geodome part 1

pics of finished main structure -- dome2
pics of finished main structure with ropes and stuff -- dome3
21 starplates (£50),
available from US or NZ - either way you have to add in postage cost of about £25
overall cost is in the region of £160+ - thats bolts, nuts,( i used wing nuts and nylon locking nuts for the base layer) washers, wood preservative (used Barrettine Wood Preserver Wood Stain) and any varnish not done yet - i think i will use marine stuff, Epifanes probably.
Time was a good few days as i cut 100 tapered joints see here and quickly corner planed and sanded each strut before applying wood preservative

because we intend the dome to be used as a climbing frame most of the time, i used m8 hex bolts 100 mm long -- and 3 x2 rough sawn 7 foot timber from the sawmill, giving a rough height and diameter of about 10 feet. Extra timber will be used for extra struts to allow the kids to climb it - and i may re-inforce with liros braid.
latest pics with extra supporting struts as it is primarily used as a climbing frame

just added a platform/mat

latest news 2019 -- 8 years on -- the red cedar has weathered well and i have just given it a coating of cetol novatech light oak stain to freshen it up.

latest news 2025 we have moved and i am about to reconstruct it (albeit with 5 new ground struts - the originals having too much rot at the ends - bargain buy £20 from local sawmill - this time using larch) new page here(near on 15 yrs later!)

in the photo below you can see the original on the left, yet to be treated , while on the right you can see the spar, scraped lightly with decorator's blade (putty knife etc) to remove lichen, and brushed with cetol


2026
relocated dome (with new larch horizontal ground struts as previous had rotted)