THE DOME PROJECT
The Dome project was inspired by the whole fire spinning thing all these people that go out to burning man would understand. I had decided that I needed to build one just to see if I could, so with the memories of a green house geo dome that my father built when I was young and the internet at my disposal I decided to go for it.
The dome green house that my father had built was a single frequency dome (all the struts were the same length meaning each triangle was the same size.) But the domes I kept seeing pictures of from Burning man were much more complicated, and much cooler looking (sorry Dad). So I settled on a 3v dome (means there different divisions to each side of the main triangle making up the dome, making 3 sizes of struts and 3 different little triangles, NOW that sounded like a chalenge)
PVC vs EMT
Now all the best looking domes I found examples of seems were made of EMT (Electrical conduit) and a few were made with PVC. I settled on PVC for reasons of Price and weight. Lots cheaper, about $500 cheaper, and though still heavy much lighter than metal any day.
The challenge was in how to join the struts to make the dome. With EMT you can hammer the end flat and drill a hole then bolt it to the other struts at the connection. With PVC seems everyone was making separate connectors so they would then have X# of struts and X# of connectors AGHH more parts to keep track of. I decided to use the same method with the PVC that is used with the EMT, flatten the ends and drill holes, well almost. I had to drill the holes first the flatten the ends keeping the hole on either side aligned. And since PVC is plastic and Plastic when heated becomes pliable I had an easy way to accomplish this, can we say HEAT GUN. So I would drill the hole heat the end of the tube to a rubbery state then put it in a vise through which I had drilled a hole so I could put a bolt thru the two holes keeping them aligned, while I tighted the vise and squised the end flat. Also while it was hot and held in the vise I could bend my 10degree angle in the end (pvc has some flexability so it only had to be close)
And after about 6 weeks of evenings and weekends I had all my parts built and put it together in the back yard for the first time.
I have had it up at 2 festivals in Kansas and it has stood up to the midwest winds very well, havent even lost a tarp off of it.
So here are a few pics, including close-ups of the connection method. Feel free to email me questions about its constuction I can explain in much more detail but will save it for interested parties.
