Dave:
I had made a 24ft mast, which is replace by a 30ft mast (but by mounting is
about
28ft).
It is made out of 10ft sections of the top rail of a chain link fence. I
wanted to use 2
sections of 20ft industrial top rails but could not have them shipped into me
for less
than their price. The 10ft sections are residential and thinner wall.
With pipes on the ground I slipped the 3 sections together, they are swedged.
I put
a 2 piece 6 in long sleeve over the lower join, bolted together then a gear
clamp (or
hose clamp) over the top join. Above the gear clamp I put a piece of cedar
wood,
holes drilled in for the mast and for three guys which were tie on. At the top
I drilled
a hole and put there in an eye bolt. The eye bolt, to be used as a 'pulley' to
hoist
the centre of the doublet, also went through a plastic cap which covered the
top. A
guy was tied at the top around the eyebolt to be tightened in the opposite
direction
of the feedline (my case home made ladder line with a carrier line in).
Raising the mast required the help of the XYL. I was able to have 2 of the
lower
guys in eyebolts and she kept them taught whilst I walked the mast up. The
bottom
was braced against a fixed board to stop the mast from sliding on the grass.
If you
are going higher than 30 ft I would suggest using the guy on top to help the
top up
maybe with a gin pole near the bottom guys. When the mast was vertical I
carried it
over to the main pole to hold it, dropped it in then quickly tied the guys.
The top is
guyed by the 2 legs of the antenna, the top guy and the carrier for the ladder
line.
I had a 21ft one up temporarily for 3 winters. Lottsa rust so took it down.
It behave
well in the low winds we have here. But I had to make sure the ice and snow
did not
build up on any of the lines.
Short answer, yes you can do it but be careful.
Chris opr VE7HCB
From: "Dan Levin" <djl@andlev.com>
To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
Date sent: Sun, 26 Oct 2003 20:14:37 -0800
Subject: [TowerTalk] Raising TV Mast...
> I'm thinking about using standard "heavy duty" 16 guage 1.25" steel TV
> mast as a temporary support for the middle of my trap dipole. This is
> not "telescoping" push-up mast, but rather the standard stuff that you
> see on top of everyone's roof - one end swaged down to slip into the
> next section.
>
> Does anyone know if you can walk up a 30 or even 40 foot long hunk of
> this stuff? I have no idea how they install it on roofs - I have seen
> what looks like 30' of it fairly frequently. I assume they assemble
> the pieces on the roof, and then walk it up as one piece - does anyone
> know if that is right?
>
> I know it needs to be guyed at every 10' joint. It is only going to
> be up for 3 days, so I don't need it to be too strong. I'm just not
> sure how to get it vertical in the first place...
>
> Thanks!
>
> ***dan, K6IF
>
> _______________________________________________
>
> See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers",
> "Wireless Weather Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free,
> 1-800-333-9041 with any questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
>
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_______________________________________________
See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless Weather
Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any questions
and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
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