John,

Here's our completed dome! I managed to finish it with my 8ft step ladder, as they wanted  $20 to rent a 12ft one and the calculator said my dome would only be 11' 8" high.

I think I'll have to take a rubber hammer to some of the center rings that shifted during assembly, and so are not concentric with their outer hubs. Then I'll tighten down on all the zipties with needle nose pliers, to stiffen things up a bit before I try hanging my hammock from 2 hubs (I weigh 230#, & don't want to stress the structure too much). We had to put the plumeria inside and build the dome around them, as the openings are too small to put them in after assembly.

The whole project was exciting (after the strut production was competed, anyway). Your instructions were clear, making it easy to succeed! Now, if only you had an interactive PDF manual that showed each step's new additional struts by blinking them...

I still would like to figure out a door that doesn't ruin the structural or esthetic continuity. (Although, with a 20ft diameter dome the triangles are large enough to step through unless I'm wearing a hat or carrying a tray). I passed a sheet of plywood through by lifting one edge of the dome a bit. I'm thinking of building a small table that's half inside, half outside, as a convenient pass-through.

Thanks again for all your geometrification,  and a simple solution to the hub problem! My friends are all jealous. LOL.

Norman Burkhart
Ramona, CA

John,

I used 1/8 inch sign PVC sheets, cut to fit the hubs to finish my dome. I used Goop contact cement to attach the disks, and they seem to be holding ok, though I will have to fill gaps with caulk before painting.

I didn't use PVC glue, as I want to be able to knock off the hub covers and reuse them, making my dome portable.

Thanks,

Norm

John,

Here's my dome with all the hubs covered, and I was even able to heat and form 2 small pieces to cover the empty strut holes in the door frame!

I'm very happy with the results, and will paint it desert tan.

I've put a solar LED light rope around the top of the first tier, it looks cool at night. Maybe I can get a shot of that.

Norm