Shuttering was assembled from an old flat-pack cupboard. Here you can see I have located eight lengths of M12 studding. This serves to reinforce the lower concrete part of the pier as well as provide the bolts for fixing the upper steel pier.
Great care needs to be taken to level the shuttering and accurately position bolts to avoid problems later on.
I am lucky to have a strong, energetic wife to mix the concrete! I was excused heavy duties as I was awaiting a heart operation, but I did make her lots of tea!
There is over a ton of concrete!
Here are the pads and lower pier section after pouring. The upper section was boxed in and poured the following day.
The shuttering round the outer pads served to create a neat edge, which I felt was important as they can be seen below the wall posts when the observatory is finished.
I chose a 6:1 ballast/cement mix
