On Sunday Matt and I headed up to the Hill (he had been in town for a ride this weekend) to start the concrete pier which would provide a permanent place to setup the Hill’s incredible Coronado H-Alpha scope and AP refractor. These currently ride on a UniStar mount and tripod. To more easily facilitate their use and eliminate the need to setup the relatively heavy(er) tripod, the idea of a concrete pier in the area of the Telescope Shed had been on my mind for about a year now.
Matt and I headed up around 10 AM with a small generator and hammer drill I borrowed from work, some rebar, and concrete anchor epoxy. We located a few spots that were likely to be dry, flat, and not in high traffic areas…ultimately choosing a location just southwest of the telescope
shed near the bedrock outcrop between it and the road.
Google Earth pic of location.
After removing about 8 inches of topsoil and some nice free rock (great for a club house step!) we cleared off a 2x2 foot section of bedrock to drill the rebar pinning holes. The hammer-drill made quick work of the four 8” deep ¾” diameter holes….finishing each in about 7 or 8 minutes.
Next we cleaned out the holes with water, let them dry and mixed up the two part concrete epoxy. We then filled each hole 1/3 of the way and set the four bars. Lastly we propped them up close to level to let the epoxy set.
I will return to the Hill over the next week or two with additional epoxy to fill the holes to grade so the rebar is ready for final tying and pouring of the 8” pier and head mounting bolts at or around the May work party.
Stay tuned!
-Kevin.
Matt and I headed up around 10 AM with a small generator and hammer drill I borrowed from work, some rebar, and concrete anchor epoxy. We located a few spots that were likely to be dry, flat, and not in high traffic areas…ultimately choosing a location just southwest of the telescope
shed near the bedrock outcrop between it and the road.
Google Earth pic of location.
After removing about 8 inches of topsoil and some nice free rock (great for a club house step!) we cleared off a 2x2 foot section of bedrock to drill the rebar pinning holes. The hammer-drill made quick work of the four 8” deep ¾” diameter holes….finishing each in about 7 or 8 minutes.
Next we cleaned out the holes with water, let them dry and mixed up the two part concrete epoxy. We then filled each hole 1/3 of the way and set the four bars. Lastly we propped them up close to level to let the epoxy set.
I will return to the Hill over the next week or two with additional epoxy to fill the holes to grade so the rebar is ready for final tying and pouring of the 8” pier and head mounting bolts at or around the May work party.
Stay tuned!
-Kevin.
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