3/8 or 1" Conduit for my dome????????

puzzlepiece · Post by **puzzlepiece** » Sun Apr 20, 2008 6:24 pm

HI all,
I'm a virgin burner and have decided to build a 2v dome with a radius of 15 feet. I've done a lot of research and think i have it all down, but i have one quick question. I can't decide whether to go with 3/8 or 1 " conduit.
Pros/Cons? Will 3/8 work ? It seems to be better on the wallet.
Thank,
Puzz:e :roll:

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Sun Apr 20, 2008 8:10 pm

We used 3/4" for our dome (22' dia.) and it works great. 1" would be super beefy for a 15' dome. I'd say stay with 3/4"

Post by **mdmf007** » Sun Apr 20, 2008 9:54 pm

i have always found that heavier is always better when building a dome.

puzzlepiece · Post by **puzzlepiece** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 11:04 am

Thanks Sounds good. I'm going to build it this weekend so i'll let you know how it all turns out.

thisisthatwhichis · Post by **thisisthatwhichis** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 11:28 am

With only a 2V dome and 15'.... Definately go 3/4", not 1/2"

capjbadger · Post by **capjbadger** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 12:07 am

I have a 17' dome. Don't use smaller than 3/4" EMT.

Badger

puzzlepiece · Post by **puzzlepiece** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 12:33 pm

I plan on hanging 2 projectors from the center. Will the weight be ok for 3/4 pipe? Any tips for the building process. I'm starting on saturday.

Thanks for all of your knowledge.

Puzz:e

thisisthatwhichis · Post by **thisisthatwhichis** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 12:48 pm

We have 3V domes, and 3/4" is able to support quite a bit of weight, especially if distributed.
Depends on how much they weigh.... a 2v dome wont be as strong as ours, but still hold a bit of weight.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 3:11 pm

There's a lot posted here and there.
It's recommended to flatten pipe in a circular shape for strength.
I would use the biggest pipe you can afford and transport.

capjbadger · Post by **capjbadger** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 5:55 pm

puzzlepiece wrote:I plan on hanging 2 projectors from the center. Will the weight be ok for 3/4 pipe? Any tips for the building process. I'm starting on saturday.

Thanks for all of your knowledge.

Puzz:e

I'm 160lbs and I can climb my 3/4" dome with no problems or flexing IF I stick to the junctions. If those projectors weight more than me, attach them to multiple junctions to spread out the weight.

Measure twice, cut once.

These domes are very strong. You won't have a problem.
Domes naturally want to fly apart, so a large shearing force is on the bolt. Get good bolts.

Measure twice, cut once!

When you flatten the ends, make sure you flatten enough so that 6 can stack without running into the unflat part of the strut. It will make your assembly SO much easier.

Oh , yeah. Measure twice, cut once!

Badger

puzzlepiece · Post by **puzzlepiece** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 2:46 pm

:lol: Thanks so much for all the knowledge. We did all the fabrication last weekend, and let me tell you what a learning experience. Those of you that have built one before i'm sure will get a laugh out of this. So we started around 9am heading up to home depot to buy all are supplies. Trucked it back to our house and got to work. We started by cutting the pipes with a pipe cutter, no sweat. Then we used the Vice method to flatten. Wow, make sure you have a super heavy duty vice. We went through 4 at the cost of $65 a piece. As we where going back to the store for the fifth one, we where like there has to be a better way. So the guy at the hardware store says "how about a hydraulic press". Hmm, now that sounds like it will work. So then he says "head out to Harbor fright they'll have one". So of course at this point we head out to Pasadena to get one. Sunday rolls around we are pretty beat up from saturday, but we truck on. Setting up our 12 TON Press. Yes, i said 12 ton.lol and with about 55 pips to go we get to work. This thing is great! I suggest it to any 1st time builder. The cost is a bit high at 150 bucks, but after going through all the vices it was worth it. The only reason i wrote all that is to tell anybody that is about to make a dome for your first time. Either A make sure you get a vice from Harbor fright or just step it up and get a hydraulic press. I swear it was worth every penny.

This weekend we are going to set it up. Wish us luck :shock:

Thanks again for all your information. Maybe somebody should start a thread about dome making mishaps. I bet we would all get a laugh.

Puzz:E

Teo del Fuego · Post by **Teo del Fuego** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 3:36 pm

more more! tell us about the bleeding knuckles

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 7:36 pm

Try to crush the ends in a curved shape rather than straight across.

EspressoDude · Post by **EspressoDude** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 8:07 pm

check out this info:

http://www.timefold.com/guests/hoco/pub ... age20.html

puzzlepiece · Post by **puzzlepiece** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 10:35 am

Ya we crushed the pips in a curve. We didn't use the jig setup to cut the pipe though. Now that we have it built any ideas on what to cover it with? I looked at a lot of options. Parachutes,Tarps, Tyvek Fabric all sorts, but with a radius of 15 feet we would need a 47 foot parachute. Have any of you ever covered a dome this size? I'm hoping to do something white that way i can do projections on it. :idea:

skeetsh00ter · Post by **skeetsh00ter** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 11:10 am

used billboard vinyl is your best bet i think. It will require some creative cutting to cover a dome that big, but its cheap (or free). Google "Outdoor Advertising" for whatever area you are in and start sending out emails asking very nicely what they do w/ their used vinyls.

I sent out 5 or 6 emails and got 3 positive responses w/in a week all offering free vinyl.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 12:09 pm

Anything opaque.
The higher quality gray tarps have a blocking layer in them.
Some billboard material is opaque, some not.
PVC can be heat welded.
Metallized fabrics can be very thin and block heat and light, like Silvicool and solid Aluminet.
I have seen at least one Aluminet (solid) dome on the playa.
Really nice.

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 10:26 pm

So then I can assume that you went with 3/4" conduit?

Another solution for covering is to use numerous smaller tarps, so that you avoid creating a sail in a place where three-digit wind gusts DO happen now and then.

And one day I'll stage a race between me (and my anvil) and one of y'all jack-squashers on who gets the ends flattened first.