Cheap Observatory Pier - so effective

[@tulganatsagdorj2090]

using a cup of tea to level a pier is the most British astronomer thing I've ever seen hahah! :D Great pier by the way!

[@RefreshingViews]

Thanks - and a cup of tea has so many uses :-)

[@andyrawlins]

Looks awesome (though the original pier looked pretty good). I love how everyone with a Skywatcher mount has rusty counterweights :) I have white enamel paint and vow to paint mine when they go rusty!

[@thecaravanham]

Hi Mark, not sure how I missed this video. I thought I'd watched them all. Anyway, finally managed to get permission for an obsy in the garden and have just finished the concrete pour. Next step will be to build the roll-off roof shed around the pier. Hopefully see you at Kelling. Tim - Dew Control

[@RefreshingViews]

Hi Tim - sounds like you are will be all set for the long nights. I love my observatory - best upgrade I ever made! Can't wait to see yours. And yes, looking forward to Kelling at new moon. Not long to go now. Oh and I wrote an article for Astronomy Now and mentioned Dew Control PLC's roaring trade on dewy nights!!

[@alandavidson9086]

Hello. Great videos. Where did you get the bi lens please? Thanks.

[@RefreshingViews]

Do you mean the binoviewer? It is a linear binoviewer from Telescope Express in Germany. kzbin.info/www/bejne/e6nHnHp9brKLiK8

[@alandavidson9086]

@@RefreshingViews Thank you very much.

[@davidwillis5396]

Great job & a nice set up May I ask where you found the mount adaptor for the top of your concrete pier please David

[@RefreshingViews]

I made it - well the machinist at work made it for me. It cost a packet of posh tea, coffee and biscuits!

[@davidwillis5396]

That's a great swap

[@jwastroimaging2711]

Great video. Presumably you have to orientate your pier so the Alignment peg on the pier top plate puck points North? Dig you screw the pier re-enforcing rebar into the existing holes in the floor block or is it freestanding?

[@RefreshingViews]

I just aligned my EQ6 adapter with north and then drilled into the top plate. The pier itself is square with the building. And yes, Ian put some rebar into the original plinth for strength.

[@hutchinsonsolarlunarplanet538]

Is your scope in the video a 14 inch in diameter?

[@RefreshingViews]

Alas no - I wish! It is the C11.

[@hutchinsonsolarlunarplanet538]

@@RefreshingViews Be happy with what you have cuz its bigger than my scope and I've been wishing for the cpc 1100.

[@compubyte2010]

love the Bino's .. where did you get them?? I"m assuming that's a 2" hole there in?

[@RefreshingViews]

Do you mean the binoviewer? They are these: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e6nHnHp9brKLiK8. I got mine from Telescope Express in Germany.

[@compubyte2010]

@@RefreshingViews thanks

[@DavesAstrophotography]

Hi there! Nice job, that's my next task one internal obo pier and one outdoor pier. Nice to see you kept the pier plate bolts as short as possible. I'm going to be putting Rasa11 and Edge11 onto Baader short pillar then onto concrete main pier. Thinking 10". what size did you make yours?

[@RefreshingViews]

Hi Dave - good luck with your build. Sounds like you will have a lovely set up with those two scopes. Yes, mine is 250x250mm and 1.2m tall. As for the bolts, I should have gone for slightly longer as you can still have the plate close to the pier. Just seen you're in Cyprus - we have family in Paphos so I hope you are enjoying the winter sunshine.

[@DavesAstrophotography]

@@RefreshingViews Weather has been terrible in Cyprus, I'm just outside Paphos. I'm actually over in Qatar at work in the moment, do a 5/5weeks rotation.

[@bgm-1961]

An entertaining and informative video! Thanks! And here comes the "but"... It would've been more informative to see: 1) How you fastened the pier to the plinth 2) The method you used to embed the plate bolts into the wet cement and ensure that they're plumb

[@RefreshingViews]

Yeah - fair points. I was in such a rush and it was raining so hard that pressing record at the start slipped my mind. Ian simply drilled rebar into the plinth and made the first pour wetter so it bonded better. As for the bolts, we simply put them in the wet cement and then added a fillet or two of concrete epoxy.

[@bgm-1961]

@@RefreshingViews OK, thanks!

[@southbronxny5727]

I would've left the wood on, just painting or wrapping it could've make it look nicer. Best pier of course.

[@RefreshingViews]

That's a far point although it was pretty grubby with splashed concrete. It certainly would have retained the dust better and not needed sealing!

[@alchemygirl8185]

Классно получилось! Супер!

[@RefreshingViews]

Thank you!

[@pentiumcadiz]

I can hardly hear your voice