I used a 6”x6” pressure treated post buried in concrete. I bought a brake disk with a 65mm centre hole $30.00, cut circle out on sheet metal the same size, welded in four 6”x3/4” reddy rod on the plate, drilled the holes through the disk, 8 3/4” nuts. Drilled in a bolt on the north side to complete the rat trap, my EQ6r pro fits perfect. No issues, no movement, no flex, no vibration, perfect. Total cost ~$100 (polar aligned all the time)
Great run through of different pier options. I went with 8" plastic pipe filled with concrete, sunk ~0.8m into the ground, and a baader short pier head and adapter plate for the mount.
Good ideas! I read where that someone used a pipe driven in ground and filled with sand as a damping material instead of concrete. That way it can be lightened up for portability later in case it needs to be moved. I really like the above ground solutions though. I own a house, but there's really nowhere that I'd want a pier permanently installed (unless I had about 4 different locations to better access different parts of the sky, but who wants a bunch of piers sticking up everywhere?). Keep it up! 👍👍
Thanks and yes, many designs still work regardless of people online stating that it's not the right way. I recently saw a wooden pier that looked awesome.
You don't need fancy isolation, you need thick and HEAVY with it being wider at the bottom so it doesn't sink easy. You need leveling at the top to compensate for settling. I move around too much so I'm just going to make a very durable tripod, sure it will be heavy but who cares I won't be hiking with it.
Well done Nugsy, some excellent ideas and advice on different ways to affordably build a pier. I love it when people get creative and saw that bird bath video some time back. As you say if you cannot dig down it doesn't mean you cannot have a pier. Great idea using the tyre. Thanks for the mentions and glad the footage was useful for your first video. Look forward to your future content. Clear skies and best of luck
I built my own late last year. I bought a 6 inch aluminium tube, with a wall thickness of 3mm. I buried one end into a cube of concrete 4ft x 4ft x 3 ft. I then filled the tube with concrete. The pier adaptor i made myself, but unlike the rats nest style i cut a small oval into the side of the tube. On to sits an EQ6R and even when i max out the weight with a 12" sct, i have no isuues.
I used a truck tire on a rim. I'd welded a 4" wide well casing pipe onto it, worked like a charm with an 8" newtonian and a modified webcam for photography. Now that I own my own property I'm looking into pouring a concrete pier and building a small observatory around it. It's not about "I have the best", it's about what works for you.
Oh the truck tire is a good idea. I have been considering building a todmorton pier, but I rent as well and really don't want to have to go about getting permission to dig a big hole so I had thought of using a 5 gallon bucket and filling that with concrete, but I think the tire is a better idea because you get more surface area touching the ground. With the todmorton pier I could sink threaded rod into the concrete which would allow me to remove the pier and then (with a lot of help) roll that tire onto a trailer when I move and then build a new pier on top of it or just take it off to the dump when I'm done with it if I ever get to build a proper observatory. Thanks for sharing your experiences!
Cheers buddy. Good luck to you. Another one worth considering is a half barrel full of concrete. The addition of rocks cuts down on concrete costs. I filled the rim of the tyre with rocks, put some down on the grass and added more as I poured concrete, which will run between them and bind it all if you vibrate, shake or hammer the tyre/what-have-ya once full.
Great first video, welcome to the madhouse🤣 Was talking to Glenn and he mentioned you, just subbed to your channel, some great low price ideas! Clear skies
I want to make a decorative looking pier that has a removable bird table top. That way, I've not just got this big pole standing in the middle of the garden.
I have a well in the middle of otherwise municipality suplied city water. I'm thinking of bolting a 9 inch steel pipe to the existing 1/2 inch thick steel well casing that extends at least 20 feet into the ground.
Yeah, but the decision to start this channel was after having done what I've done so far. I still have plans for future projects that will be documented along the way.
"I'm not looking for perfect. I'm looking for a vast improvement." That's the motto of a lifetime.
That's funny now. I used to be a bricklayer and was such a perfectionist I never made any money!
I used a 6”x6” pressure treated post buried in concrete. I bought a brake disk with a 65mm centre hole $30.00, cut circle out on sheet metal the same size, welded in four 6”x3/4” reddy rod on the plate, drilled the holes through the disk, 8 3/4” nuts. Drilled in a bolt on the north side to complete the rat trap, my EQ6r pro fits perfect. No issues, no movement, no flex, no vibration, perfect. Total cost ~$100 (polar aligned all the time)
Sounds great. I should have mentioned the brake disc option. The difference in vibration between a tripod and pier is immense isn't it?
Great run through of different pier options. I went with 8" plastic pipe filled with concrete, sunk ~0.8m into the ground, and a baader short pier head and adapter plate for the mount.
Cheers. Sounds great!
some great ideas there!!
Thanks!
Great start Nugsy… some cool ideas there… one day I’m gonna have a go myself
Thanks and good luck with yours ... one day. You'll not look back.
Good ideas! I read where that someone used a pipe driven in ground and filled with sand as a damping material instead of concrete. That way it can be lightened up for portability later in case it needs to be moved. I really like the above ground solutions though. I own a house, but there's really nowhere that I'd want a pier permanently installed (unless I had about 4 different locations to better access different parts of the sky, but who wants a bunch of piers sticking up everywhere?). Keep it up! 👍👍
Thanks and yes, many designs still work regardless of people online stating that it's not the right way. I recently saw a wooden pier that looked awesome.
The non-permanent options are awesome! Would love to see more like this for sure
I'll see what I can do! Thanks.
I can tell you put a lot of work into this video Nugsy, and it was well worth it; a must watch for anyone thinking about a DIY pier!
Thanks Chris!
You don't need fancy isolation, you need thick and HEAVY with it being wider at the bottom so it doesn't sink easy. You need leveling at the top to compensate for settling. I move around too much so I'm just going to make a very durable tripod, sure it will be heavy but who cares I won't be hiking with it.
Sounds like the best plan for your needs. Good luck, clear skies.
Well done Nugsy, some excellent ideas and advice on different ways to affordably build a pier. I love it when people get creative and saw that bird bath video some time back. As you say if you cannot dig down it doesn't mean you cannot have a pier. Great idea using the tyre. Thanks for the mentions and glad the footage was useful for your first video. Look forward to your future content. Clear skies and best of luck
Thanks again Glenn!
Nice video Nugsy really like the tyre idea for the semi-permanent piers, keep the videos coming
Thanks and will do.
I built my own late last year. I bought a 6 inch aluminium tube, with a wall thickness of 3mm. I buried one end into a cube of concrete 4ft x 4ft x 3 ft. I then filled the tube with concrete. The pier adaptor i made myself, but unlike the rats nest style i cut a small oval into the side of the tube. On to sits an EQ6R and even when i max out the weight with a 12" sct, i have no isuues.
Sounds spot on. I know that posting links in YT comments would ruin RUclips but it would be nice for things like posting pics.
@@Cheapass-tro yes being able to post pictures would be great.
We have just bought a property and this is top of my list! Well timed video!
Good stuff, glad you found this video and good luck!
Great and very informative video. You offered many great ideas.
Thanks for saying.
Great video full of useful tips. I followed Astrobloke’s pier build and its been fantastic. Looking forward to more content 👍
Thanks and yeah. Wish Glenn was building that at mine!
Well done mate top vid looking forward to your next one
Thanks buddy!
I used a truck tire on a rim. I'd welded a 4" wide well casing pipe onto it, worked like a charm with an 8" newtonian and a modified webcam for photography. Now that I own my own property I'm looking into pouring a concrete pier and building a small observatory around it. It's not about "I have the best", it's about what works for you.
I like the way you think. I too am now looking into an observatory build...
Great video! Just getting started in astronomy and this looks like a practical pier solution.
Thanks and good luck on your astro journey!
Excellent video I do love a budget build & you've put in some great ideas to, look forward to viewing more.
Ha ha! "Dumpy Dalek" I like it.
Thanks mate.
Nice one, I love the peir, and the fact it was free is fantastic looking forward to your next video
Thanks AstroQ... Coming up within the hour!
@@Cheapass-tro brilliant looking forward to it mate
@@Astro.Q It's up.
@Cheapass-tro I'll have a look in the morning off to bed mate 👍🏻
I think we all forget about renters. So your thoughts and ideas are superb for them. I think there needs to be more content for that market. Well done
Thank you.
Great video! Keep it up, really informative and some really good ideas.
Thanks for your support.
This is exactly what I have had in mind, Thanks for sharing!
All the best!
Oh the truck tire is a good idea. I have been considering building a todmorton pier, but I rent as well and really don't want to have to go about getting permission to dig a big hole so I had thought of using a 5 gallon bucket and filling that with concrete, but I think the tire is a better idea because you get more surface area touching the ground. With the todmorton pier I could sink threaded rod into the concrete which would allow me to remove the pier and then (with a lot of help) roll that tire onto a trailer when I move and then build a new pier on top of it or just take it off to the dump when I'm done with it if I ever get to build a proper observatory. Thanks for sharing your experiences!
Cheers buddy. Good luck to you. Another one worth considering is a half barrel full of concrete. The addition of rocks cuts down on concrete costs. I filled the rim of the tyre with rocks, put some down on the grass and added more as I poured concrete, which will run between them and bind it all if you vibrate, shake or hammer the tyre/what-have-ya once full.
Great first video, welcome to the madhouse🤣 Was talking to Glenn and he mentioned you, just subbed to your channel, some great low price ideas! Clear skies
Hello Simon, thanks and welcome along. Yep I recognise you. Seen your observatory build. Good job and of course, clear skies! (sub returned)
@@Cheapass-tro Thanks, much appreciated, didn’t catch your name!
@@SimonsAstro Nugsy.
I want to make a decorative looking pier that has a removable bird table top. That way, I've not just got this big pole standing in the middle of the garden.
Sounds like a good idea. Something up over the mount would be the way to go. Keep setup with polar alignment.
Brill. Being from Wigan I am as tight as cramp. Will consider all of your idea's.
😅😂🤣
Great ideas!
Thanks. Only the tyre was my idea (as far as I know).
I only got literally 1 second into the video and subscribed because of the channel name.
Thanks. Hope you went further too.
@@Cheapass-tro just finished. It's basically what I've been planning on doing. And next onto the imaging platform. Thanks for all the info!
Thank you.
You're most welcome. Thank you for commenting.
I have a well in the middle of otherwise municipality suplied city water. I'm thinking of bolting a 9 inch steel pipe to the existing 1/2 inch thick steel well casing that extends at least 20 feet into the ground.
I'd say that would be below the frost line!
If you’re taking photos with a phone use a Bluetooth shutter release so that you don’t have to touch the rig.
Documenting your builds is key for more attention to your work, keep going tho
Yeah, but the decision to start this channel was after having done what I've done so far. I still have plans for future projects that will be documented along the way.
Interesting stuff, but please can you learn to shoot in focus.
I know but I often can't even see the screen in the sun.