Hi Bill,
We've dropped a number of towers. Some are easy, some are not.
First things first. Have a helper designated as the "safety officer" to keep
unwanted visitors well away from the fall zone. Consider the fall zone
360-degrees around the tower and twice the height. Yellow construction tape
might be advisable depending on typical foot traffic in the area. More than one
safety officer may be needed.
Easiest are the ones where a face of the tower is in the direction of desired
fall. Those two legs will be notched near the base to weaken the legs so they
act as a hinge. The remaining (rear) leg will be cut entirely to allow the
tower to hinge down on the other two legs. A sawzall or cutoff wheel may be
used to make the cuts.
We drop the top set of guys first. The two of these toward the direction of
fall may be used to pull the tower in that direction. A heavy vehicle will work
for the pull or even a come-a-long or capstan winch with heavy rope attached to
the two pull guys. A turning pulley may be needed depending on space available.
You want light tension on the pull line before you cut the rear leg, and more
once the rear leg guys are cut.
The guys attached to the rear leg of the tower should be released
simultaneously if you want the tower to hinge at the base. In other words just
cut the guy anchor, not the individual guys. Simultaneously pull on those
forward upper guys to help the tower begin its descent. Good communication
between the persons cutting the guys and handling the pull lines is essential.
I would never remove or loosen tower section bolts as this may weaken the tower
and create an unintended hinge point.
It gets more complicated – and unpredictable – if you are trying to drop the
tower in a direction other than toward a face.
You might find a local scrapper to do this for you.
Any tower toppled should be sent to the scrap yard, not re-used.
73/Jon AA1K
Jon P. Zaimes, AA1K
Tower climber for hire
Felton, DE 19943
jz73@verizon.net
Cell: 302-632-2353
www.aa1k.us<http://www.aa1k.us/>
________________________________
From: TowerTalk <towertalk-bounces@contesting.com> on behalf of cqtestk4xs---
via TowerTalk <towertalk@contesting.com>
Sent: Saturday, September 21, 2024 7:19 AM
To: towertalk@contesting.com <towertalk@contesting.com>
Subject: [TowerTalk] DROPPING A TOWER
In a few weeks I will be taking down a 136 ft Rohn 55 tower with its base set
in concrete. I won't be taking it down section by section, but rather dropping
the whole thing.
I have some pre-conceived ides as to how to do it, but have never done it
beiore. No issues with power lines or neighbor's property...noner are an
issue. Lots of cleared space folr the tower to be dropped.
Any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Bill K4XS/V31XX
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