Observatory Rehab Near Completion

After using my tiny zerbat'ry (I owe John Steinberg for that term) for
nearly four years I have a pretty good idea what I did right and what I
did wrong when I designed and built it. I'm pleased to say that I
didn't go _too_ far wrong, but there was room for improvements, all
related to creature comforts. My wife and I have spent the last couple
of months upgrading the structure.

The main idea was to move the entry door to the north side of the
building. The pier is six inches due south of the center of the dome,
so there is more operating room--greater creature comfort--with the
door and seating area on the north side. The original door, on the east
side, is a home-made affair. It remains in place for now, but I plan to
upgrade or replace it.

The new door is a high-quality steel entry door, complete with brick
moulding and pre-drilled for hardware, that I had custom built to my
specifications. It was not easy to find a manufacturer who would do
that.

The zerbat'ry is built on sloping ground, and the north side is high
enough to require a rail on the deck that leads to the new door.

Changes inside include additional mahogany shelving, additional
electrical outlets, and two new large under-floor conduits leading to
the pier base--one for data cables, the other for AC & DC.

I have been in the zerbat'ry a few times since the project reached the
point at which the 'scope and other gear could be reinstalled, and I
can say we got it much more right this time (but ask me four years
hence.)

There are a few photos (with a more complete story to come after some
small details are completed) at
http://www.davidillig.com/observatory.shtml. I have moved my
astrophotos from davidillig.com to a new site,
http://www.primordial-light.com/index.html.

Davoud

--
Don't re-elect the past. Vote for the futu Obama in 2008!

usenet *at* davidillig dawt com

Heavy duty lock and security. However it looks as if the pins in the hinges
can be popped. A 'cats claw' to pry the door open. Perhaps a piano hinge
would have been a better choice?

"katrinaxx" wrote in
om:

Heavy duty lock and security. However it looks as if the pins in the
hinges can be popped. A 'cats claw' to pry the door open. Perhaps a
piano hinge would have been a better choice?




aaaahhh...the eyes of a thief...I noticed that too =8-(

Davoud: http://www.davidillig.com/observatory.shtml

katrinaxx:
Heavy duty lock and security. However it looks as if the pins in the
hinges can be popped. A 'cats claw' to pry the door open. Perhaps a
piano hinge would have been a better choice?

VicXnews:
aaaahhh...the eyes of a thief...I noticed that too =8-(

Nattering nabobs of negativism.

In my 32-year career in the security business I learned that mere doors
and locks can't keep thieves out. They are, however, a strong deterrent
to honest people.

I'm sure you will understand my reluctance to discuss home security in
this forum. You may take my word for it, however, that no unauthorized
person will enter my zerbat'ry undetected unless she has control of my
entire property. All bets are off if they come in with an army.

Davoud

P.S. Not a word about the zerbat'ry -- good job, bad job...

--
Don't re-elect the failures of the past eight years. Vote for the futu
Obama-Biden in 2008!

usenet *at* davidillig dawt com

Davoud wrote in :

Davoud: http://www.davidillig.com/observatory.shtml

katrinaxx:
Heavy duty lock and security. However it looks as if the pins in the
hinges can be popped. A 'cats claw' to pry the door open. Perhaps a
piano hinge would have been a better choice?

VicXnews:
aaaahhh...the eyes of a thief...I noticed that too =8-(

Nattering nabobs of negativism.

In my 32-year career in the security business I learned that mere doors
and locks can't keep thieves out. They are, however, a strong deterrent
to honest people.

I'm sure you will understand my reluctance to discuss home security in
this forum. You may take my word for it, however, that no unauthorized
person will enter my zerbat'ry undetected unless she has control of my
entire property. All bets are off if they come in with an army.

Davoud

P.S. Not a word about the zerbat'ry -- good job, bad job...


hinges on the outside say steal me to a theif's mind...that not negativism
it's the way they look at things and make note of...even kids(sometimes
they travel in small armies) will try to get in...that said...I think you
will be safe at your location...it seems quiet...
as for your setup...what's not to envy...it's beautiful!

"Davoud" wrote in message
...
Davoud: http://www.davidillig.com/observatory.shtml

katrinaxx:
Heavy duty lock and security. However it looks as if the pins in the
hinges can be popped. A 'cats claw' to pry the door open. Perhaps a
piano hinge would have been a better choice?

VicXnews:
aaaahhh...the eyes of a thief...I noticed that too =8-(

Nattering nabobs of negativism.

In my 32-year career in the security business I learned that mere doors
and locks can't keep thieves out. They are, however, a strong deterrent
to honest people.

I also noticed that your zerbat'ry is frame construction. A sawzaw could
cut right through it. I agree mere doors and locks cant keep thieves out.

I'm sure you will understand my reluctance to discuss home security in
this forum. You may take my word for it, however, that no unauthorized
person will enter my zerbat'ry undetected unless

she .....

ooh a break in security!

has control of my
entire property. All bets are off if they come in with an army.

Davoud

P.S. Not a word about the zerbat'ry -- good job, bad job...

Ok, I would have made a wrap around deck.
Otherwise, not bad . Good luck with it.


--
Don't re-elect the failures of the past eight years. Vote for the futu
Obama-Biden in 2008!

usenet *at* davidillig dawt com

"katrinaxx" wrote in:

Heavy duty lock and security. However it looks as if the pins in the hinges
can be popped. A 'cats claw' to pry the door open. Perhaps a piano hinge
would have been a better choice?

Nah, just go in through the east door instead. ;-)
Beautiful craftsmanship; I enjoy working with mahogany, too. My observatory-
cum-shed does not have locks or security. After all, what if a neighbor wanted
to borrow a cup of photons? :-)

katrinaxx:
Heavy duty lock and security. However it looks as if the pins in the hinges
can be popped. A 'cats claw' to pry the door open. Perhaps a piano hinge
would have been a better choice?

Tom Jarrett:
Nah, just go in through the east door instead. ;-)
Beautiful craftsmanship; I enjoy working with mahogany, too. My observatory-
cum-shed does not have locks or security. After all, what if a neighbor
wanted to borrow a cup of photons? :-)

(OP here) I have decided to keep the east door, but it's not so easy to
force as it used to be. I'm not getting all hung up over the security;
after 32 years in the security racket I still don't know how to keep a
determined person from entering a structure made of wood--especially
one with a low, thin, aluminum "roof." I do, however, know how to
prevent her/him from doing so undetected.

Thank you for your kind words about he craftsmanship. I'm a furniture
maker so I'm accustomed to building things that remain in a controlled
environment. It's frustrating (but amusing) to work to make a nice
tight joint in the zerbat'ry and find a 1/32 gap the next day because
changes in the temperature and humidity moved the underlying SPF
structure! I've installed a humidifier, and that is most certainly
helping the woodwork and the equipment.

Finally, I was raised in a coal patch where it was considered rude to
lock one's doors, lest a neighbor need something or need to use the
phone, as not everyone could afford a phone.

Davoud

--
Don't re-elect the failures of the past eight years. Vote for the futu
Obama-Biden in 2008! And to hell with the neocon lie machine.

usenet *at* davidillig dawt com

On Aug 30, 11:35*pm, Davoud wrote:
After using my tiny zerbat'ry (I owe John Steinberg for that term) for
nearly four years I have a pretty good idea what I did right and what I
did wrong when I designed and built it. I'm pleased to say that I
didn't go _too_ far wrong, but there was room for improvements, all
related to creature comforts. My wife and I have spent the last couple
of months upgrading the structure.

The main idea was to move the entry door to the north side of the
building. The pier is six inches due south of the center of the dome,
so there is more operating room--greater creature comfort--with the
door and seating area on the north side. The original door, on the east
side, is a home-made affair. It remains in place for now, but I plan to
upgrade or replace it.

The new door is a high-quality steel entry door, complete with brick
moulding and pre-drilled for hardware, that I had custom built to my
specifications. It was not easy to find a manufacturer who would do
that.

The zerbat'ry is built on sloping ground, and the north side is high
enough to require a rail on the deck that leads to the new door.

Changes inside include additional mahogany shelving, additional
electrical outlets, and two new large under-floor conduits leading to
the pier base--one for data cables, the other for AC & DC.

I have been in the zerbat'ry a few times since the project reached the
point at which the 'scope and other gear could be reinstalled, and I
can say we got it much more right this time (but ask me four years
hence.)

There are a few photos (with a more complete story to come after some
small details are completed) at
http://www.davidillig.com/observatory.shtml. I have moved my
astrophotos from davidillig.com to a new site,
http://www.primordial-light.com/index.html.

Davoud

--
Don't re-elect the past. Vote for the futu Obama in 2008!

usenet *at* davidillig dawt com



VERY nice.

We just moved into a new home that we built in Northumberland County,
VA, where the Potomac joins the Chesapeake Bay and we are involved in
doing all the little things that make it ours -- shelving, bookcases,
curio cupboards, and the like.

About your computer desk before and after photos -- I'll tell you the
same thing I told my bride when she remarked on the appearance of my
amateur radio station operating position: IT'S DESIGNED TO LOOK LIKE
A RAT'S NEST !?!?!?!?!

On Sep 9, 6:15*am, Davoud wrote:

Finally, I was raised in a coal patch where it was considered rude to
lock one's doors, lest a neighbor need something or need to use the
phone, as not everyone could afford a phone.

But places like that don't exist any more. Instead, the world is made
up of big cities, where not nailed down equals stolen, neighbors don't
pay attention to odd things going on next door, and when people go to
work and school for the day, there's nobody home, so it doesn't matter
if opening a door makes a loud noise.

John Savard