Need a little bit of knopwledge from wood "savey" guys and gals!
I am planning to build a Dome in which to house my telescope and I
need to remove a 60-70 foot tall Silver Maple tree in the back yard
anyway...
So this morning I went out and measured the trunk at a point about 3
foot off the ground and it measured 141 inches in daimeter... !!! Big
Tree !
Normally with a Dome you would dig a hole 3 to 4 foot deep and 2-3
foot square and pour in a concrete base ..A pier would then be bolted
to the concrete base and a telescope bolted to the pier... This gives
enough stability to the scope that when takling 2-3 hour exposures
or longer of a Planet/ Galazey etc is possible using a good motorized
scope mount....
Ok to the point..... Silver Maple tree trunk !
IF i cut this tree and leave the trunk about 3 foot off the ground
and then build an observatory around it...with the floor of the
obsevatory being a few inches above the tree trunk (say 4 oot off the
ground)... What would you woodworkers think the stability be of the
trunk as a base on which to bolt a metal telescope pier...
Shrinkage rate? etc... the metal pier has adjustments etc to keep it
level.. but the tree/pier bolts have to stay tight
I am in my 60's and lets face it I do not think the trunk would Rot
away before I die... and the trunk would be enclosed and out of the
weather (think of it like being in the basement of your house..)
Grinding the trunk even with the ground, or having the entire root
system removed is expensive...? and if I could use it as my base
for the telescope it would also save me from digging a big hole and
pouring in a concrete base...?
What do you woodworkers think ?
Thanks
Bob
Bob G. wrote:
> Need a little bit of knopwledge from wood "savey" guys and gals!
>
>
> I am planning to build a Dome in which to house my telescope and I
> need to remove a 60-70 foot tall Silver Maple tree in the back yard
> anyway...
>
> So this morning I went out and measured the trunk at a point about 3
> foot off the ground and it measured 141 inches in daimeter... !!! Big
> Tree !
That is almost 12 FEET in diameter. Are you sure it isn'tt 141 inches
in circumfrence?
>
> Ok to the point..... Silver Maple tree trunk !
>
> IF i cut this tree and leave the trunk about 3 foot off the ground
> and then build an observatory around it...with the floor of the
> obsevatory being a few inches above the tree trunk (say 4 oot off the
> ground)... What would you woodworkers think the stability be of the
> trunk as a base on which to bolt a metal telescope pier...
> ...
>
> I am in my 60's and lets face it I do not think the trunk would Rot
> away before I die... and the trunk would be enclosed and out of the
> weather (think of it like being in the basement of your house..)
>
> Grinding the trunk even with the ground, or having the entire root
> system removed is expensive...? and if I could use it as my base
> for the telescope it would also save me from digging a big hole and
> pouring in a concrete base...?
>
I think the answer depends on the telescope.
I know some people who mounted a long focus Newtonian, (I
don't rememebr the size but it was bigger than an 8 inch, maybe
even a 12 1/2") on a red oak stump that was about 18 inches in
DIAMETER four feet above grade.
It worked fine.
Do you have a lot of problems with ambient lights? If not, I
suggest you consider a rolling roof observatory. It's a real
bummer to be trapped in a dome when a fireball comes by
opposite the slit.
Here is one I designed:
http://www.chagrinvalleyastronomy.org/obhome.html
--
FF
Years ago, my dad wanted to cut a 6" dia. tree in the back yard that
was in the way of his patio. I suggested we cut it at about 30 " and
mount an old oak table top on it. "I' cut the tree. "I" drilled the
tree for the bolts with a brace and bit. "I" mounted the table top.
"I" painted the top to match the chairs. It lasted quite a few years.
Did it shift? Probably. Did it rot? Eventually. Did "I" have to
take it down after 8/9 years? Yes. Did "I" learn to keep my mouth
shut? Apparently not.
Pete
On Sat, 18 Mar 2006 11:16:43 -0500, Bob G.
<[email protected]> wrote:
>Need a little bit of knopwledge from wood "savey" guys and gals!
>
>
>I am planning to build a Dome in which to house my telescope and I
>need to remove a 60-70 foot tall Silver Maple tree in the back yard
>anyway...
>
>So this morning I went out and measured the trunk at a point about 3
>foot off the ground and it measured 141 inches in daimeter... !!! Big
>Tree !
>
>Normally with a Dome you would dig a hole 3 to 4 foot deep and 2-3
>foot square and pour in a concrete base ..A pier would then be bolted
>to the concrete base and a telescope bolted to the pier... This gives
>enough stability to the scope that when takling 2-3 hour exposures
>or longer of a Planet/ Galazey etc is possible using a good motorized
>scope mount....
>
>Ok to the point..... Silver Maple tree trunk !
>
> IF i cut this tree and leave the trunk about 3 foot off the ground
>and then build an observatory around it...with the floor of the
>obsevatory being a few inches above the tree trunk (say 4 oot off the
>ground)... What would you woodworkers think the stability be of the
>trunk as a base on which to bolt a metal telescope pier...
>
>Shrinkage rate? etc... the metal pier has adjustments etc to keep it
>level.. but the tree/pier bolts have to stay tight
>
>I am in my 60's and lets face it I do not think the trunk would Rot
>away before I die... and the trunk would be enclosed and out of the
>weather (think of it like being in the basement of your house..)
>
>Grinding the trunk even with the ground, or having the entire root
>system removed is expensive...? and if I could use it as my base
>for the telescope it would also save me from digging a big hole and
>pouring in a concrete base...?
>
>What do you woodworkers think ?
>
>Thanks
>Bob
>
>>>
>>70 feet high and 141 inches= ~12 feet in diameter? That sure is an
>>unusual maple tree.
>
> If that was circumference, then the tree is only about 45" in diameter.
>Still a big tree, but is it big enough for an astronomy dome?
>
==================
Slight "little" Boo Boo on my part or big Oops....Your pick !
it is 141 inches in Circumference NOT Diameter...
Thanks Guys ...I got the information that I needed...back to the
drawing board I guess.. due to the location the floor of the
observatory has to be about 8 or 9 foot above ground level (like a
deck off the back of a house).. otherwise I would have very restricted
views ..
Bob
In article <[email protected]>,
Bob G. <[email protected]> wrote:
>Need a little bit of knopwledge from wood "savey" guys and gals!
>
>
>I am planning to build a Dome in which to house my telescope and I
>need to remove a 60-70 foot tall Silver Maple tree in the back yard
>anyway...
>
>So this morning I went out and measured the trunk at a point about 3
>foot off the ground and it measured 141 inches in daimeter... !!! Big
>Tree !
<...snipped...>
>What do you woodworkers think ?
>
>Thanks
>Bob
>
70 feet high and 141 inches= ~12 feet in diameter? That sure is an
unusual maple tree.
--
Larry Wasserman Baltimore, Maryland
[email protected]
I agreee, the stump over time will start to decompose, not a pretty
situation, if your telescope is mounted to it.
Jim
"Bob G." <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Need a little bit of knopwledge from wood "savey" guys and gals!
>
>
> I am planning to build a Dome in which to house my telescope and I
> need to remove a 60-70 foot tall Silver Maple tree in the back yard
> anyway...
>
> So this morning I went out and measured the trunk at a point about 3
> foot off the ground and it measured 141 inches in daimeter... !!! Big
> Tree !
>
> Normally with a Dome you would dig a hole 3 to 4 foot deep and 2-3
> foot square and pour in a concrete base ..A pier would then be bolted
> to the concrete base and a telescope bolted to the pier... This gives
> enough stability to the scope that when takling 2-3 hour exposures
> or longer of a Planet/ Galazey etc is possible using a good motorized
> scope mount....
>
> Ok to the point..... Silver Maple tree trunk !
>
> IF i cut this tree and leave the trunk about 3 foot off the ground
> and then build an observatory around it...with the floor of the
> obsevatory being a few inches above the tree trunk (say 4 oot off the
> ground)... What would you woodworkers think the stability be of the
> trunk as a base on which to bolt a metal telescope pier...
>
> Shrinkage rate? etc... the metal pier has adjustments etc to keep it
> level.. but the tree/pier bolts have to stay tight
>
> I am in my 60's and lets face it I do not think the trunk would Rot
> away before I die... and the trunk would be enclosed and out of the
> weather (think of it like being in the basement of your house..)
>
> Grinding the trunk even with the ground, or having the entire root
> system removed is expensive...? and if I could use it as my base
> for the telescope it would also save me from digging a big hole and
> pouring in a concrete base...?
>
> What do you woodworkers think ?
>
> Thanks
> Bob
>
Wow... a maple that is 11-3/4 feet in diameter has to qualify as some sort
of record, not to mention that it is pretty wide for its height. Maples are
usually more than 6-7 times taller than wide. And you'll have to explain to
us all exactly how you were able to measure the diameter.
Now if the tree actually measured 141 inches *around*, it would be 3-3/4
feet in diameter. Big enough to look around before dropping it, but not
nearly record-breaking, and a whole lot more attractive as a tree.
As for your question of stability, the cut trunk will move and check a lot
as it dries, and the base that you left in the ground will move a lot as it
rots away. How fast the trunk dries and the roots rot depend a lot on the
ground moisture and air humidity levels around the stump. In addition, to
mount your telescope you'd probably be sinking screws, or more probably lag
bolts, into the stump's end grain - the weakest and worst way to put screws
into wood. You'd eventually have to remount your telescope mount many times
as the stump slowly falls apart.
Michael Latcha - at home in Redford, MI
"Bob G." <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Need a little bit of knopwledge from wood "savey" guys and gals!
>
>
> I am planning to build a Dome in which to house my telescope and I
> need to remove a 60-70 foot tall Silver Maple tree in the back yard
> anyway...
>
> So this morning I went out and measured the trunk at a point about 3
> foot off the ground and it measured 141 inches in daimeter... !!! Big
> Tree !
>
> Normally with a Dome you would dig a hole 3 to 4 foot deep and 2-3
> foot square and pour in a concrete base ..A pier would then be bolted
> to the concrete base and a telescope bolted to the pier... This gives
> enough stability to the scope that when takling 2-3 hour exposures
> or longer of a Planet/ Galazey etc is possible using a good motorized
> scope mount....
>
> Ok to the point..... Silver Maple tree trunk !
>
> IF i cut this tree and leave the trunk about 3 foot off the ground
> and then build an observatory around it...with the floor of the
> obsevatory being a few inches above the tree trunk (say 4 oot off the
> ground)... What would you woodworkers think the stability be of the
> trunk as a base on which to bolt a metal telescope pier...
>
> Shrinkage rate? etc... the metal pier has adjustments etc to keep it
> level.. but the tree/pier bolts have to stay tight
>
> I am in my 60's and lets face it I do not think the trunk would Rot
> away before I die... and the trunk would be enclosed and out of the
> weather (think of it like being in the basement of your house..)
>
> Grinding the trunk even with the ground, or having the entire root
> system removed is expensive...? and if I could use it as my base
> for the telescope it would also save me from digging a big hole and
> pouring in a concrete base...?
>
> What do you woodworkers think ?
>
> Thanks
> Bob
>
On Sat, 18 Mar 2006 23:10:44 -0600, [email protected] () wrote:
>In article <[email protected]>,
>Bob G. <[email protected]> wrote:
>>Need a little bit of knopwledge from wood "savey" guys and gals!
>>
>>
>>I am planning to build a Dome in which to house my telescope and I
>>need to remove a 60-70 foot tall Silver Maple tree in the back yard
>>anyway...
>>
>>So this morning I went out and measured the trunk at a point about 3
>>foot off the ground and it measured 141 inches in daimeter... !!! Big
>>Tree !
><...snipped...>
>>What do you woodworkers think ?
>>
>>Thanks
>>Bob
>>
>70 feet high and 141 inches= ~12 feet in diameter? That sure is an
>unusual maple tree.
If that was circumference, then the tree is only about 45" in diameter.
Still a big tree, but is it big enough for an astronomy dome?
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
If you're gonna be dumb, you better be tough
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Bob G. (in [email protected]) said:
| Need a little bit of knopwledge from wood "savey" guys and gals!
|
|
| I am planning to build a Dome in which to house my telescope and I
| need to remove a 60-70 foot tall Silver Maple tree in the back yard
| anyway...
|
| So this morning I went out and measured the trunk at a point about 3
| foot off the ground and it measured 141 inches in daimeter... !!!
| Big Tree !
<snip>
| What do you woodworkers think ?
This woodworker thinks that you should consider a different location
for your observatory.
--
Morris Dovey
DeSoto Solar
DeSoto, Iowa USA
http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto
SAVE the Tree - I agree!
On Sat, 18 Mar 2006 16:35:52 -0000, Morris Dovey <[email protected]> wrote:
> Bob G. (in [email protected]) said:
>
> | Need a little bit of knopwledge from wood "savey" guys and gals!
> |
> |
> | I am planning to build a Dome in which to house my telescope and I
> | need to remove a 60-70 foot tall Silver Maple tree in the back yard
> | anyway...
> |
> | So this morning I went out and measured the trunk at a point about 3
> | foot off the ground and it measured 141 inches in daimeter... !!!
> | Big Tree !
>
> <snip>
>
> | What do you woodworkers think ?
>
> This woodworker thinks that you should consider a different location
> for your observatory.
>
> --
> Morris Dovey
> DeSoto Solar
> DeSoto, Iowa USA
> http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto
>
>
--
%69%20%6c%6f%76%65%20%77%6f%6f%64%77%6f%72%6b%69%6e%67%20%62%75%74%20%69%6d%20%63%72%61%70
http://www.connoraston.com
Not a good idea. The silver maple will begin to rot quickly, shrink,
draw termites, and fungus will grow. Have the tree and stump
professionally removed and pour a concrete foundation. You may live
20 years or more!
On Sat, 18 Mar 2006 11:16:43 -0500, Bob G.
<[email protected]> wrote:
>Need a little bit of knopwledge from wood "savey" guys and gals!
>
>
>I am planning to build a Dome in which to house my telescope and I
>need to remove a 60-70 foot tall Silver Maple tree in the back yard
>anyway...
>
>So this morning I went out and measured the trunk at a point about 3
>foot off the ground and it measured 141 inches in daimeter... !!! Big
>Tree !
>
>Normally with a Dome you would dig a hole 3 to 4 foot deep and 2-3
>foot square and pour in a concrete base ..A pier would then be bolted
>to the concrete base and a telescope bolted to the pier... This gives
>enough stability to the scope that when takling 2-3 hour exposures
>or longer of a Planet/ Galazey etc is possible using a good motorized
>scope mount....
>
>Ok to the point..... Silver Maple tree trunk !
>
> IF i cut this tree and leave the trunk about 3 foot off the ground
>and then build an observatory around it...with the floor of the
>obsevatory being a few inches above the tree trunk (say 4 oot off the
>ground)... What would you woodworkers think the stability be of the
>trunk as a base on which to bolt a metal telescope pier...
>
>Shrinkage rate? etc... the metal pier has adjustments etc to keep it
>level.. but the tree/pier bolts have to stay tight
>
>I am in my 60's and lets face it I do not think the trunk would Rot
>away before I die... and the trunk would be enclosed and out of the
>weather (think of it like being in the basement of your house..)
>
>Grinding the trunk even with the ground, or having the entire root
>system removed is expensive...? and if I could use it as my base
>for the telescope it would also save me from digging a big hole and
>pouring in a concrete base...?
>
>What do you woodworkers think ?
>
>Thanks
>Bob