Bill- I respect your credentials, but- one of the prime rules preached here
on Tower Talk is to do what the manufacturer recommends. Rohn says to use a
Bitumen coating in some cases, so- what is the conflict based on, and what
reason do they have for that directive that differs from your observations?
An additional observation- I have bought screw-type earth anchors for other
projects, and used the type sold for anchoring house-trailers-- those are
coated with tar, and I have seen them taken out after many years in the
ground, still in a functional, sound condition.
Is there something unique to Chicago, (other than salt and wind) that
supports your position, but does not apply to many of the rest of us? I
really would like to know.
Bill- W4BSG
At 07:30 AM 3/12/01 -0600, you wrote:
>I have seen this suggestion many times.
>First let me state my credentials. I was a licensed mason/concrete
>contractor in Chicago specializing in masonry/concrete repair/masonry to
>Landmark buildings and high rises in the city for many years till
>retirement.
>
>I am very reluctant to tell you what to do. But my experience has shown
>me that steel covered with tar will rust or deteriorate more
>quickly/severely than the same steel properly primed, prepared
>galvanized, painted and of course inspected/maintained.
>No matter how carefully tar is applied to steel, there will be some
>demarcation point that in just a short time will allow a entry point for
>water.
>
>Water, and winters ice, are the culprits. The trapped moisture and air
>will soon work it's magic. And it will do it out of sight.
>
>Tower bases and/or steel that I secure in concrete will be properly rust
>proofed.
>They will be set so as to allow drainage of the tubing.
>Concrete can be assisted in bonding by the application of 'Abatrol', a
>concrete bonding mixture.
>
>Of course inspection, sounding, and maintenance is the key.
>
>Flame shields are in place.
>
>
>
>
>------------------------------------------------------------
>Beauty is skin deep; ugly goes right to the bone.
>------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Bill H. in Chicagoland
>w9ol@billnjudy.com FireBrick@telocity.com w9ol@telocity.com
>
>
>
>--
>FAQ on WWW: http://www.contesting.com/FAQ/towertalk
>Submissions: towertalk@contesting.com
>Administrative requests: towertalk-REQUEST@contesting.com
>Problems: owner-towertalk@contesting.com
>
>
-
Bill Aycock --- Persimmon Hill
Woodville, Alabama, US 35776
(in the N.E. corner of the State)
W4BSG -- Grid EM64vr
baycock@HiWAAY.net
w4bsg@arrl.net
--
FAQ on WWW: http://www.contesting.com/FAQ/towertalk
Submissions: towertalk@contesting.com
Administrative requests: towertalk-REQUEST@contesting.com
Problems: owner-towertalk@contesting.com
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