Posted July 28, 2017 Author Share Posted July 28, 2017 Just had a quote for powder coating pier white from a local powder coaters £30 not bad at all . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smithysteve Posted July 28, 2017 Share Posted July 28, 2017 Super elegant, sturdy... over engineering is a good thing ? Bottletopburly 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bottletopburly Posted July 28, 2017 Author Share Posted July 28, 2017 5 minutes ago, Smithysteve said: Super elegant, sturdy... over engineering is a good thing ? Yes I said that to the wife after I dug the garden out for a driveway 12" bit overkill hey you never know I may need to park a bus ps the BIG fill tomorrow for pier base Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweedledee Posted July 28, 2017 Share Posted July 28, 2017 Powder coating will give it a really professional finish. It will be more durable and less chance of flaking if they blast clean the steel first. But they normally include blast cleaning in the price anyway. Bottletopburly 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bottletopburly Posted July 28, 2017 Author Share Posted July 28, 2017 Came too far to fall at the last hurdle , powder coat will give it I hope that professional look ?? Tweedledee 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bottletopburly Posted July 29, 2017 Author Share Posted July 29, 2017 (edited) Hole filled ? Edited July 29, 2017 by Bottletopburly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bottletopburly Posted July 30, 2017 Author Share Posted July 30, 2017 Formwork removed ,lawn made good Tweedledee 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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