First step towards observatory...
I finally heard back from some people in the SDAA who handle approving changes & expansions to pads. I am a GO for doing the 'first step', which is constructing a wooden frame on the pad out of 1"x2"s and leaving it up for at least 30 days. I'll also take pictures of the frame to use when I submit the actual request to the board so they can see the impact on the view of other pads (and observatories) nearby.
As soon as I got the OK I whipped up some plans for the frame. 1"x2"x8' pieces are only $1 each, and I'll need 17 of them. It actually worked out very nicely, I shouldn't have any scrap left over. I'll also need a box of screws to hold it all together. Total cost with tax will be $30, not bad! Unfortunately, I'll also need to buy some tools... mitter box, saw, a level, and a right angle square. These will probably cost more than the materials!
I can't wait until I live in a house with a garage or a work shed or something so I can have a big collection of tools and not have to do anything by hand. A miter box? HAH! I'll just have an electric miter saw with a laser guide.
While at Home Depot tonight checking out prices for stuff, I also walked around and checked out the price for wood so I could get an idea of how much it'll cost to build the observatory when (if?) it gets to that. I found that 3/4"x4'x8' MDF wood costs $30. When I first saw that I was like "OMG thats expensive!", but really I'm not going to need any more than maybe 20 of them, and they'd be what the dome structure is mostly made of. I also found some options for the dome covering. I was thinking I would just get some 1/8" plywood (veneer actually), but I think I might use 1/8" hardboard, which is kind of like a suped up version of cardboard. It doesn't need to be strong at all, plus it'll be covered in two layers of fiberglass, which will harden it right up. Its also kind of pourus, so the epoxy from the fiberglass should really seep into it. I think its a good idea. :) It would certainly save a lot of time during construction, as instead of having to cut out strange patterns with the jigsaw and then sand them smooth I can just prop them up on the dome structure and use a box cutter to score it.
Anyway, back to the task at hand. I'm going to swing by Home Depot tomorrow after work and pick up the 17 pieces of wood, nails, and tools, and then sit in the garage and get them all precut so that when I head out to the site all I have to do is screw them together. Its like making my own Ikea furniture!! :D
As soon as I got the OK I whipped up some plans for the frame. 1"x2"x8' pieces are only $1 each, and I'll need 17 of them. It actually worked out very nicely, I shouldn't have any scrap left over. I'll also need a box of screws to hold it all together. Total cost with tax will be $30, not bad! Unfortunately, I'll also need to buy some tools... mitter box, saw, a level, and a right angle square. These will probably cost more than the materials!
I can't wait until I live in a house with a garage or a work shed or something so I can have a big collection of tools and not have to do anything by hand. A miter box? HAH! I'll just have an electric miter saw with a laser guide.
While at Home Depot tonight checking out prices for stuff, I also walked around and checked out the price for wood so I could get an idea of how much it'll cost to build the observatory when (if?) it gets to that. I found that 3/4"x4'x8' MDF wood costs $30. When I first saw that I was like "OMG thats expensive!", but really I'm not going to need any more than maybe 20 of them, and they'd be what the dome structure is mostly made of. I also found some options for the dome covering. I was thinking I would just get some 1/8" plywood (veneer actually), but I think I might use 1/8" hardboard, which is kind of like a suped up version of cardboard. It doesn't need to be strong at all, plus it'll be covered in two layers of fiberglass, which will harden it right up. Its also kind of pourus, so the epoxy from the fiberglass should really seep into it. I think its a good idea. :) It would certainly save a lot of time during construction, as instead of having to cut out strange patterns with the jigsaw and then sand them smooth I can just prop them up on the dome structure and use a box cutter to score it.
Anyway, back to the task at hand. I'm going to swing by Home Depot tomorrow after work and pick up the 17 pieces of wood, nails, and tools, and then sit in the garage and get them all precut so that when I head out to the site all I have to do is screw them together. Its like making my own Ikea furniture!! :D