[TowerTalk] Tri-ex Tower Base

[AL7H@aol.com]

I recently confronted the very same situation, i.e. good deal on an out-of- 
production 3 section 54' self-supporting crank-up tower.  And just like 
yours, it didn't have a base.

Searched around for a base to buy - and looked for awhile at US Tower's bases 
as an option. 

Ended up having a welding shop frabricating one for me.  I'm no mechanical 
(or electronic) wizard.  I worked out well and a lot cheaper than buying a 
base (even if the US Tower base could have been used).  The steel they used 
was real thick and over-designed.  It's REAL solid.
  
I'd suggest that you:
(1) use plywood to make a template pattern for the horizontal plate - for 
dimensions and  hole placement;

(2) use plywood to make template patterns for the three vertical pieces that 
will go up next to the tower legs; 

(3) Get the shop to FIRST fabricate the actual horizontal base portion from 
your plywood template;

(4) SECOND bring that home to where your tower is and position it up under 
the tower and mark exactly where your vertical pieces will go;

(5) THIRD go back to welding shop and have them make steel pieces to match 
your plywood and weld them on where you have marked - - be sure the vertical 
pieces are welded on at exact right angles to the horizontal - no bolt holes 
yet in the vertical pieces;

(6) FOURTH take that set up back home and then check the fit to the bottom of 
the tower - if all is well - then mark exactly where you want the shop to 
drill the bolt holes in the vertical pieces;

(7) FIFTH  back to the shop for the drilling of all bolt holes 

(8) you may find that the bolts won't exactly fit into the holes of the 
vertical parts of the base but you can enlarge them with a rasp bit on a 
drill.  

(9) I ended up painting my base with some anti-rusting stuff and then a nice 
looking grey paint over.  

MISTAKE I MADE: was to try and combine too many steps of the fitting process. 
 It was too frustrating - just take it one little bit at a time and it will 
work out fine.

73.....Alan K0AV
Colorado Springs 

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