What to make out of satellite dish?

admin

I bought a new place about 4 years ago.  There's about 2 acres, and in the far corner is one of the old satellite dishes...one of the big ones!  It sits on a concrete pad and has a nice base on what looks like 3 or 4 inch tubing for the main structure. The dish seems to be aluminum mesh with aluminum strips to make the edges.I had originally thought to call and have someone haul it away (we have cable...) but now that I am starting to do some metal work, I figure I should be repurposing this thing.  My initial thought it to turn the base in part of the tubing into a grinder stand.  I would have enough tubing left to make a coupe more if I add bases.  Not sure what to do with all the aluminum.  Any better ideas before I cut this thing up?
Reply:You could always convert it into a wireless internet signal dish antenna, pick up wireless signals from miles awayhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/11/15/h...-dish-antenna/
Reply:The dish I have is the old BIG dish, say probably 10+ feet in diameter!Also, it is on the far corner of my 2 acre property, so I am probably not going to want to run new cables.  However, free wireless sounds goodI would post a picture, but it is in a wooded area, and as the dish is black, it doesn't show up well.
Reply:Replace the receiver antenna with a magnetron and make a death ray.
Reply:Mount it upside down on three pipe legs for a gazebo roof. You'll be surprised how much shade the mesh makes.                                                     MikeOl' Stonebreaker  "Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes"Hobart G-213 portableMiller 175 migMiller thunderbolt ac/dc stick Victor O/A setupMakita chop saw
Reply:I've seen the gazebos before...a bit redneck for my taste (and my wife's). We already have a nice gazebo built into our deck.  What else ya got?
Reply:you can make $20 out of it at the scrap yard!I hate being bi-polar it's awsomeMy Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
Reply:Add mirrors for a focusing solar collector, just need to track the sun.
Reply:We turned my old one upside down and set it on a post for shade for my daughter & son-in-laws dogs. We refer to it as the mushroom.  Dang dogs ignore it and go dig holes beside their house to lay in.
Reply:You could make a solar parabolic cooker out of it, I have an old hughesnet dish, I plan on making one,some day.http://www.backyardnature.net/j/solardsh.htm
Reply:I have seen two of them put together to form a flying saucer. Guy that does this has had several things in his yard that were unique to say the least. He's moved so I can't take any pictures of it.  Had some little green men coming out of a hole sort of like a hatch on submarine. Got your attention when you drove by.
Reply:Hook it up to a spectrum analyzer and make an amateur radio telescope.Tim
Reply:Ok...let me rephrase the question...What can I make when I cut this dish up?I have no intention of keeping it intact as a dish...just wanted ideas of what to use the mesh material for...
Reply:When 12 ft dishes went out of style. I put an ad in the paper that I would come take them away for free. I built my cabin out of the plastic ribs from the Dark Star dishes. The whole cabin cost me 360 dollars. Then I built a small shop and put a sun roof all the way around one side out of the aluminum ribs for some other kind of dish. Its strong enough for me to walk on and it is only supported on the big end of the ribs. I'm still planning to build a gazebo with the plastic ribs I have left. waste not, want not.  Mac. I can send pictures.
Reply:Originally Posted by Drb007However, free wireless sounds goodI would post a picture, but it is in a wooded area...
Reply:Mac..let's see those pictures!
Reply:+1 to solar reflector / death ray http://cockeyed.com/incredible/solardish/dish15.shtmlIn all seriousness though, the mesh could be used for end tables and other patio furniture. The wedges you are starting with from the dish give you an opportunity to build something of a unique shape rather than square or rectangle. Artistically, you could also make some interesting sculptures or garden fixtures from the materials.
Reply:Dambit, too bad it's mesh and not solid, then you could make a Discada like in Ifallswelder thread and you could cook for ALL of us!Lincoln SA 200Esab Caddy 160Thermal Arc 201TSMiller Dialarc HFI don't like making plans for the day because then the word "premeditated" gets thrown around the courtroom....
Reply:Some things I made from Satellite dishes. The small tower is my flush totally modern out house. the ceiling is a 6 ft satellite dish with the roof structure made out of satellite ribs and plywood scraps and tab roofing. Attached Images
Reply:This shot shows some of the black glass reinforced plastic ribs that I made the house out of.I've tried to use salvaged stuff in every thing I build. Most of my steel and aluminum comes from salvaged things. Attached Images
Reply:Originally Posted by Tool MakerThis shot shows some of the black glass reinforced plastic ribs that I made the house out of.I've tried to use salvaged stuff in every thing I build. Most of my steel and aluminum comes from salvaged things.
Reply:Thanks Dan T. I appreciate your appreciation. Mac
Reply:Here ya go! A good use for them! Attached Images
Reply:Originally Posted by Drb007The dish I have is the old BIG dish, say probably 10+ feet in diameter!Also, it is on the far corner of my 2 acre property, so I am probably not going to want to run new cables.  However, free wireless sounds goodI would post a picture, but it is in a wooded area, and as the dish is black, it doesn't show up well.
Reply:Aluminum mesh ain't cheap. I'd love to get some to Tig up a garden trailer.  Thats what I'd make. Can stay outside all year long.TA Arcmaster 300CM3XMT 304S22P12 suitcase feederX-Treme 12VSOptima pulserTA161SMaxstar 150STLHypertherm PM45OP setupStihl 020AVP, 039, 066 MagnumOriginally Posted by Tool MakerSome things I made from Satellite dishes. The small tower is my flush totally modern out house. the ceiling is a 6 ft satellite dish with the roof structure made out of satellite ribs and plywood scraps and tab roofing.
Reply:Around here if you live quietly, You can get by with a lot. The old timers say if you don't stir the hornets nest you wont get stung. Mac
Reply:I'd use it as a pea strainer.
Reply:my next door neighbour took his down and made a base set it up so the dish is horizontal (looking straight up). He lined it with landscaping cloth, soil and planted plants in it. it went in the parking lot of their greenhouse.Well you didn't pay much for my opinion so thats all you get.Miller thunderbolt 250Decastar 135ERecovering tool-o-holic ESAB OAI have been interested or involved in Electrical, Fire Alarm, Auto, Marine, Welding, Electronics ETC to name a just a few. So YES you can own too many tools.
Reply:Originally Posted by VPTI'd use it as a pea strainer.