[TowerTalk] Tri-ex Tower Base

[Bob Wruble]

I have had the same experience....I think product liability insurance rate
force exorbinate princing from the tower companies...w7gg

----- Original Message -----
From: "Greg Fischer" <n4kop@whidbey.net>
To: "Tower talk" <towertalk@contesting.com>
Sent: Friday, April 07, 2000 5:02 PM
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Tri-ex Tower Base


>
> 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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>
>
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