Looks like it should be a great solution for keeping the roof from wandering given your weather conditions. Unfortunately, we get cyclones down here, at least once a year so I'm going to have to keep bolting my roof down😥. As you were talking about the damp getting into the concrete, that reminded me of a problem I had with the walls. Now yours might not have this issue and might be treated with something to stop this from happening but because we get really bad dew here, at the end of a session, the walls on the inside can be absolutely dripping and over several months I noticed some mold starting to grow on the walls. So the solution was demold them and then to paint them which seems to have done the trick (although I still try to open the roof the next day for about an hour to let everything really dry out). Anyway, just thought I would mention it. Clear skies Glenn.
Hi Logan, Thanks for your comments mate. Cyclones would be a challenge that I luckily do not have to contend with. I have a plan to either paint the walls or to at least clear coat them (quite like the wood finish) I have not had too heavy a dew situation as yet but we do get it. Thanks for the tip. The floor paint and rubber paint outside has seemed to have cured the issue I was getting for now. Hope you are keeping well and enjoying retirement, clear skies
I have said it before but I will say it again, this build is absolutely amazing mate. The quality of workmanship is outstanding. You really are an inspiration. thank you and clear skies.
You just made my life a little easier. I've been trying to figure out the same thing on my observatory. Now, I have a working concept, which is the same idea with a twist. Thanks!
Thats great Dale,it has worked out really well for my roof and to be honest I don’t even think about it anymore now. Really glad the video helped and thank you for watching and commenting. Would like to hear the twist if you are happy to share?
I built my small observatory last year 6x5 out of pallets. The roll off roof is on heavy duty casters, what l used is 4 heavy duty Hasp & Stapler and 4 carabiners, this keep the roof secure and with the storms we've had here in Cheshire no movement at all. my man cave is 3mtrs away and l operate everything from there through the ZWO asiair pro.
My first Obsy was a converted keter shed which was a good budget build. I think its great that you can make an Obsy from whatever your imagination can muster and a good budget build is always great as this hobby is not a cheap one. Would love to see some images and if you are happy to share? Send me an email at Astrobloke@outlook.com. Thanks again and clear skies
Hi Glenn. I'm a Structural Engineer. Wind uplift on a flat roof in storm winds can be 100 kg /m2 or more, so I would add turnbuckles as a secondary tie down, so you can use them if the weather forecast is bad
Thank you for the advice. For a weather event like a strong storm I think that is a good idea. Better to have more protection and a belt and braces approach.
Valuable gear in there Glenn. Cheap insurance mate. I remember the storm in Kent in the 90's, ripped the roof off the garage and destroyed the brick shed! @@Astrobloke
Hi Tony and thank you for your support. I am very pleased with the final idea, I had many thoughts on how best to do it. It is working great so super happy.
We don't get tornados in Ireland either but one tore through my field the year before last. Took out four trees and a neighbour's barn roof. Had that not happened I'd have said the same as you, but now I know better.
Anything can happen so never say never but you prepare for whats normal. You could protect for every weather event known and get wiped out by a meteorite 🔭🐥 be like chicken little 😂😂
@Astrobloke I'm building in spring. I may go with a split roof 14x28 half the roof rolls off. But we do have bad storms on the opposite side of the pond in Atlantic Canada and was wondering how to keep the roof down . I might incorporate the turnbuckle as well as we get Hurricanes and Noreasters
Thanks Woody. I wouldn't open the roof in high winds, plus trying to guide at 1200mm with my huge Newtonian that acts like a sail would turn me grey. Now to get my images processed and videos made as I know you like the deep sky stuff, clear skies mate
Congrats to you Glenn for finishing the obsy. There’s probably as many solutions to the roof security as there are interested people on the planet. Yours looks to be sufficient 👍
It was good to get this last important job done. I went through a few thought processes on how best to achieve it and am very happy with the final idea. I think it will work well. Thanks for watching and commenting
Great video Glenn. A cracking, simple solution for anti lift security for your roll off roof, with no mess, no fuss and no possible arising issues. Well done Glenn. . . One additional add on for these fixtures could be, adding a small section of 13mm garden hose to the threaded portion of the threaded bar, this would eliminate metal on metal, if the roof was to lift. An M12 threaded bar / bolt would hold the hose more securely than an M10.
HI Shane and thank you for watching and taking the time to comment. That is a good idea and I will look into that. I do have some M12 rod but at the time no nuts/washers so used the M10. It would be easy to change them over and I think I will as they will also be stronger, great tip with the hose
What you’ve built there, Glenn, is a real thing of beauty. I like the elegant solution to keep the roof secure (I’ve been using hasps and, for extreme conditions, a ratchet strap bit (a) it’s not automated and (b) I suspect my roof is a bit lighter!). Love the thought of Havana as Head of Security. 👮
Thank you so much Paul. You must come and visit one night. The roof is very heavy and unlikely to lift off but much happier now I have something in place to make sure it cannot happen. Your roof could lift as they are much lighter but this is an easy solution. Now I am a lot more free to venture out and image with my DSLR's which I really want to do more of as I love it so much and I have the luxury of running everything at home remotely so don't miss any clear nights for my deep sky imaging. I think Havana might show a tad of guard dogness should anyone try and steal her treats but just wag her tail otherwise, lol
Hi Richard and thank you for your kind comments and support. Its been a year now and I am still tinkering, improving and adding as I go. Cloud sensor for weather protection is my next project. Take care
Really beautiful observatory and warm room building Glenn. Great idea on the hold downs, simple, nothing to break down, does what they’re supposed to. What is your observatory name? Is that what is on the front wall plaque? Cheers! Doug
Hi Doug and thank you for watching and taking the time to comment. I am very pleased with the results and it is all working great. The plaque is the Obsy name that came from my wife after joking about how much I was building. Its called Astrobloke's Village
Simple is better. Complications are something to be avoided. I need to do something like this for my soon to be built observatory. 👍 There was a hurricane that hit here in 2017. Google Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. 😳
Thank you and yes I think exactly the same. I do not really suffer weather extremes so quite lucky. This idea works very well and I would just go a little more heavy duty if you get things like hurricanes. I wish you luck, please let me know how you get on, clear skies
Great video Glenn! That idea came out well mate! Nice and secure but can still be operated remotely 😀 I suppose Havana could lick an intruder to death🤣 Great window idea mate! Clear skies !
Cheers Simon. I would think you could easily add something similar to yours too. I am very pleased with the results and its working perfectly. Havana would kill them with love lol...did I tell you we are getting a new puppy? The iwindow is a special touch and actually is really good, better than a window that would let light into the obsy. Take care mate
Hi , I'm laying my 1m x 1m x 0.5m deep concrete footing for my home made steel pedestal in a month or two, just had a 3m x 3.2m slab laid for a colorbond & boxspan garden shed (2.9m x 2.4m) , the observatory will be same size and same construction only it'll be off the ground in a steel platform and modified to have a roll off roof. Garden shed will go up in November. I'm opting for panel lift casters and C profiled steel channels to support my roof - we get Tropical Cyclones and Cyclone force summer storms here (Lake Macquarie NSW) , the C profile channels will stop the rolling roof lifting off . I like your KISS soln to secure the closed roof , I will incorporate a similar roof securing system into my build too. Q- I note you are anchoring to pine framing , in very high winds a lot of lift force created by the wind shear will put considerable shearing stress on a small area of timber , are reinforcing the timber framing the eye-screws are screwed into ? I'd suggest reinforcing the timber around those anchores to minimise the risk of the pine splitting under severe lifting shear forces (which will be concentrated to a very small area in the timber).
That's very exciting for you and sounds like a great project. Its a massive game changer for the hobby having a purpose built space. I wish you good luck and success with it. The wood used is not pine, its a pressure treated timber (usually American white oak) that is sourced from the supplier I get it from. Its graded to C16 strength so strong enough for joists. Having said that the weather where we live is very temperate and not extreme at all so I am not overly concerned. I have however installed some turn buckle locks so that if I am aware of any storms I can lock it down with more security. Thanks you for watching and commenting and please let me know how your project develops, I'd be very interested. Clear skies
@@raoulvaneijndhoven1473 thank you. It has worked out very well and a year on been a great home for all my Astronomy gear. The Warmroom is from a company called Dunnster House, just put that as your internet search and they’ll pop up. I can highly recommend their cabins and office rooms, good quality.
That is good advice and I will definitely be doing all that. After all the hard work I want to look after it as best as I can so it is good for many years. Clear skies
Hi Glenn. Another great video. I'm going to start building RORO observatory, but can't find V channel gate rail. Do you remember where you got yours from? Cheers. Craig
Thank you Craig, Best of luck with your build. This link should help metalines.com/sliding-gate-hardware/2042-cais-trail-3-sliding-gate-track.html?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAk9itBhASEiwA1my_6yOKs6F5_2CjcVLpzkejmHJtI5Lwp89CVLWpuH5795-D3SXJ4xNP_xoC42EQAvD_BwE Its worth looking on ebay as prices vary
