John Fitzgerald
In Focus
Reged: 01/04/04
Posts: 1083
Loc: AR
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You can easily cut 3/16 angle yourself with a hand powered hacksaw. They don't need to run the entire length of the building and roof rack unless the north and south wheels are at the ends of the building when closed. They only need to be under all the wheels when the roof is run to end of travel in either direction. But, you will have extra angle anyway, so it really does not matter. I needed 66 feet and had to buy 80 feet, since it comes in 20 foot lengths. You might be able to haul it in your van if you can hang the excess out the back window and tie a flag on it.
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?
Observing since 1966
Messier Cert #898
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Pedestal
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 03/11/06
Posts: 2927
Loc: Smoggy Bottom, Baytown,Texas
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If you think you'll have trouble hauling 20' joints, you can:
1) Ask the folks where you buy it to cut it into 10' lengths.
2) Take a hacksaw with you and cut it yourself. 3/16" angle is not hard at all to cut by hand, IF you have a good hacksaw blade. (not the $1 for a package kind)
In fact, if you can figure out exactly what lengths you need, the outfit that sells the angle would probably cut it for a small fee. Worth checking.
Hubert
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www.smoggybottom.org
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Galaxyhunter
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 01/02/06
Posts: 849
Loc: Northern Illinois
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Quote:
Carl: How did you attach the "astrofoil" to the roof? Staple it over the roof supports?
Carol, I stapled the foil on top of the trusses.Astro Foil
I then nailed on the purlins (roof support) boards. roof supports
Followed by the roof steel Roof
I'm sure that one could staple the foil on the bottom of the roof supports & do the same thing, but instead of staples I think I would use nail caps, as staples might tend to pull through the foil in time.
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Carl
Hawkeye Observatory
Observatory - "Hawkeye"
Scope - 18"f4.5 on a GEM
8" f4.9 Orion piggy backed
Drive - Sitech Technology
DSC - Sky Commander
Planetarium - MegaStar
Camera - ST2000XM
Desire - comes & goes
Talent - ZERO, NONE, NADA (But I can Wish)
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csa/montana
Astro Ambassador
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 26771
Loc: montana
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Carl, mine would have to be put on the interior. Thanks for the great photos!
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
AstroTech 66ED / Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Tak LE 5mm
7mm Pentax XL, 10mm Pentax XW
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
22mm Pan, 35mm Pan
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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Spoonsize
Vendor/Clothing
Reged: 08/27/04
Posts: 2038
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If that is the material I think it is, bubble wrap with foil on both sides, I stapled it to the bottom of the floor joists of our house a few years ago with 9/16 inch staples every 6 inches and it is holding up just fine. No pull thru whatsoever.
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csa/montana
Astro Ambassador
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 26771
Loc: montana
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Thanks Steve!
(Sorry to take WidowMaker's thread off the track, but hey, he can use this idea also  )
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
AstroTech 66ED / Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Tak LE 5mm
7mm Pentax XL, 10mm Pentax XW
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
22mm Pan, 35mm Pan
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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mtber
super member
Reged: 04/05/06
Posts: 126
Loc: Apex, NC
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A few things to consider if you decide to have the angle iron cut.
1. You might consider doing it at a 45 degree angle down from the point of the V. That way there will be an overlap when the two pieces are mated up to form your track.
2. Stagger the cuts about six inches or a foot on the length of the angle stock. That will off-set the transition point so that your casters don’t hit the bump at the same time on both sides. (if there is any initially or over time due to some settling)
3. I worked it out so that the seems were staggered across my back wall where the support transitions from the building wall frame to the roll-off support. That allows me to remove a rail from the roll off support beam and fairly easily replace the beam when it warped on me.
4. A friend constructed mine for me, he welded them on ¼” thick by 4 in steel plate. He also welded catchers at each end which essentially form a flat C shape back down the track. The top portion of the “C” is a piece of scrap angle that slides perfectly into the space between the caster wheel and the wheel housing top plate. This serves two purposes, the roof doesn’t slide off the end of the support when open or when closing, and it solidly secures one end of the roof against high winds. (a couple of turnbuckles for the other end)- the end stop idea came from Carl's Hawkeye Observatory
John
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12.5" Discovery Truss Dob
CGE 1100 StarBright XLT
WO ZenithStar 80 FD Anniversary Edition
Stellarvue SV66
Desert Sky Astro DSV-1 Alt/Az mount
Nikon 10x50 Action Extreme ATB
Coronado PST
SkyScout
Edited by mtber (06/05/08 08:57 AM)
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WidowMaker
professor emeritus
Reged: 12/29/07
Posts: 665
Loc: Frankfort, Ky
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Good Morning, Yall.
Thanks for the ideas and suggestions, everyone.
No problems, Carol! I thought you were asking for my benefit! 
Well, we almost got the osb walls finished lastnight, but ran out of light.
Its suppose to be from 90-96° this week with no rain so hopefully well get more accomplished.
Thanks for the ideas on cuts, John. Im gonna try to remember that.
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Sleep is the Cousin of Death
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THEPLOUGH
Nailed Again
Reged: 01/11/08
Posts: 3594
Loc: Carlisle, Cumbria, ENGLAND
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Looking forward to more pics. Take care in that heat, make sure you get plenty of fluids. (Ouch listen to me preaching to the converted) Have a nice time....  ..... 
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Geoff...
Nexstar 8SE -- 9X50 RACI Finder scope... 6.3 F/R.-- 13 & 17mm Hyperion EPs.. 25mm Celestron E- Lux EP.. 2X Celestron X-Cel Barlow-- + A few bits and pieces..
Don't think expensive equipment will make up for lack of talent or practice..
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John Fitzgerald
In Focus
Reged: 01/04/04
Posts: 1083
Loc: AR
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I cut my track straight, butted the ends together, did not stagger, and it still works great. Just make sure you screw them both down close to the joint. IMO, cutting at a 45 would make sharp ends, and make joining more difficult. You will probably have the casters themselves slightly staggered anyway.
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?
Observing since 1966
Messier Cert #898
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WidowMaker
professor emeritus
Reged: 12/29/07
Posts: 665
Loc: Frankfort, Ky
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Hey Yall.
It took me a little while but I finally got all the walls covered.
I looked all over for angle iron again today and I wish I knew how some of yall got it cheap.
Most say its $48-50 a 'stick'. a Stick being 20'.
I have 214" on both sides and we figured wed leave room for a wood butt at the end to stop the roof so we decided on 2 20' 'sticks', and two 12'8" pieces.
I cant find it much cheaper.
One company in lexington said they can get it around Tuesday for $29.00 a 'stick' of 1 1/2 x 1 1/2 x 3 1/2" and cuts would be an extra $20.00.
Thats the best deal I can find. When I asked another company that wanted $50.00 a stick why the big difference, he said something like you gotta watch people with 'inferior steel' or something along those lines.
Is that possible?
I could have had it tommorrow delivered for about $220.00 here in town, but I thought I could find it cheaper.
Im kinda wishing I had went ahead and took the deal now.
My Pier is done and waiting on me to pick it up ($201.47), and my wheels will be at Grainger tommorrow so Im planning on picking both of them up.
Now the only thing holding me back is angle iron.
Heres a few shots of the walled in obs.
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Sleep is the Cousin of Death
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WidowMaker
professor emeritus
Reged: 12/29/07
Posts: 665
Loc: Frankfort, Ky
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This is a shot with me standing where the pier will go to show the space between them, with me pointing towards the fold down South wall.
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Sleep is the Cousin of Death
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WidowMaker
professor emeritus
Reged: 12/29/07
Posts: 665
Loc: Frankfort, Ky
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I dont know if you can tell from this shot, but Ive filled in every little crack where the osb walls didnt touch exactly perfect and tight. Im trying to eliminate as much critter entrances as I can.
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Sleep is the Cousin of Death
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WidowMaker
professor emeritus
Reged: 12/29/07
Posts: 665
Loc: Frankfort, Ky
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And one standing outside trying to look over the South wall.
All ive got left to cover is those little sides and one in the back.
I ugh....accidentally covered where my 2 1/2" gap is suppose to be in the back so im working on removing that wood too. 
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Sleep is the Cousin of Death
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John Fitzgerald
In Focus
Reged: 01/04/04
Posts: 1083
Loc: AR
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Go for the $29.00 a stick 1-1/2 x 1-1/2 x 3/16 angle. Take a good hacksaw and cut it yourself in their parking lot. I got four sticks for $100 at our local steel company including four cuts (back in February). For this purpose, there is no such thing as "inferior steel" You are not
making knives or wrenches out of it. Why can't you cut it into four equal pieces about 17 feet long? Better to have it too long than too short. I left mine long so the roof would have extra travel to the north. I can actually see well under the pole star.
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?
Observing since 1966
Messier Cert #898
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mikey cee
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/18/07
Posts: 2181
Loc: bellevue ne.
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Yes siree I see that stud nailed on the wrong side of the layout...You can't fool me!  Mike
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Mike 10x50 sears tower binocs, 3" f/10 edmunds reflector, 2.4" f/11.7 manon refractor, 6" f/8 jaegers refractor, "The 8 Ball" 8" f/13.3 brandt refractor, 3" f/15.8 sans&streiffe refractor, 3.1" f/15 selsi refractor(towa 339), 2.4" f/15 sears refractor, selsi 30x30mm spyglass, criterion 5-draw 25x45x75x spyglass(1957).
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csa/montana
Astro Ambassador
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 26771
Loc: montana
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Don't forget to put something around the concrete meets the floor, to keep critters out.
Looking really professional!
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
AstroTech 66ED / Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Tak LE 5mm
7mm Pentax XL, 10mm Pentax XW
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
22mm Pan, 35mm Pan
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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WidowMaker
professor emeritus
Reged: 12/29/07
Posts: 665
Loc: Frankfort, Ky
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Hey yall.
Cant sleep. Fell asleep on the couch and woke up to 'Behind the Music: Pantera'. As painful as it is, I had to sit up and watch again. 
Quote:
Go for the $29.00 a stick 1-1/2 x 1-1/2 x 3/16 angle. Take a good hacksaw and cut it yourself in their parking lot. I got four sticks for $100 at our local steel company including four cuts (back in February). For this purpose, there is no such thing as "inferior steel"
If I want that 29.00 stick, Ill have to wait until Tuesday or Wednesday of next week to get it. Thats a long time of doing nothing!
Since Ive never even seen it, do you really think I can cut it with a hacksaw? Ive asked a few of the people about me being able to put a hole in it with my own battery powered Lowe's drill and they all say it might take me forever but it can be done.
I just assumed (that word again!) cutting it myself would be out.
Also...was it you John that instead of drilling holes, you put screws right up against it, and held it down with washers?
If not, whats the downside of doing it that way? Seems alot easier.
Quote:
Why can't you cut it into four equal pieces about 17 feet long? Better to have it too long than too short. I left mine long so the roof would have extra travel to the north.
um.
Good question, and good point.
I have no response but that.
Quote:
Yes siree I see that stud nailed on the wrong side of the layout...You can't fool me!
Doh!
I got like two or three pieces that are so twisted that they wont lie flat against the studs, and I went back out there to take that pic when i thought I might try putting a cut 2x4 over the gap where the osb dont meet perfectly, and see if I could kinda nail it even.
Might not be pretty but I think it worked!
Im not so bad, i put a stud in on the wrong side ya know! 
well....I might have if the wife wasnt there to guide me. 
Quote:
Don't forget to put something around the concrete meets the floor, to keep critters out.
Looking really professional!
Thank you, Carol! Ive been wondering what to put there. I wouldnt mind the critters so much, but the only critters we seem to have is Black Widows, and I cant take that.
I thought about that plastic strip stuff you seein offices that they hide cords under.
What do ya think?
Ok, back to the '40 greatest Metal songs' and my 'Death by Black Hole' book by Neil deGrasse Tyson.
See yall in the mornin.
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Sleep is the Cousin of Death
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THEPLOUGH
Nailed Again
Reged: 01/11/08
Posts: 3594
Loc: Carlisle, Cumbria, ENGLAND
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Looking good. Cutting and drilling the metal should not be that difficult providing you use the right blade and drill bit. The DANGEOUR of using washers to nip down the angle iron is it may slip under the weight of the roof, and the wheels may just catch the washers any way...... 
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John Fitzgerald
In Focus
Reged: 01/04/04
Posts: 1083
Loc: AR
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Actually, only a few holes are necessary for screws to prevent any lengthwise sliding tendencies of the rails. The rest of the hold-downs can be 1/4" or #12 washers on #7 or #8 deck screws (I used 1-5/8" length screws). These can be put in at an angle (screw head out somewhat) against the sides of the angle at regular intervals. Leave about 1/4" of the first screw sticking up until you tighten the opposing one, then tighten the first one. I found this prevents pushing the rail sideways. The wheels will not come close to hitting the washers, as I have the same wheels as "Widowmaker" is getting. Here is an example picture of some of my "tests". It has not loosened in four months.
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?
Observing since 1966
Messier Cert #898
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