5.10.2021 More base ring additions.

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Tuesday 5th 56-53F, overcast. 

The dome is running with condensation on the inside. Proximity to the bare ground? Or radiation to the cold sky overnight? This raises an issue: Should I let the moisture run down behind the base ring by deliberately providing a slight, drainage gap? 

If I close the gap the moisture will collect on the base ring. If I seal the gap with silicone sealant the moisture will still settle on the ring. I have the option to provide a drainage gap using the brackets. The moisture would run down behind the base ring and drop off the skirt outside the building.

Or, I could coat the inside of the dome with dark foam. It would take an awful lot of foam, camping mattresses to cover the inside of the dome! I don't know of any foam on a roll.

Later I carried on gluing more arcs onto the base ring. One on the 2nd layer and two on the third layer. I had run out of clamps by then. Having only enough for three arcs at a time.

After allowing a reasonable time for the glue to set on earlier arcs, I added two more. I just moved the clamps over from the earlier work. Reasoning that the ring is not being flexed or stressed. Being evenly supported over its entire length. Not to mention it is well screwed together for increased stability. 

I have now almost reached the arched doorway on both sides with a full, triple layer of 3 x 12mm Baltic birch plywood. 

Now I have to mark out the dome for the 10mm bolt holes for the shelf brackets. This is already done on the outside of the dome. This doesn't help when the laser level line is on the inside. 

I had better scribe the arcs at 34cm spacing on the inside. Then use the laser level to get the brackets [and therefore the base ring] at exactly the same height.

It started raining in the late afternoon. I pressed on until 8pm using three 2D square CF work lights in the dome. They seem completely inadequate in daylight. Fine after dark. I really wouldn't recommend these when LEDs are available .

I used the beam compass to mark out 34cm spacing inside the dome. Pencil is excellent for marking fiberglass. Then I marked off the height using the 360° laser. This was set to shine on all the lower holes in the shelf brackets resting on the base ring. Some small adjustments brought them all to the same height.

With one bracket hole drilled 10mm I was able to drill the dome through a 2mm pilot hole. A trial bolt went through a brown wedge. Not the yellow wedge I had become fixated on. Which was far too thick. 

With a rubber washer outside and the shelf bracket inside, I need 30 of 40mm long 10mm coach bolts. I have only ten. Grr. The 30mm bolts, supplied with the dome, will go through the top hole of the
bracket.

Before giving up, to go in for dinner, I removed all the ring prop battens. Now I really need to tidy up all the items I was using to prop up the base ring. The dome is supposed to be a calf shelter. Not a pig sty! The brackets can finally become sky hooks. 

They look a bit odd, being upside down, but provide a useful safety margin for the loads being applied. The entire weight of the dome will rest upon them.

After endless dillydallying I seem to be making rapid progress at last!

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