!
Fal
lin
g sti
cks
Hub
s are h
ing
es
So
cke
ts c
an p
inc
h
Watc
hout
s!
Bui
ldi
ng y
our d
om
e sho
uld b
e gre
at f
un a
nd t
he l
ast t
hin
g
we w
ant i
s for p
eo
ple t
o hur
t the
mse
lve
s. H
ere a
re a fe
w
thi
ngs t
o wat
ch o
ut f
or:
!
The b
ene
fi ts t
hat h
ubs b
rin
g to t
he b
uild a
nd a
dap
tat
ion
of d
om
es c
om
es a
t the c
ost o
f ulti
mat
e str
eng
th.
Do
mes b
uilt w
ith h
ubs a
re s
till s
atis
fyi
ngl
y stu
rdy s
tru
ctu
res
whi
ch a
re m
ore t
han s
tro
ng e
no
ugh f
or t
hei
r int
end
ed u
ses
;
eg f
rui
t cag
es, g
ard
en r
oo
ms, c
hic
ken r
uns e
tc.
Tip
:
Wea
rin
g glo
ves
mini
mises
the
ris
k.
Tip
:
If a s
tic
k po
ps-
out
jus
t po
p it b
ack i
n!
No
t a clim
bin
g fra
me
do
n’t s
usp
end h
eav
y obj
ect
s
Hold
sti
cks
aw
ay
fro
m the h
ubs
Kee
p fi n
ger
tip
s aw
ay
fro
m soc
ket
s
Sta
y on t
he
outsi
de
as y
ou b
uild
!
1
2
3
parts checklist
2.
To clamp-up the hubs
1.
To build the dome
x6
x35
x30
x20
allen key
Used to hold
the hub screws
in position when
clamping the hubs.
For the base
You will need
another 10 wood
screws or another
20 ball connectors
and 20 wood screws
depending on which
base approach you
go for. These are
included in the kit.
See the Completing
your dome section
for more.
x1
hanging eyelet
Use this to hang
something nice
from the centre
of your dome.
x26
hub screw
Goes through the
centre of the
hub for clamping.
x26
locking plate
Clamps the ball
connectors in place
once the dome is in
its fi nal position.
x25
Wing nut
Screws onto the end
of the hub screw to
clamp the locking
plate in place.
SHoRTS
LoNGS
How
to build
your
dome.
™
™
Version 1
Waterproof and tearproof
prin
cip
les
The
se a
re u
sef
ul t
hin
gs t
o rem
em
ber
to h
elp t
he b
uild g
o sm
oo
thl
y.
3
ins
ert f
rom
belo
w
1
it t
ake
s tw
o
One c
an c
onn
ect
as t
he o
the
r lift
s.
Ins
ert a
nd r
em
ove b
all
co
nne
cto
rs i
n thi
s alig
nm
ent
.
2
Sta
y on t
he o
uts
ide
dur
ing
the
build
4
Lift t
he h
ub a
bove t
o
ena
ble
con
nec
tion
!
5
Lift b
y the s
tic
ks
above t
he h
ub
6
only
clam
p-up
hub
s
whe
n the d
om
e is i
n
its fi
na
l po
siti
on
Mo
vin
g the d
om
e whi
lst
cla
mp
ed
-up w
ill d
am
age t
he
hub
s and b
all c
onn
ect
ors
!
Use t
wo
if y
ou c
an
on i
ts b
ase
won’
t
conn
ect
+
Taking down your dome
Completing your dome
Once you’ve built your dome, move it into its final position before clamping-up
the hubs. Two people should be able to drag your dome to another position.
We’d recommend four people or more if you are lifting the dome.
1. Choose base approaCh
Un-clamp all hubs
before taking the
dome down.
!
One person supports the weight
of the dome by holding the central
pentagon as shown (blue).
A second person removes the
shorts
of the central pentagon (red).
The next sticks to be disconnected
can be rested on the ground to support
the dome as you dismantle it.
Continue the process until you’re back
to a collection of hubs and sticks!
+
Posts
Build your dome first and mark the position
of the hubs. Then make holes with a little
wiggle room so you can adjust the position
of posts when you put the dome on top.
A greater sense of space and
easy access for smaller domes
Even a small foot can help to protect the
bottom ring of sticks from damp
Small feet
Low bASE
RAiSEd bASE
These can simply be blocks of wood.
Drill with holes so you can stake them
to the ground. You can also add eyelets
or hooks for attaching covers.
Standing up
Screw two ball connectors 3mm apart
onto your base. You could also use two
ball connectors in a hub as a template.
Test your first attempt in a hub to
check that the position is ok.
Tip:
If proving tricky, slightly loosening
one ball connector helps.
The hub sits horizontally and a screw through
the centre of the hub can fix it to the base.
It’s also possible to use a hub screw if you
embed an M6 threaded insert in your base.
wood screws included
in the kit
Lying down
Temporary use
It is possible to simply rest your dome on
the ground using the lying down approach.
Stake through the centre of hubs or stake
down the bottom ring of sticks. If the dome
is on a hard surface use metal weights or
sandbags to secure the base in position.
?
Hubs will want to find the right alignment
but after a build some might be out of position.
2. CheCk alignmenT
Correct by pulling
sticks towards the
outside of the dome.
Pushing inwards
can pop sticks
out of the hubs!
Tap sticks left
and right to
correct rotational
misalignment.
Once finger-tight use the allen key
to clamp firmly.
3. Clamp-up The hubs
Get the angles in the base
ring as consistent as you
can before fixing in place.
not too wide
If the hub is lying down make sure the width
of the feet or posts is 70mm (2¾”) or less to
be sure that they don’t clash with the sticks.
!
anchor your dome
Whichever base approach you use ensure
that the dome and any cover is securely
anchored to the ground. Wind can place
an enormous force on sheet covers and
even netting.
!
Un-clamp all
hubs before
moving a dome.
Moving a dome
whilst the hubs
are clamped-up
will damage the
hubs and ball
connectors!
!
or
or
wood screw included in the kit or
use hub screw with a threaded insert
open out for
build instructions
or
