[TowerTalk] Tri-ex Tower Base

[Greg Fischer]

I bought a used W-51 (still in production) and also needed a base for it.
>From the manufacturer it was over $250.

I got the spec book with mine with the demensions of the base.  Brought it
to a local welder with a good reputation...and he made it for me just
right...for $70.  Probably stronger than the manufactured one.  Used 1inch
rebar on the corners.

GL
Greg

----- Original Message -----
From: <AL7H@aol.com>
To: <k7jj@pacbell.net>; <towertalk@contesting.com>
Sent: Friday, April 07, 2000 3:00 PM
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Tri-ex Tower Base


>
> 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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