Plywood pier

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Rickl
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Plywood pier

#1

Post by Rickl »


Some time ago I had seen a design for a pier made of plywood, but I have been unable to track the post. It might have been on the old Astronomy forum.
I was wondering if anyone here might have been the designer of that pier or have done something similar.
I am getting a POD this spring but I am not sure of the final location, as the fate of some mature trees obscuring the southern horizon is being debated. (Who would have thought that a chainsaw would be one of the important astronomy tools?) Until a final location is determined I do not want to put in a permanent pier.
Thanks,
Rick
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Graeme1858 Great Britain
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Re: Plywood pier

#2

Post by Graeme1858 »


I've not seen one of those Rick, there would have to be a lot of layers of plywood!

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Graeme
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Lady Fraktor Slovakia
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Re: Plywood pier

#3

Post by Lady Fraktor »


These are the only two I could find but they both use 100mm x 100mm beams.
I imagine ply will work well as long as it is a hardwood such as oak, ash or birch so it does not vibrate.
https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/1669 ... 2012-1430/
https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/3971 ... try5086111
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KathyNS Canada
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Re: Plywood pier

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Post by KathyNS »


It might have been a post of mine that you saw. I build this plywood pier eight years ago. It has survived being moved to a new location, and it is still in regular use any time we get clear skies. I am very happy with it.

This is a view during construction, with one side not yet attached.
P1090216-1000px.JPG
The square top panel is about 8" on a side, just large enough for a Dan's Pier Plate. The base plate to which the column sides are attached is 16" square. The thicker base on which the whole thing rests is 24" square, and is made of two layers of 3/4" plywood sandwiched together. There is a "window" cut into one side near the top for access to mounting bolts. The upper stiffening plate is positioned where it is to catch dropped nuts.
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Jones
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Re: Plywood pier

#5

Post by Jones »


20210212_144733.jpg
My wooden mount, inside of corners is 2x2 lengths of wood. All screwed together with various length deck screws or cabinet screws.
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helicon United States of America
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Re: Plywood pier

#6

Post by helicon »


I remember seeing an article in Astronomy magazine on constructing a 6" equatorial Newtonian almost entirely of plywood, including the mount. It must have been back in the 1980's. Can't find the article now online.
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Rickl
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Re: Plywood pier

#7

Post by Rickl »


I have tried to post a reply here several times, but none have appeared. My thanks to those who have replied. KathyNS, it is your mount I was remembering. It seemed a simple solution for my situation.
130 mm f5 Newtonian astrograph, HeQ5, Celestron c8 SE, ZWO 224,ZWO 290M, Altair Astro GPcam2 130, Canaon T5i
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