Telescope Pier Concrete Pillar

I've decided to make a telescope pier in my garden of the concrete pier type
as described on the webpage http://www.tucsonastronomy.org/pier.htm . Can
anyone tell me which builders merchants in the UK, preferable in the Oxford
area, can supply Sonotube or the equivalent to make the pillar

Thanks

Tim Scott


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"Tim Scott" wrote in message m...
I've decided to make a telescope pier in my garden of the concrete pier type
as described on the webpage http://www.tucsonastronomy.org/pier.htm . Can
anyone tell me which builders merchants in the UK, preferable in the Oxford
area, can supply Sonotube or the equivalent to make the pillar

Thanks

Tim Scott

According to Stephen Tonkin posting here only last year:
30.12.03 Google search within uk.sci.astronomy.
Search terms concrete cardboard tube pier

Billington tubes 01942 814649

Essex Tube Windings 01375 815163

Probably too far away to be useful. But they may supply someone local
to you.

If you have a neighbour who works at concrete piling you can get a
free tube and some reinforcing rod for the cost of a crate of beer.
(allegedly) ;-)

Not trying to be clever.

Just pointing out the existence of the ng archive search facility.

Good luck in your search. Stephen will (probably) be along shortly.

Chris.B:-)

Chris.B wrote:
Stephen will (probably) be along shortly.

No need -- except I suppose I ought to post the FAQ details again...

Best,
Stephen

Remove footfrommouth to reply

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Chris.B wrote:

Essex Tube Windings 01375 815163

Probably too far away to be useful. But they may supply someone local
to you.

Essex will, in fact, send stuff by carriers. Explain what you want
to use it for and whether you want a 'release' compound on the
inside. They are very approachable. I used a 10" x 2m piece
for my 8" f/8.25 Dob.

HTH
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Graham W http://www.gcw.org.uk/ PGM-FI page updated, Graphics Tutorial
WIMBORNE http://www.wessex-astro-society.freeserve.co.uk/ Wessex
Dorset UK Astro Society's Web pages, Info, Meeting Dates, Sites & Maps
Change 'news' to 'sewn' in my Reply address to avoid my spam filter.

In article , Graham W wrote:
Chris.B wrote:

Essex Tube Windings 01375 815163

Probably too far away to be useful. But they may supply someone local
to you.

Essex will, in fact, send stuff by carriers. Explain what you want
to use it for and whether you want a 'release' compound on the
inside. They are very approachable. I used a 10" x 2m piece
for my 8" f/8.25 Dob.

HTH

Care to tell us how much it cost?

Pete

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.................................................. .........................
.. never trust a man who, when left alone ...... Pete Lynch .
.. in a room with a tea cosy ...... Marlow, England .
.. doesn't try it on (Billy Connolly) .....................................

pete lynch wrote:
In article ,
Graham W wrote:
Chris.B wrote:

Essex Tube Windings 01375 815163

Probably too far away to be useful. But they may supply someone
local
to you.

Essex will, in fact, send stuff by carriers. Explain what you want
to use it for and whether you want a 'release' compound on the
inside. They are very approachable. I used a 10" x 2m piece
for my 8" f/8.25 Dob.

Care to tell us how much it cost?

Back in 1997 it was £55 delivered.


--
Graham W http://www.gcw.org.uk/ PGM-FI page updated, Graphics Tutorial
WIMBORNE http://www.wessex-astro-society.freeserve.co.uk/ Wessex
Dorset UK Astro Society's Web pages, Info, Meeting Dates, Sites & Maps
Change 'news' to 'sewn' in my Reply address to avoid my spam filter.

On Wed, 1 Sep 2004 10:16:41 +0100, "Tim Scott"
wrote:

I've decided to make a telescope pier in my garden of the concrete pier type
as described on the webpage http://www.tucsonastronomy.org/pier.htm . Can
anyone tell me which builders merchants in the UK, preferable in the Oxford
area, can supply Sonotube or the equivalent to make the pillar

Thanks

Tim Scott

An alternative is a steel pier as

http://www.astroman.fsnet.co.uk/pier.htm

that eliminates the need for a costly equatorial wedge.

"Tim Scott" wrote in message m...
I've decided to make a telescope pier in my garden of the concrete type.

Something else to think about. Make the concrete foundation massive
enough to be completely stable. A heavy telescope on top of a tall
concrete pier will act like a compound pendulum. (metronome style)
This will be exacerbated(!) if the excavations are the typical conical
variety achieved by amateur speleologists. Ideally the foundation
ought to be bigger at the bottom and thinner at the top. JLopez style
(before the augmentation)[allegedly]

Obviously lower piers aren't such a problem.
You must reinforce well between the upstanding pier and the body of
concrete beneath the surface. Or the pier will simply crack-off at
ground level. Concrete is strong in compression but weak in tension.
It doesn't like being bent locally.
Leave the job long enough to set really hard. It's so tempting to want
to see what it looks like. Don't!

Chris.B

On 2 Sep 2004 00:10:45 -0700, (Chris.B) wrote:

"Tim Scott" wrote in message m...
I've decided to make a telescope pier in my garden of the concrete type.

Something else to think about. Make the concrete foundation massive
enough to be completely stable. A heavy telescope on top of a tall
concrete pier will act like a compound pendulum. (metronome style)
This will be exacerbated(!) if the excavations are the typical conical
variety achieved by amateur speleologists. Ideally the foundation
ought to be bigger at the bottom and thinner at the top. JLopez style
(before the augmentation)[allegedly]

Obviously lower piers aren't such a problem.
You must reinforce well between the upstanding pier and the body of
concrete beneath the surface. Or the pier will simply crack-off at
ground level. Concrete is strong in compression but weak in tension.
It doesn't like being bent locally.
Leave the job long enough to set really hard. It's so tempting to want
to see what it looks like. Don't!

Chris.B

Now you've put Tim off - let him have some fun !

Tim Scott wrote:

I've decided to make a telescope pier in my garden of the concrete pier
type as described on the webpage http://www.tucsonastronomy.org/pier.htm .
Can anyone tell me which builders merchants in the UK, preferable in the
Oxford area, can supply Sonotube or the equivalent to make the pillar

Thanks

Tim Scott


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Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.745 / Virus Database: 497 - Release Date: 27/08/2004

A couple of things to think about:

A plain concrete tube may not be the best option. A steel tube filled with
concrete (apparently) has better vibration damping properties than concrete
alone. Its also better than a steel tube alone. Other benefits of this
design include:

Cheap - a thick walled steel tube about 2 m long shouldn't be very expensive
Its easier to work with the top of a steel tube than a concrete pillar when
it comes to mounting.
Those designs which use a steel tube bolted to a concrete foundation are
subject to enormous forces at the junction and may well move

Also don't skimp on the concrete - its cheap enough. I used more than 1.5
cubic metres as the base for my pier (a 2 m 30 cm OD steel tube (wall
thickness 10 mm) fully 1 m of the tube was embedded in the concrete.

regards
John