Geodesic Dome Greenhouse - Part 9 - Polycarbonate!

[web4deb]

6mm twin-wall GE Lexan

[dennisdft]

what size polycarbonate did you use?

[urbanstarprepper]

Awesome job!!!! I have just built my first dome I made it out of 1/2 in emt conduit and 3.5 mil plastic. this is so I can disassemble and move it. when we finally get the piece of land we want I am planning to build one similar to yours.

[ibringthereals]

Massive effort. Great work. Has me wondering whether a two layers of 6m plastic I use for high tunnels would be more cost effective if not a better insulation when double up with an air pocket between. The greenhouse grade plastic is good for 4 years, and simple to replace.

[Krissappleseed]

I watched all of your dome videos and they're awesome. Now i'm watching all of 'em again because i'm planning to build one myself :). Just wandering what angle you are cutting the wood for the polycarbonate to lay flat?

[web4deb]

@Krissappleseed for a 3V dome, around 12 degrees would work. Technically there are a lot of angles, but overall the average is about 12.

[P3achJ3lly1233]

Hurry up with part 10! The anticipation is killing me!!!

[camomantube]

grate work i can't wait! to see more videos keep it up

[khoiktran]

will you give us the total building cost of this project? I did some quick calculation and the price is really high.

[web4deb]

@khoiktran I don't have an exact amount but it will be around $25K

[viscon2011]

@web4deb hehe there must be something cheaper than polycarbonate but still reliable.

[NewEnglandgardening]

Hey, I just watched your aquaponic carrot video but needed another geodome fix. I was thinking at the hubs you could have another larger version of the neoprene washer, maybe homemade, over that hole, held by a threaded rod to the inside and a threaded washer or piece of metal spanning the hub. Just a thought. At least you weren't out there today at 10 F or were you?

[web4deb]

@NewEnglandgardening I'm not too concerned about the holes through the hubs. All the poly carb panels come to a point over each one. This spring I'll use my special tape and cover all the joints...it will seal up nicely.  I"m NOT outside today....I had to go to my real job anyway. ;-)

[webfish69]

Awesome

[ucdchan]

Nice work!

[TheYellowestAnt]

Your projects are incredibly inspiring!

How long can polycarbonate withstand UV degradation before it needs to be replaced?

Cheers and good luck in 2012!

[web4deb]

@TheYellowestAnt it has a 10yr warranty against yellowing and hail damage

[4GreenEarth2]

I love geodesic dome greenhouse! I hope it will work well for you =)

[bayoufilter]

Do you have a plan to plug the hubs?

[web4deb]

@bayoufilter There's no need to. At around 4:12, you can see that all the points come together nicely. When it's warmer, everything will get taped and sealed up.

[saebro]

can't wait to see it finished in the spring

[bryanandrewduffy]

Can you paint the wood to make it better handle the eventual rot?

[web4deb]

@bryanandrewduffy The dome is made from cedar....it will last longer than I will. ;-)

[bayoufilter]

I can see how some wind would have made it take many times longer.

Can't tell you how much I appreciate the spirit in which you share every step with us, every success, every OOPS and unplanned speed bump...

[web4deb]

@bayoufilter My camera was broken for the time one of the panels blew out and hit the ground...broke the corner right off of it. :-(

[bayoufilter]

@web4deb "...one of the panels blew out of my hands and bisected a bystanding buck. Venison recipes will be posted next week..."

[dcgfmb]

enjoying the vids, keep it up

[ataraxic89]

You are a god of a man.

[schuptube]

bravo! a fascinating and highly informative video series. you are encouraging many, no doubt. thanks so much for sharing the process.

[scott98390]

One question: what do you plan to do with all of that vertical space?

[scott98390]

Best sacrifice of a tape measure I've ever seen.



[web4deb]

@scott98390 I was thinking about hoisting some of the strawberry towers up there.

[collectionz]

Very well done and very informative. Can't wait for the next phase after cold winter has passed.

[squirrelbong]

it's looking great! ...nice job webfordeb guy :D

[augustlionvideos]

It looks so beautiful now!

[therawlifefamily]

I get a lot of needle ice where I am too!

[saeidmomtahan]

Your videos and projects are so well done, they freak me out.

I think I start hyperventilating when I see the link in my Inbox.

[striatu24k]

Xmas special... thanks!

[bluerevision]

How will you manage the internal condensate?

I imaging that you will produce a heap of it and if not recycled or drained will be a headache...

[web4deb]

@bluerevision you just let it drip on everything. ;-) It's one reason why I built it out of cedar instead of treated lumber so the toxins wouldn't get into the aquaponic system.

[dankill16]

love these vids. cant wait for the next one

[500JonesDavy]

This has been the most easy to follow construction project of geodesic domes on the internet. Thanks for having the confidence to attempt this, you are both good at doing and showing. Perhaps I will attempt this on a smaller scale, if I can find the plans you worked from. A Happy and Holy Christmas brother. Blessings from Ireland.

[bigamejames1]

Mate, if I was your next door neighbour I would be there helping you every chance I got. I would probably take holidays from work just to be there. There's a good chance my wife would boot me out, but that's ok, I'd just move into your dome! After the rocket heater goes in of course :)

[Mies78]

Thanks. Merry X-mas!

[FloppyHatPhotos]

You do great work.

Could you have just sealed the panels with silicone?

[web4deb]

@FloppyHatPhotos I don't believe silicone sticks well to polycarbonate. I'm not 100% sure.

[amusingisthedawn]

@web4deb You are correct, it absolutely doesn't stick.

[KyleCarrington]

@web4deb Not sure about that either.. but.. before I'd try silicone, I'd be more inclined to try (clear) Pro Flex RV. In any situation that silicone is/can be used on an RV, Pro Flex is better. It's fairly difficult to remove later, tho... so some tests would be in order.

[jettafloater]

@web4deb windshield urathane would work' clean any oil off with either and it does come in clear. that dome looks nice

[KyleCarrington]

@FloppyHatPhotos And it will adhere to frozen or damp surfaces. Within reason, anyway. It's a very permanent, flexible adherent sealant.

[drethedog]

I love your videos man. Surprise us with a Xmas special...

[ScalerWave]

Looking good man, nice job !

[DivergentMind]

Love the fun science fact at the end.

spectacular green house too -- I hope to build one someday, probably a smaller one.

[dianemummvideos]

I am very interested in this construction , are you doing this all homemade or from a kit??

Diane

[web4deb]

@dianemummvideos it's all built from scratch. You may want to start with the first video in the series! ;-)  v=9rn6YtCC670

[landloper1986]

awesome

[teenprepper96]

its coming along very nicely, I wish I could afford a project like this

[sylvanenergy]

I was wondering if you were going to use the 36mm glazing, I have my answer now... it is coming together very nicely...well done! Have a good holiday season.

Rob,

[NewEnglandgardening]

I think I heard the weather guy say today was the last day of fall, so now its officially winter so you got the poly up just in time to work on the heating system. Do you have a remote temp sensor? Would be interesting to see the temp differences even now with just the poly up.

[web4deb]

@NewEnglandgardening No remote monitoring yet. I haven't had the time to play with the fun stuff yet! ;-)

[rongleblanc]

You make it look easy. Very nice!



[acarnivorous]

Great info. and the greenhouse is looking wonderful!

[EarthshipFreedom]

Awesome! 

[dwiggs77]

great work