Neal,
Junking the thing isn't a bad idea, particularly if
you spy any physical damage. If the rust is purely superficial,
and cosmetic, rather than structural, then I'd give it a coat of
rustoleum rusty metal primer...followed by your favorite rustoleum
color, and consider that as an end-of-life strategy.
you can touch it up, as needed.
If there is any hint of structural weakness at any of the overlapping
joints, I would definitely junk it. That includes pitted rust or any
flakes more than a couple of thousandths thick. Towers are cheap.
People and medical bills are not.
N2EA
At 11:37 AM 3/19/2004, Neal Cox wrote:
>I have a Rohn HDBX tower that contains sections where the galvanizing has
>failed and the metal is rusting. I've considered rust stabilizer coating,
>"cold galvanizing", and having the sections regalvanized.
>The sections can be regalvanized at a moderate cost in the North Texas
>area for $0.48/lb. However
>a representative for the firm providing me the quote warned that warpage
>of the sections would probably
>take place because of the high heat involved in the process. I have
>learned that "cold galvanizing" isn't
>galvanizing, just coating with a zinc rich paint. The rust stabilizer
>sounds good but I wonder how it well
>it would work on a tower constantly exposed to the weather. Also, the
>regalvanizing processs includes
>removing the old galvanizing and then hot dip galvanizing. The cost is
>$0.16/lb to strip and $0.32/lb to
>galvanize. My Rohn HDBX32 has been up for 21 years. Any suggestions?
N2EA
jimjarvis@ieee.org
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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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