· 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 | 7 | (show all) berlinstar super member Reged: 03/28/11 Loc: Berlin Center, OH Observatory from a Fiberglass Storage Tank       #5633139 - 01/20/13 12:52 PM Attachment (208 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I've been searching for a fiberglass tank now for about 3 years, and finally found one. Should make for a perfect observatory. Inside diameter is 7'6", and overall length, minus the other domed end is 17'. The tank has nice 3" foam core reinforcement fiberglass that will make a perfect dome lip. I think I can incorporate some castors into a wooden block to get the dome rotating, without the use of some sort of steel hoop (hopefully). Apparently the tank sat in this fellow's yard for almost 10 years as a storage container for odds and ends. I drove by this thing for close to 8 years now thinking that it would be a great observatory. When the leaves came off the treees this fall and I saw the hole in the end... Eurika!!! Anyway. I've attached the "inside" photo in reference to the other end. I know domes are hard to come by, and originally I was going to cut the end off and toss it in the trash - if anyone wants this end for free, it's up for grabs. The hole is an odd shape - the guy I bought the tank from told me that they had to cut one of the ends out for transport, or it would still be considered a tank. It's almost the perfect size for a scope anyway. I think when a set of shutters would be made for the opening, any openings that fell outside the frame of the shutter could be patched up without too much work or difficulty. If interested, PM me here, and we can arrange for pick-up. Post Extras:       csa/montana Den Mama Reged: 05/14/05 Loc: montana Re: Observatory from a Fiberglass Storage Tank [Re: berlinstar]       #5633171 - 01/20/13 01:04 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   We'd love to follow your build using this tank, for your observatory! Post Extras:       1965healey The Snarkster Reged: 06/23/07 Loc: San Antonio, TX Re: Observatory from a Fiberglass Storage Tank [Re: csa/montana]       #5633507 - 01/20/13 04:24 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Great find! This should be an interesting build to follow. Keep us posted with pix, sketches etc. Give the other end to Scott H, he can patch the hole and make a domed gazebo for the observatory cluster. Post Extras:       berlinstar super member Reged: 03/28/11 Loc: Berlin Center, OH Re: Observatory from a Fiberglass Storage Tank [Re: 1965healey]       #5633575 - 01/20/13 05:08 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   You bet... Should start cutting on this thing next weekend. I might keep the other end for a portable trailer OB if this all works out. I DO know of another fiberglass tank that's available though if anyone's interested. Post Extras:       RogerRZ Whatta you lookin' at? Reged: 01/09/06 Loc: West Collette, NB, Canada Re: Observatory from a Fiberglass Storage Tank [Re: berlinstar]       #5633646 - 01/20/13 05:44 PM Attachment (107 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Been there, done that, bought the T-shirt! Have fun on your build, and get ready to put in a bunch of time and effort. I'd guess I have well over 500 hours sunk into it... Post Extras:       CharlesW sage Reged: 11/02/12 Loc: Chula Vista & Indio, CA Re: Observatory from a Fiberglass Storage Tank [Re: RogerRZ]       #5633846 - 01/20/13 07:49 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Obviously you know what this tank was used for before he dropped it in his yard? Some very nasty things get stored in fiberglass tanks. But, what a perfect solution for the dome. Post Extras:       berlinstar super member Reged: 03/28/11 Loc: Berlin Center, OH Re: Observatory from a Fiberglass Storage Tank [Re: CharlesW]       #5633906 - 01/20/13 08:37 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   It sat in his yard for 10 years... It was a gasoline tank from a convienence store. He said that when the industry first started using fiberglass tanks, the sticks that were used to measure fuel levels daily, eventually would cause a leak from repeated dropping of the wooden stick into the tank (I for one remember using these sticks in my younger days in college and working at the local Penzoil station). Anyway, he used to dig them out, crush them down, and toss them in the landfill. For some reason he kept this one. I think I'll be introducing more harmful trace elements from the flat black paint I intend upon using inside (LOL), than will be eminated from it. It's going to make a great observatory. The fiberglass was laid up in a mold, so I have a perfectly smooth exterior surface to work with. The manufacturer made two halves, then mated them together. The exteriorior ribs are a different story. Hopefully will be able to cover them with something easier on the eyes, but first, I've got to get into working order! Post Extras:       dale67cameron journeyman Reged: 01/03/12 Loc: Midwest Re: Observatory from a Fiberglass Storage Tank [Re: berlinstar]       #5634002 - 01/20/13 09:59 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Looks interesting. Keep us updated. I have been looking too for something similiar. I had no idea they used fiberglass tanks underground for fuel. Post Extras:       RogerRZ Whatta you lookin' at? Reged: 01/09/06 Loc: West Collette, NB, Canada Re: Observatory from a Fiberglass Storage Tank [Re: dale67cameron]       #5634371 - 01/21/13 06:08 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I've had a lot of use out of mine, but the biggest problem I've had, is to have it rotate easily and freely. I've done this part over at least three times, with varying degrees of success. It still gives me a bit of a hard time, especially in Winter. Do you have plans on what kind of roller mechanism you're going to use? Post Extras:       Goodchild scholastic sledgehammer Reged: 12/31/08 Re: Observatory from a Fiberglass Storage Tank [Re: RogerRZ]       #5634472 - 01/21/13 08:21 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Do you have any idea how much this tank weighs? Just curious. Post Extras:       rimcrazy member Reged: 03/03/12 Loc: Overgaard, AZ Re: Observatory from a Fiberglass Storage Tank [Re: Goodchild]       #5634618 - 01/21/13 10:02 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   You are a lot more trusting than me. Given that gasoline definitely leaches into the fiberglass (Hydrolysis of Fiberglass) once exposed to open air it will most definitely outgas back into the surrounding environment. He said the tank sat empty and exposed to the open air for 10 years but I for one would not want to sit inside and encapsulated, surrounded by this. The cheapness of the raw material could be nothing compared to the potential risk. Obviously you are willing to take that risk. Better thee than me...... Edited by rimcrazy (01/21/13 10:03 AM) Post Extras:       RogerRZ Whatta you lookin' at? Reged: 01/09/06 Loc: West Collette, NB, Canada Re: Observatory from a Fiberglass Storage Tank [Re: rimcrazy]       #5634709 - 01/21/13 10:58 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Mine was from water treatment facility, so no issues there. IIRC, the dome part weighed six to seven hundred pounds. Post Extras:       berlinstar super member Reged: 03/28/11 Loc: Berlin Center, OH Re: Observatory from a Fiberglass Storage Tank [Re: RogerRZ]       #5635365 - 01/21/13 05:09 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   At the moment I'm planning on cutting the good dome off, then severing a 6 foot chunk of the body off for placement in the yard. I'm building a fairly large garage this year, so I may incorporate the OB into the roof of the garage, in-which case I'll build the walls of it with 2X stock, and utilize only the dome. That should work pretty good because it still enables me to observe from a temporary spot in the yard, then when the time comes, I can yank the dome off the yard OB, and place it on the roof. I haven't come up with a design for a rotational assy yet. Been looking at commercial units, and I like the in-line skate wheel idea. Will also need lateral wheels. First things first is to find out how out-of-round the dome end is, then I can work from there. I would think that I can get it back in true with the use of a laminated ply ring, using gussets for reinforcement, and the entire ring screwed into the base of the dome - the bottom layer of ply, I would think with use of floor-grade ply could be used as a bearing surface for the vertical rollers, and the inside edge could be used for lateral rollers. The tank weighs somewhere on the order of 1000#. WOW Roger - the entire fiberglass tank that I got hold of is only 3/8" thickness. I bet that this dome weight is no more than a couple of hundred pounds! You guys got me thinking... May have to get the sawzall out tonight! Post Extras:       RogerRZ Whatta you lookin' at? Reged: 01/09/06 Loc: West Collette, NB, Canada Re: Observatory from a Fiberglass Storage Tank [Re: berlinstar]       #5635438 - 01/21/13 05:47 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   In most spots, my dome is around 1/4" thick. I think you'll find inline skate wheels will make your dome hard to turn. I tried those, I tried small casters, I tried 6" ball bearings, and have finally wound up with a dome ring, as you mention, but with a 1" X 3/16" flat bar, used as a track and used v-pulleys with ball bearings as a track support. I'll snap a few pics tomorrow, and it'll be easier to understand. Post Extras:       RogerRZ Whatta you lookin' at? Reged: 01/09/06 Loc: West Collette, NB, Canada Re: Observatory from a Fiberglass Storage Tank [Re: RogerRZ]       #5636516 - 01/22/13 09:55 AM Attachment (89 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   This is what I wound up with. It's still hard to turn in some spots, but this is the final revision (I will be building a ROR that will be completely shielded from local light pollution, and will be able to image for longer periods of time without having to worry about clear pictures of the inside of my dome :-) ). Post Extras:       RogerRZ Whatta you lookin' at? Reged: 01/09/06 Loc: West Collette, NB, Canada Re: Observatory from a Fiberglass Storage Tank [Re: RogerRZ]       #5636517 - 01/22/13 09:56 AM Attachment (75 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   And another... Post Extras:       berlinstar super member Reged: 03/28/11 Loc: Berlin Center, OH Re: Observatory from a Fiberglass Storage Tank [Re: RogerRZ]       #5637788 - 01/22/13 09:17 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Roger. Thanks for posting the pics! I checked out your page and saw the original bearing against ply - guessing that didnt work well? Ill need to findcout how much my dome weighs at present to see where im at, how many tollers for load capacity/rating, etc. I'll know more after this weekend. Those are fantastic photos you have taken! Hope to get there myself someday. Going to hopefully invest in a Gemini II system for my G11 mount this year, plus get this OB built. Post Extras:       berlinstar super member Reged: 03/28/11 Loc: Berlin Center, OH Re: Observatory from a Fiberglass Storage Tank [Re: berlinstar]       #5640185 - 01/24/13 08:31 AM Attachment (75 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Cut the end off yesterday evening. Didn't take too long, and used a battery and a 1/2 with the sawzall. Weight is somewhere between 150 - 200 lbs, probably closer to 150# because I can get under it and carry it on my shoulders/upper back without too much difficulty. I'll get it into the garage tonight and start looking at what I can do to lay out a rotational assy and a shutter. What dimensions would be optimal for a 12" SCT (allowing for upgrading to a 16" scope (light bucket)? Also, how far would I need to cut past zenith so as to not limit myself (would 20 degrees past zenith work)? I don't want to cut 180 degrees, horizon to horizon. Post Extras:       1965healey The Snarkster Reged: 06/23/07 Loc: San Antonio, TX Re: Observatory from a Fiberglass Storage Tank [Re: berlinstar]       #5640717 - 01/24/13 01:39 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   How'd you get it to hang from the ceiling like that? Post Extras:       berlinstar super member Reged: 03/28/11 Loc: Berlin Center, OH Re: Observatory from a Fiberglass Storage Tank [Re: 1965healey]       #5641296 - 01/24/13 07:19 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   What the heck? I rotated it... LOL. Guess the wrong 180 deg! Did some looking today for shutter dims and found a schematic for a 10'6" dome. Sucked it into CAD today and shrunk it down and underlaid it to the dimensions of this dome. The 10.5' dome had a 43" shutter, and shrinking down puts this one at 30" width. The schematic also had a profile view, and overlaying this view gave 25 degrees past zenith. Anyone want to give opinions on the shutter size (good to go, or too big/small)? Definately dont want to have to redo the hole at a later date, but at the same time I have a lot of stray light where I live, so Im guessing the smaller the shutter size, the better, in this reguard (obviously there are optical minimums). 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