· Get a Cloudy Nights T-Shirt · Submit a Review / Article Click here if you are having trouble logging into the forums Privacy Policy | Please read our Terms of Service | Signup and Troubleshooting FAQ | Problems? PM a Red or a Green Gu… uh, User You are not logged in. [Login] Entrance · Main Index · Search · New user · Who's Online FAQ · Calendar Equipment Discussions >> Observatories Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | (show all) tulit member Reged: 07/04/10 Loc: ON My $500 Roll off Roof Observatory Build       #4716237 - 07/27/11 06:24 PM Attachment (428 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Hi all. I wanted to share a project I started last week to build a low cost roll-off roof observatory. It's based on several other designs I've seen that have used sheet metal sheds as a basis. Once I have all the bugs worked out, I'll try to draw up some detailed plans for others to use in their own builds. Edited by tulit (07/27/11 07:00 PM) Post Extras:       tulit member Reged: 07/04/10 Loc: ON Re: My $500 Roll of Roof Observatory Build [Re: tulit]       #4716241 - 07/27/11 06:25 PM Attachment (268 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   The shed itself is a Arrow 8x6' Newport shed. It's a nice fit as the walls are pretty low, the gable short and it is low cost ($199). Post Extras:       tulit member Reged: 07/04/10 Loc: ON Re: My $500 Roll of Roof Observatory Build [Re: tulit]       #4716247 - 07/27/11 06:27 PM Attachment (253 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   The roof frame made out of 2x4's. There will be a total of three of these made. One will mount under the roof assembly and have a set of 8 castors to allow it to roll. A second will be mounted directly to the top of the walls of the shed. The third will be attached to the side of the shed and will be where the roof rolls when the observatory is open. Total cost of lumber for this project was about $170. Post Extras:       tulit member Reged: 07/04/10 Loc: ON Re: My $500 Roll of Roof Observatory Build [Re: tulit]       #4716251 - 07/27/11 06:28 PM Attachment (248 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   The roof mocked up on the frame. Post Extras:       tulit member Reged: 07/04/10 Loc: ON Re: My $500 Roll of Roof Observatory Build [Re: tulit]       #4716254 - 07/27/11 06:32 PM Attachment (266 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   The base that I will mount the shed onto (made of 2x6's. I haven't decided what to do in the center yet [i.e. make a box for an eventual pier?]). For now (until the house deck/hottub in the picture is removed), I'll make use of a tripod instead of a pier. There will be holes drilled into the floor (5/8" ply) of the base that will allow the legs to reach the patterned concrete below. I also decided to make the base 8x8' instead of 8x6' incase I decide to later increase the width of the shed. Edited by tulit (07/27/11 06:41 PM) Post Extras:       Starman27 Post Laureate Reged: 01/29/06 Loc: Illinois, Iowa Re: My $500 Roll of Roof Observatory Build [Re: tulit]       #4716256 - 07/27/11 06:32 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Good thinking. Post Extras:       Jimmy2K63 Carpal Tunnel Reged: 04/26/09 Loc: Milky Way, Spiral Arm, G2 Star... Re: My $500 Roll of Roof Observatory Build [Re: Starman27]       #4717289 - 07/28/11 09:21 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Looking forward to seeing this. Might even borrow your idea here. James Post Extras:       sleepy sage Reged: 07/10/10 Loc: The Columbia Gorge/ OR Re: My $500 Roll of Roof Observatory Build [Re: Jimmy2K63]       #4717429 - 07/28/11 10:40 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Yes..Keep us posted, looks great so far. Post Extras:       Starhawk Post Laureate Reged: 09/16/08 Loc: Tucson, Arizona Re: My $500 Roll of Roof Observatory Build [Re: sleepy]       #4717882 - 07/28/11 03:18 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Outstanding! This looks like just the sort of observatory I could fit in my yard. I will be very interested in seeing how it comes together. -Rich Post Extras:       Footbag Carpal Tunnel Reged: 04/13/09 Loc: Scranton, PA Re: My $500 Roll of Roof Observatory Build [Re: Starhawk]       #4718073 - 07/28/11 05:22 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Very interesting! I am also want to see how this turns out. Post Extras:       csa/montana Den Mama Reged: 05/14/05 Loc: montana Re: My $500 Roll of Roof Observatory Build [Re: tulit]       #4718303 - 07/28/11 07:13 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Looking forward to your build! This will give a lot of people ideas of how to go about the conversion. Post Extras:       dobsoscope sage Reged: 05/24/06 Re: My $500 Roll of Roof Observatory Build [Re: csa/montana]       #4720715 - 07/30/11 08:50 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Great stuff!! what are the inside dimensions of the observatory? Post Extras:       Chris Schroeder Postmaster Reged: 12/11/04 Loc: N.E. WI Sky Glow Re: My $500 Roll of Roof Observatory Build [Re: dobsoscope]       #4720748 - 07/30/11 09:16 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Looks like a nice design and good planning Post Extras:       EddWen scholastic sledgehammer Reged: 04/26/08 Loc: Here or There Re: My $500 Roll of Roof Observatory Build [Re: Chris Schroeder]       #4721010 - 07/30/11 12:18 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   My SoCal observatory is 8' x 8' on the outside. I suggest that if you are inside yours with your scope, you might want bigger than 8' x 6'. You could leave the roof as pre-fabbed to keep your cost down, but I don't think anyone has built a "too big" observatory. Nice drawings. Put yourself in them.... Post Extras:       Starhawk Post Laureate Reged: 09/16/08 Loc: Tucson, Arizona Re: My $500 Roll of Roof Observatory Build [Re: Chris Schroeder]       #4721019 - 07/30/11 12:21 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   This is the 6'x8' size, but looking on Home Depot's site I saw they carry an 8'x10' size for $318. Here in AZ, I would be planning on styrofoam board panels on the inside to insulate it. It is really neat to see this coming together. -Rich Post Extras:       tulit member Reged: 07/04/10 Loc: ON Re: My $500 Roll of Roof Observatory Build [Re: Starhawk]       #4721030 - 07/30/11 12:30 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Hi guys. Yes mine is 8x6. Home Depot has a cheap 8x10 version of this shed as well. Unfortunately, I just couldn't find any good places in my yard to fit a full 8x10. I do have room on my decking to stretch it to 8x8 if I decide to do that later. I plan to have most of my setup controlled via computer in the house, so I don't intend on being in there a whole lot. But yes, it may be a bit cramped. Edited by tulit (07/30/11 12:35 PM) Post Extras:       tulit member Reged: 07/04/10 Loc: ON Re: My $500 Roll of Roof Observatory Build [Re: tulit]       #4721036 - 07/30/11 12:34 PM Attachment (207 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   My work so far this morning. The deck finished. I used a piece of 1x4x8 to fill the gap between the two pieces of ply 8x4x5/16" ply. Post Extras:       tulit member Reged: 07/04/10 Loc: ON Re: My $500 Roll of Roof Observatory Build [Re: tulit]       #4721040 - 07/30/11 12:37 PM Attachment (197 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   The main walls and structure are up. I just need to install the remaining wall panels and doors. It was a bit slow progress as I had to work by myself. It's definately do-able alone, but having a second set of hands would make it smoother. Ive taken a break now until it cools off again outside. Post Extras:       clchildress Pooh-Bah Reged: 04/22/10 Loc: NW Georgia, USA Re: My $500 Roll of Roof Observatory Build [Re: tulit]       #4721234 - 07/30/11 02:45 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Simply fantastic. This is just the sort of thing I was looking for. Thanks for sharing with us. Post Extras:       tulit member Reged: 07/04/10 Loc: ON Re: My $500 Roll off Roof Observatory Build [Re: tulit]       #4722428 - 07/31/11 09:37 AM Attachment (242 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Build Day #2-- I was able to convince my wife to help get the walls up last night before it got dark. This is definitely a part of the job where two people are helpful. Most of it lined up okay. I found some errors in other parts of the assembly that I had to correct along the way. A lot of the parts seem to have two sets of holes and the instructions don't mention anywhere which to use. Edited by tulit (07/31/11 09:41 AM) Post Extras:       Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | (show all) Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Extra information 3 registered and 21 anonymous users are browsing this forum. 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