Shelter

From BluWiki

General

• Rundown on different construction techniques suitable to BM. Includes a description of constructing the Man himself!

• Simply Differently instructional site on temporary structures. Domes included.

• Desert Structures Wiki

Playa Gotchas

Jason says:

• camo netting tied to underside
• parachute staked down over top during the night or sandstorm
• Don't bother tricking it out for real BM, save that for Afterburn and Alchemy

Geodesic Domes

Popularized by Bucky Fuller, geodesic domes merge futuristic sensibilities with unparalleled weight distribution. Strut domes are difficult to panel compared to rectangular structures, so most proponents utilize a flexible covering to encase the entire unit. Special techniques are used to ensure that the tarp will not generate excessive noise in windy conditions. An alternative to strut domes are paneled domes (see Cardboard Domes).

Shootout

PVC

Summary

Use PVC for a quick 1v tent-dome. Cheap and easy to assemble, follow the technique laid out on geometry domes. Uses rope for connectors. A good start for your first full-size dome. Also, use longer PVC if you want to try a basketweave dome, or quonset hut. Harder to transport greater lengths of tubing.

EMT

Summary

If you can make a 1v dome from PVC, a 2v or 3v model, and are ready to spend serious $$$ and time, go for a EMT dome. Be aware that different people manufacture star-shaped connector kits for your dome project, which saves you from all the hammering and drilling. Not a bad idea if you lack tools, space, time.

Links

• Children's play domes made from cardboard

• Instructions on several different sizes of EMT domes

• Nice tips on optimizing workflow

• Amazing resource with StarConnector design

• 1v PVC with rope connectors

• http://www.shedandshelter.com/syntheticcovering/syntheticcovering.htm

• EMT technique on PVC by heating and molding the pipe ends

• http://www.geocities.com/potatotrap/tech/bluetarp.htm

• http://www.enslin.com/rae/gypsy/bender.htm

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quonset_hut

• http://www.simplydifferently.org/

• http://desertdomes.com/

• Cardboard Domes

• Gumdrop Dome and other neat science projects

• Great site on building a 2v dome, check out their sizing to minimize waste

Materials

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EPDM

PVC

• "PVC degrades in UV, and you can only expect 2-3 years before it becomes brittle. I don't want to have to do this again in 2 years, since it is a lot of work to make the dome. One solution I found on the web is to paint the PVC with house paint which has a very strong UV resistant additive, so that the paint lasts 10 years or more."