Saw this in Strombergs chickens catalog and it looks good but I wanted to see what real life users said. Your video is really good for seeing how it goes together and how it ends up. Thank you! ☺️
I built a gazebo 35 years ago using Starplates. Bought them at Handyman, long before the days of Home Depot and Lowe's! I have replaced the roof once, and it's still standing. Hosted many a back yard party in there over the years. The shell went up in a day by myself. The only part that was a two man job was installing the fascia boards.
I read somewhere that the designer, Professor Fuller, built them beginning with the top for efficiency and removing the need for risky ladder falls. The key to the strength is a COMPLETE triangle, and getting a complete 'circle' at the base of the roof course, so that the structure is utilizing tension rather than the rigidity of the plates. Then, lift one side of the roof 'circle' and add a triangle on the bottom course. Work your way around the bottom course, rolling up the roof like you would remove a lid from a paint can. While the roof is on the ground, go ahead and attach roof panels and shingles! The last roof panel is the only difficult one. At the very top, leave a 'circle' open in the roof panel for airflow, and fabricate a cap that overlaps the open part. Using wood blocks as spacers, raise the cap about an inch or so to allow free air movement. Thanks for your post, I will be getting one of these after seeing a good video.
I like the ladder climbing music:-) ....it would make a nice sauna too, if made with cedar wood, and siding...you might have to build two, now.... I do share your delight....wait till the grandchildren see it.....ultimate playhouse:-)
Nice job Most domes are a one man job, covering and making them watertight is the tricky bit. Now you`ve built one, you`ll find it hard to resist building another..and another ;)
Beautiful structure! I love these Geodesic domes, such a clever design. When I was a little girl, I went to the 1967 International and Universal Exposition and the American pavilion was such a structure, I was fascinated by it...can't even remember what was inside :D
It is a conversation piece as well. I look out the window and I am just pleased by the shape of it. I think a garden besides having plants should also have objects that that you have to ask questions about. Astounding Zucchini in the African Keyhole Garden
At one time years back, lots of people in the southwest were building domes on this design as quick cheap housing, but I haven't seen it being done for quite some time. Extremely strong design as any weight applied to any point is very evenly distributed through the whole frame. The tricky part is when you go to side them it gets to be many angles on the cuts, and lots of wasted odd shaped leftovers.
THat is why I want to wrap it in plastic to make a green house. I am told that you just roll the plastic onto it and no need to cut it. Seeing will be believing. I saw someone make an aviary and they remarked that they just needed to roll the wire netting on with no need to cut. Stromberg starplate peacock aviary
Rob, that is awesome..I would never have known about these things until you posted this vid..A 'man cave' sounds cool..:).. But so many possibilities and the shape is class..I am now going to do some surfing of the net...lol.. Cheers..
It is and it does. I noticed the changing shapes as you were filming. Very pleasing to the eye. I checked the site, and the price is very reasonable as well.
Whilst some folks may contemplate the perfect proportions of the Venus de Milo a certain satisfaction can be had from studying the angles of a geodesic dome and pondering the implausibility of it all. Function and form make good design.
Robert: I built two gazebos using the starplate system back in 1985. One is at our home and the other is at the river cottage. They are 12 feet in diameter. Back then the plates where use to build the roof on the gazebo. The design had 6 post that we cemented into the ground and the plates were attached to the top of each post and held up the rafters which was covered with plywood, tar paper and shingles. Cutting the shingles took a bit of time because of all of the angles. Since they are 29 years old I am not looking forward to re-roofing them. Like you say it was easy to build and all I had to do was cut the lumber to size given in the instructions. Is the door going to be tall enough for you to enter. You are in a lot better shape than I am. I loved how you started the video with what your wife said. As we say in our family "If Mom is happy, then everybody is going to be happy!" Bernard
29 years old... well I think that will see me through to the end of days. I have now demolished the old lean-to green house and carted most of it off to the recycling plant in Lahti. They took all the stuff for free which was great. I saved the back wall and most of the glass cos I think I can use them in another project. Now I need to clear out the space where the old greenhouse stood and get in some foundations and landscaping.
Maybe I missed it, but what are the strut lengths? I've had a set of plates for about 15 years and finally getting around to making a greenhouse, I was thinking of using 8 footers just to minimize waste.
You can use struts as big as 9 feet to get a really big structure. The struts I used were only 6 feet. I have never measured the diameter, but I can comfortable walk around inside the structure.
Saw this in Strombergs chickens catalog and it looks good but I wanted to see what real life users said. Your video is really good for seeing how it goes together and how it ends up. Thank you! ☺️
I built a gazebo 35 years ago using Starplates. Bought them at Handyman, long before the days of Home Depot and Lowe's! I have replaced the roof once, and it's still standing. Hosted many a back yard party in there over the years. The shell went up in a day by myself. The only part that was a two man job was installing the fascia boards.
That's great
Great video! This inspired me to create my own 1v geodesic dome.
I read somewhere that the designer, Professor Fuller, built them beginning with the top for efficiency and removing the need for risky ladder falls. The key to the strength is a COMPLETE triangle, and getting a complete 'circle' at the base of the roof course, so that the structure is utilizing tension rather than the rigidity of the plates. Then, lift one side of the roof 'circle' and add a triangle on the bottom course. Work your way around the bottom course, rolling up the roof like you would remove a lid from a paint can. While the roof is on the ground, go ahead and attach roof panels and shingles! The last roof panel is the only difficult one. At the very top, leave a 'circle' open in the roof panel for airflow, and fabricate a cap that overlaps the open part. Using wood blocks as spacers, raise the cap about an inch or so to allow free air movement. Thanks for your post, I will be getting one of these after seeing a good video.
I like the ladder climbing music:-) ....it would make a nice sauna too, if made with cedar wood, and siding...you might have to build two, now.... I do share your delight....wait till the grandchildren see it.....ultimate playhouse:-)
Nice job
Most domes are a one man job, covering and making them watertight is the tricky bit. Now you`ve built one, you`ll find it hard to resist building another..and another ;)
Beautiful structure! I love these Geodesic domes, such a clever design. When I was a little girl, I went to the 1967 International and Universal Exposition and the American pavilion was such a structure, I was fascinated by it...can't even remember what was inside :D
Theology and geometry will take you there
Very nice! I'd love to have geodesic dome greenhouse too!
It is a conversation piece as well. I look out the window and I am just pleased by the shape of it. I think a garden besides having plants should also have objects that that you have to ask questions about.
Astounding Zucchini in the African Keyhole Garden
At one time years back, lots of people in the southwest were building domes on this design as quick cheap housing, but I haven't seen it being done for quite some time. Extremely strong design as any weight applied to any point is very evenly distributed through the whole frame. The tricky part is when you go to side them it gets to be many angles on the cuts, and lots of wasted odd shaped leftovers.
THat is why I want to wrap it in plastic to make a green house. I am told that you just roll the plastic onto it and no need to cut it. Seeing will be believing. I saw someone make an aviary and they remarked that they just needed to roll the wire netting on with no need to cut.
Stromberg starplate peacock aviary
Rob, that is awesome..I would never have known about these things until you posted this vid..A 'man cave' sounds cool..:).. But so many possibilities and the shape is class..I am now going to do some surfing of the net...lol.. Cheers..
Dave you have the ultimate man cave... every man needs a place to brew a cuppa, and play With My Little Ukulele In My Hand - George Formby
That is really interesting! Looking forward to seeing transform into a greenhouse. Thanks for sharing:)...........ann
Ann: It is a very aesthetically pleasing design... all the different angles catch the eye and the imagination.
It is and it does. I noticed the changing shapes as you were filming. Very pleasing to the eye. I checked the site, and the price is very reasonable as well.
I have always eyed these kits and the joiner plates. Excellent how to Vid, Rob!
Nice did you do an update video. It would make an awesome structure as a flowering vine trellis. Thanks for sharing.
Like it!
Very functional structure with many possibilities. :)
-Halvor.
Whilst some folks may contemplate the perfect proportions of the Venus de Milo a certain satisfaction can be had from studying the angles of a geodesic dome and pondering the implausibility of it all. Function and form make good design.
Hi just found you clip it is great just what I want. Where in the uk can I buy the Starplates , Andy
Andy allotment I had to buy them from the US from Stromberg Chicks Here is their web site.
www.strombergschickens.com/starplate_building_system
Thank You
Yup we all need a man cave looks great. I like that alot ;-)
You already have a cave for guitars, furnaces, and grow rooms. You are all set ;-)
we all need some place to hide ;-)
I built this about 5 years ago.
Nice setup.
As a one man operation it took about a couple of hours to set up.
This is great,did it all come in kit form?can you put shelves on it?
Thought about putting it over your keyhole garden?
Do the star plates work on the outside of the dome so the skin is against something smoother?
Robert: I built two gazebos using the starplate system back in 1985. One is at our home and the other is at the river cottage. They are 12 feet in diameter. Back then the plates where use to build the roof on the gazebo. The design had 6 post that we cemented into the ground and the plates were attached to the top of each post and held up the rafters which was covered with plywood, tar paper and shingles. Cutting the shingles took a bit of time because of all of the angles. Since they are 29 years old I am not looking forward to re-roofing them. Like you say it was easy to build and all I had to do was cut the lumber to size given in the instructions. Is the door going to be tall enough for you to enter. You are in a lot better shape than I am. I loved how you started the video with what your wife said. As we say in our family "If Mom is happy, then everybody is going to be happy!" Bernard
29 years old... well I think that will see me through to the end of days. I have now demolished the old lean-to green house and carted most of it off to the recycling plant in Lahti. They took all the stuff for free which was great. I saved the back wall and most of the glass cos I think I can use them in another project. Now I need to clear out the space where the old greenhouse stood and get in some foundations and landscaping.
Does one need the bottom beams? You would think it would be structurally fine if the bottom beams would be at shoulder level.
I think I may have left 5 struts at the Nastola school in some back room corner. I will have to phone them and see if I can get them.
Can you send me a link where I can buy this kit
www.strombergschickens.com/poultry-supplies/coops-and-housing-supplies/starplate-building-kit/starplate-connector-set/
AWESOME!
Maybe I missed it, but what are the strut lengths? I've had a set of plates for about 15 years and finally getting around to making a greenhouse, I was thinking of using 8 footers just to minimize waste.
From the documentation you can use any length up to 9 foot. I went with 2 metre lengths, but I wish I had gone bigger.
What diameter is it ?
You can use struts as big as 9 feet to get a really big structure. The struts I used were only 6 feet. I have never measured the diameter, but I can comfortable walk around inside the structure.