From: J & D Goldman (jmgoldma_at_dwx.com)
Date: 10/23/02
Message-ID: <009301c27afe$783f6e60$4fdececf@gateway> From: "J & D Goldman" <jmgoldma_at_dwx.com> Subject: Simplicity domes Date: Wed, 23 Oct 2002 20:40:43 -0500
The weather is finally starting to go bad around here, which means its
time to catch up on indoor projects. I'm still chipping away at Domes
for the Next Millenium, and hope to do more on that this winter.
One idea for a chapter is Simplicity Domes. The main objective would
be to compile materials, designs, methods of construction, etc.,
that reduce the "reasons not to" when one considers a dome as an
alternative to the routine rectilinear structure. If nothing else,
its a leader to help people break the ice and try a dome for the first
time. This might be easiest to apply to small structures like sheds,
garages, place-in-the-woods, etc., but need not be limited to that.
Of course, with the right hardware, it is true that domes are
assembled, rather than "built". For example, Ernie (and others) has
posted connector kits that take some of the guess work out of dome
raising. But to some extent this is a case of "easy to use = hard to
make", as someone has to do the up-front work, especially the thinking
part. (Rather reminds me of some great builders who often say the
same thing - "Sure, I can do complicated stuff - you got plans?") I
guess for Simplicity Domes, I'm thinking about ways to make domes from
commonly available materials (PVC pipe, EMT tubing, OSB, etc. with
tools you might have on hand, could afford to buy or perhaps rent,
even from jigs you can make easily. I've seen quite a few of these on
the web, and continue to collect them, but thought I'd put the idea
out on the list in case anybody has some strong desire to contribute
to such a chapter. I do a great deal of looking myself, but I'm sure
some of you will come up with something I've never seen and would not
have thought of.
Even if you don't have anything now, if you spot something later
that might be useful, please send it my way. I hope to have several
pages of credits in the appendix!
Thanks - Dan G.