Insulation for Obs

[Radar]

I've got a few sheets of Gyprock here. I'm going to buy some insulating foam, place that foam on the inside sections of the obs walls, then I'm going to fasten the gyprock to the walls (over the foam).

Any comments on how to do this best are welcome.

Ray

[A.S.I.G.N_Baz]

Hi Ray,

Cut the foam to sit in against the wall in between the upright supports. If you don't have uprights, then you can tape them up temporarily, or squeeze some no-nails on the walls and stick them there. In any case, they should support themselves once the gyprock is fastened.

Use plaster nails for the gyprock and make sure they are smacked in just below the surface of the gyprock. When you are finished, mix up a bit of plasterers cement (cornice cement) and paste over the nail heads. Sand smooth and paint the lot.

I hope that helps get you started mate.

Baz.

[hpcoolahan]

Great stuff there mate,You summed it up well for
radar.
Just one other thing with the sheeting , use plaster joint tape on any seams or joins and then plaster over.
Good luck

Patrick.

PICTURES OF THE PROGRESS PLEASE :woot::woot:

[A.S.I.G.N_Baz]

use plaster joint tape on any seams or joins and then plaster over.


Yes, plaster tape a definate must!

Thanks Patrick.

Baz.

[timthelder]

Hi Radar, I suggest going to youtube for some 'How to's'.(How to finish drywall.) It's not hard, BUT it's not as easy as it sounds...

[Tony Leece]

Hi Ray, just a quick question mate.
Are you insulating the whole obsy or are you just insulating a warm room?
Just asking, because i would have thought that cooling down an observatory quickly would be more deneficial to astrophotography than keeping heat in around the scope, especialy in summer.:Oh_No:
Or are you going to be posh and have the first Perth observatory with an air-con system.:biggrin:

All the best mate........
Tony............

[Radar]

Thanks for all the tips guys. I haven't tackled this yet, probably tomorrow.

Why are nails preferred than self drilling screws?


Hi Ray, just a quick question mate.
Are you insulating the whole obsy or are you just insulating a warm room?
Just asking, because i would have thought that cooling down an observatory quickly would be more deneficial to astrophotography than keeping heat in around the scope, especialy in summer.:Oh_No:
Or are you going to be posh and have the first Perth observatory with an air-con system.:biggrin:

Tony the plasterboard is basically to put a finishing touch on the inside of the obs. I haven't bought the actual insulation yet. Should I just put up the plasterboard without the insulation underneath? I'm not really looking for a warm room, I'm happy to dress warm and keep the scope cold. What is best?

Thanks

Ray

[Tony Leece]

Personaly speaking i would have a separate heated/ cooled 'control' room if the obsy is big enough. But thats cos i'm a mozzy magnet being from the UK:frown:

Seriously though, you will always have warm air moving in or around the obsy if you heat it, or if warmth is retained from a hot day, due to the insulation.
i would prefer to dress for the occassion and try to keep the equipment cool and dry :biggrin:

All the best mate........
Tony..........

[timthelder]

Why are nails preferred than self drilling screws?



The price! Screws cost(over here)about 5cents each, plus you need a 'drill driver' to screw them in to the right depth.



Should I just put up the plasterboard without the insulation underneath?


If you're not going to heat & cool it, it's a waste of money.

Just a thought, unless you've already got the sheetrock, I would use some type of inexpensive paneling(just nail it on and you're done) Sheetrock is cheap, but you need to have several specialized tools to finish it, plus buy the mud(although you won't need much) and it takes a little longer waiting for the mud to dry. but the main reason is...DRYWALL DUST FROM SANDING THE JOINTS SUCKS AND GETS EVERYWHERE! :crazy:

Sorry I hate doing drywall...

CHEERS!

[rogerg]

Seeing as you're not planning on keeping it warm or cool for your own comfort Ray I'd go without the insulation. I insulated the enclosed half of my obs last year and am very glad I stopped at that, not doing it all. The difference in how much heat the actual structure holds is enormous. Cool down time of the un-insulated half is negligable (10 mins, seariously, mine is tin, it's really that quick), but the insulated half never cools down in summer now.

I'd suggest just putting the Gyprock on without insulation.

Roger.

[Radar]

The price! Screws cost(over here)about 5cents each, plus you need a 'drill driver' to screw them in to the right depth.
If you're not going to heat & cool it, it's a waste of money.
Just a thought, unless you've already got the sheetrock, I would use some type of inexpensive paneling(just nail it on and you're done) Sheetrock is cheap, but you need to have several specialized tools to finish it, plus buy the mud(although you won't need much) and it takes a little longer waiting for the mud to dry. but the main reason is...DRYWALL DUST FROM SANDING THE JOINTS SUCKS AND GETS EVERYWHERE! :crazy:

Sorry I hate doing drywall...

Drywall is messy, but I got it for free, otherwise I probably would have used thin wood panels.




Seeing as you're not planning on keeping it warm or cool for your own comfort Ray I'd go without the insulation.

I've put the panels up without the insulation. Hopefully this will keep it cool.

Here is a photo. The panels have not been painted yet.

2154

Ray

[timthelder]

Looks mighty fine Ray, the white interior should help with seeing your way around in the ob's, plus give you a nice spot to hang up some inspiration.:biggrin:

It would be so nice to go out and image without having pack the scope out...and set up...and do an alignment...I'm so envious.

Cheers!

[rogerg]

Very nice result Ray :smile:

[hpcoolahan]

Looking pretty fine there Boss...:woot::woot::woot:

Make sure you get some paint on it soon.
Just to seal it from the moisture you will get with the roof open.
Other wise you will have to do it again:crazy::crazy:

Well done , and have you used the obs much yet??

Cheers
Patrick

[Radar]

Cheers guys.


It would be so nice to go out and image without having pack the scope out...and set up...and do an alignment...I'm so envious.


I must have spent one thousand hours over the years just setting up and packing up. Having the obs is such a luxury. I can walk in, turn on the comp, acquire my target, shoot it, turn everything off, within 30 minutes. All the time you spend out there is doing the fun stuff. If you have the time and energy Tim, go for it.



Well done , and have you used the obs much yet??


Pat in the next few weeks, I'll be getting into things. I've only tinkered around in there so far, done a couple of AVI's and some minor observing. But I finally have the computer, the GPUSB plug (to control Gemini via the PC), and some other things. So this weekend I'll finish it off, and start doing some Deep Space Work. I want to do lots of Ha stuff. Can't wait mate.

Ray

[Radar]

What's the best way to finish the edges of drywall? I'd like to smooth down the edges that I've cut.

Ray

[hpcoolahan]

http://www.how2plaster.com/


http://www.bunnings.com.au/diy/brochure/49/How_to_Install_Plasterboard.aspx

Might help mate.
Cheers
Patrick

[Radar]

http://www.how2plaster.com/
http://www.bunnings.com.au/diy/brochure/49/How_to_Install_Plasterboard.aspx

Might help mate.
Cheers
Patrick

Cheers mate.

Can't wait to have the mount automated with my PC. Hopefully will have the cable this week.

2182

[hpcoolahan]

Howd you go over the weekend mate ?
Got all the plastering finnished?
Pickies please...lol

Cheers
Patrick

[GS-Rob]

G'DayY'All
My Obs is made of pine siding with a foil insulation - NO ins bats or internal gyprock the nogins make for shelves for odd bits. The ROR is made of Corrugated iron with a foil moisture underneath (stops drips on the gear) & keeps the heat out.
http://www.grampianstars.com.au/observatory.htm

[Radar]

G'DayY'All
My Obs is made of pine siding with a foil insulation - NO ins bats or internal gyprock the nogins make for shelves for odd bits.

Since I put my drywall in, that's what I miss, all the nooks and cranny's that I had equipment shelved in. I've left the gyprock unplastered so that it's easily removable. I never thought of foiled insulation.

Ray