[TowerTalk] New Tower Construction - Questions

[Bill Coleman AA4LR]

I just got my building permit today, so construction begins this weekend.

I do have some questions, and thought that the TowerTalk community might 
have some answers:

* I'm planning to embed a Rohn 25 tower section in the concrete base. I'm 
unsure if direct contact with the concrete will cause corrosion of the 
section. Should embedded tower sections be coated with some kind of 
protectant? Or would a protectant reduce the mechanical coupling between 
the base and the tower? Is corrosion (other than pooling of water in the 
legs due to improper drainage) not really a problem?

* I know I need a rebar cage in the base, but I'm fuzzy on the details of 
how to construct it. This is a standard 2x2x4 foot base, and I understand 
the rebar should be about 3" from the edges of the concrete. This 
translates into a 1.5x1.5x3.5 foot cage. I can see rebar at all the 
edges, how much is needed on the long faces? Are there horizontal pieces 
on the way down each face? Spaced how often? How about spacing for 
vertical pieces? Are there pieces on the top and bottom faces? Are there 
any pieces on the INTERIOR of the cage? Isn't there a problem with rebar 
and tower section trying to occupy the same space with the interior 
elements?

* I plan to build a small wooden form to shape the top few inches of the 
concrete base. Is there something you can put on wooden surfaces to make 
the concrete not stick to it? This would make it easier to remove the 
forms later. 

That's all for now, other questions I got answered by searching the 
archives. Great resource, TowerTalk.



Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASEL        Mail: aa4lr@radio.org
Quote: "Boot, you transistorized tormentor! Boot!"
            -- Archibald Asparagus, VeggieTales


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