[TowerTalk] Using plywood forms...??

[Kelly Taylor]

I think the only relevant information here is what is contained, in various
phraseology, in almost every tower instructions I have ever read: "pour into
undisturbed soil." Use a form at the top if you are Felix Ungerish about it
being neat, but let the concrete slump against the outer edges of the hole.

Granted, there are exceptions, as noted in an earlier post, but these
require the stamp of a PE to be certain.

In fact, in almost EVERY reference to any foundation, be it a frost footing,
a basement wall footing (note: that doesn't mean the wall, merely the
footing underneath), etc., the words undisturbed soil invariably appear.
There is sound engineering behind those two words. Forms are only used when
a specific shape is needed (basement wall, to square off the top of a
footing, etc.)

73, kelly
ve4xt
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim White, K4OJ" <k4oj at tampabay.rr.com>
To: "EUGENE SMAR" <ersmar at comcast.net>
Cc: <towertalk at contesting.com>; "Rich Hallman - N7TR" <rich at n7tr.com>
Sent: Sunday, June 29, 2003 7:44 PM
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Using plywood forms...??


> Gene...
>
> Are you saying the 1/2" or 3/4" of plywood around the pour once it
> disintegrates will create a void that wide between the earth and the
> pour???? And then the concrete mass could shit by 1/2" or 3/4"
>
> I seriously doubt that... and think nature wouldfind a way to make up
> for the "slack" as rains came and went the soil would ultimately be
> found near the pour...
>
> Jim, K4OJ
>
>
>
>
> EUGENE SMAR wrote:
> > Rich:
> >
> >      Absolutely remove the form.  If you don't, when the wood decays,
that
> > side of the foundation will not have the support from undisturbed earth
that
> > the other sides have.
> >
> >      This means that you'll have to allow sufficient room around the
> > foundation to get at the wood for removal.  That, in turn, means you'll
have
> > to backfill the void.  And finally, that means you'll have to compact
the
> > backfill as it's being dumped into the excavation.  Don't just shovel in
the
> > dirt and walk away.  After each half a foot or so has been shoveled in,
> > punch at it with the end of a 2X4 until it doesn't compress any more.
Then
> > shovel in the next half a foot, etc.
> >
> >      However, it might be easier if you just fill in the oversized hole
with
> > a bit more concrete.  You'll avoid the need to worry about forms,
removal,
> > compaction, etc.  The hassle is a toss-up between excavating exactly the
> > right sized hole vs buying and placing a bit more concrete.
> >
> > 73 de
> > Gene Smar  AD3F
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Rich Hallman - N7TR" <rich at n7tr.com>
> > To: <towertalk at contesting.com>
> > Sent: Sunday, June 29, 2003 3:11 PM
> > Subject: [TowerTalk] Using plywood forms...??
> >
> >
> >
> >>I'm installing several Trylon T400-80's.  I noticed that you can use
> >
> > plywood
> >
> >>forms for those times when your backhoe guy gets carried away with the
> >
> > hole
> >
> >>digging.
> >>
> >>If I use a form for one end of my oversized base.....Do you remove the
> >>plywood, then backfill.....Or backfill with the plywood in place?
> >>
> >>Thanks...
> >>Rich
> >>
> >>www.n7tr.com
> >>
> >>_______________________________________________
> >>
> >>See: http://www.mscomputer.com  for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless
> >
> > Weather Stations", and lot's more.  Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with
any
> > questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
> >
> >>_______________________________________________
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> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> >
> > See: http://www.mscomputer.com  for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless
Weather Stations", and lot's more.  Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any
questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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> >
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
>
> See: http://www.mscomputer.com  for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless
Weather Stations", and lot's more.  Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any
questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
>
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