How to Build a Cardboard Geodesic Dome
The geodesic dome uses two different-sized triangles. Painting the cardboard triangles with water-based paint and sealing all joints with duct tape makes your cardboard dome rain proof. This cardboard geodesic dome is about 15 feet across and can hold about 20 children.
Things You'll Need
- Corrugated cardboard
- McGroovy's cardboard rivets
- Paint and brushes
- Utility knife with plenty of blades
- 4-inch ruler and large square
- At least 3 people
Instructions
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1
Cut the first triangle with each side equal to 1.545 meters. These are straight triangles with no connector flaps. This is triangle AAA. Use this triangle as the template and make 10 AAA triangles.
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2
Cut the second triangle as an isosceles triangle, with two sides being 1.365 meters and the third side as 1.545 meters. This is triangle ABB. Use this triangle as a template and make 30 ABB triangles.
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3
Score all ABB triangles with a 3-cm flap along each edge, which will be used to connect the triangles together. Bend the flaps outward, and each bend must be true, so practice on scrap before attempting this.
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4
Use four cardboard rivets at each joint. You will need at least 400 rivets. Place five ABB triangles on the floor in a pentagon shape, with all long edges on the outside and rivet them together. Make 5 more pentagons. If you are going to paint your triangles, now is the best time to do this.
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5
Stand 5 pentagons in a circle on the floor, inserting one AAA triangle, point up, in between each as a connector. After fastening, insert one AAA triangle across the tops of the pentagons, face down, and fasten together.
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6
Place the last pentagon into the cap of the dome and fasten together. Your cardboard geodesic dome is complete.
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Tips & Warnings
If you want your dome to be higher, make ten 1.545 meter wide panels, as tall as you would like the dome to be. Fasten them together in a circle and then place the dome on top, and connect. You will need to cut a "door" in one of the panels.
