Observatory Progress

[MarkS]

Does anyone happen to know a shop where I can simply go along and buy lengths of angle iron.  30mm (L-shaped) or 25mm at a pinch.

The usual suspects (B&Q, Jewsons, Travis Perkins) don't seem to list it online.  I guess I need somewhere more specialised.

Mark

[mickw]

B&Q don't list half their steel stock, so a visit or phone call might get a result

Or for a proper job - a steel stockholders search page around Kingsnorth
Steel Stockholders

Most will cut for you - steel has a habit of coming in 5 metre lengths

[MarkS]

Just to prove to Mick that, yes, the piers will be within the observatory:





This hole is 3ft deep.  The opening is 2.5ft square and it is 3.5ft square at the bottom - a kind of frustum of pyramid shape.


I'm going to plug the gap under the shuttering with clay (I've got plenty of it) and I've found some polystyrene of the right thickness to fill the space between the two shells to prevent concrete being spilled into the gap.

A pile of rubble to be broken up and act as hardcore.

Mark

[mickw]

Great job Mark and a lot of hard work - made my back ache just looking at it.

Will you be doing something to stop soil/water washing under the observatory floor or against the timbers ?

What's the angle iron for ?

[MarkS]

Who needs gym membership when you can dig out an observatory  

Digging the observatory base was the hardest part.  But digging out the holes for the pier foundations was surprisingly easy - the spade easily sliced into the clay and I could remove it in large chunks.

I'm going to do some re-profiling of the higher ground to prevent the problems you mention.  I'll do that at the same time I dig the trench for the armoured cable, lay a pathway and re-site those lethal rose bushes.

The (L-profile) angle iron is a track for the roof wheels to run along.  

My garden trolley died on Sunday from metal fatigue on one of the wheels.  The wheel collapsed and the trailer turned over depositing a pile of earth in the garden.  I had to finish the job using a wheelbarrow.

Mark

[mickw]

I guess a proper steel stockholders could be a better choice if you want to get it the full length

The wheel collapsed and the trailer turned over

You need some angle iron 

[Carole]

Looks deceptively smaller than it really is.  What a lot of work especially digging two pier holes, I remember that well, though I didn't do the digging, I was the labourer removing the clay, but I saw the effort it took.

Coming on a treat.

Carole

[JonH]

Does anyone happen to know a shop where I can simply go along and buy lengths of angle iron.  30mm (L-shaped) or 25mm at a pinch.

The usual suspects (B&Q, Jewsons, Travis Perkins) don't seem to list it online.  I guess I need somewhere more specialised.

Mark

www.metals4u.co.uk
They can sometimes be a bit expensive, but if your only after a little bit it often works out cheeper as they will sell you short lengths.
Otherwise could call Parker Steel or Smiths and ask if they will do cash on delivery.
Does it need to be steel? Aluminium might cost a little more but it will never go rusty. So long as you get something like 3 or 4mm wall extruded section will be more strong enough.

[MarkS]

Thanks for the suggestion Jon.

I also found a very helpful local stockist of angle iron just a few miles down the road at Great Chart (thanks for your help Mick).  They'll get it in tomorrow and can deliver, which is very convenient for me because I'm taking the day off for the concrete delivery(!).  They also do drilling welding etc  so it's a useful place to know.

Mark

[mickw]

Are they just pouring the concrete or levelling as well ?

Do you need a hand ?

[MarkS]

Good question.  Just pouring the concrete I think.  I'm expecting to have to level it but never done it before - I have a rake, spade, and a couple of long enough lengths of wood for levelling (tamping?) - it needs to be level but no need to be smooth.

Any help appreciated  

They plan to arrive around 2pm and they're bringing two extra labourers to barrow the concrete from the lorry to the hole.

Mark

[mickw]

I will have 4 shredded wheat and see you about 1:30 then 

I would suggest having a couple of boards or paving slabs adjacent to the pier holes in case they decide to use the shuttering when tipping the barrows, also some sort of ramp over the obs. shuttering

[MarkS]

Cheers Mick.  See you tomorrow.

[MarkS]

Ready to go:

[JohnP]

Mark, I'm surprised your not mixing the concrete by hand yourself...   Now that would be a workout...

Anyway - its looking good..

I trust it you have Stella on tap for Mick's visit - gonna be a lot of hard thirsty work going on by the looks of it...

John