Fw: [TowerTalk] Refurbishing Tower Sections

[RICHARD BOYD]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: RICHARD BOYD 
To: towertalk at contesting.com ; Mike Gilmer - N2MG 
Sent: Tuesday, September 16, 2003 3:20 PM
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Refurbishing Tower Sections


Some years back, N3ORY and I did this on some Rohn 25 and maybe some 45 and other stuff too.  A place in Baltimore ("Southern Galvanizing" I think it was) had a $100 or so minimum, which covered the first X pounds (may have been a hundred or two) -- anyway, it all worked out to about $8 per section of Rohn 25, but I understand prices have gone up.  In fact, someone apparently rubbed that shop the wrong way, hassled them, (it wasn't us but someone later) and at one point they were refusing any more ham radio customers, after raising the price first -- but it seems like I heard that if you didn't mention ham radio they would still take towers in, at the higher price.  Another place south of here, Richmond, Virginia maybe, is apparently a good alternative, may have been a little lower price than the new price in Baltimore, did a good job on even small stuff like nuts and bolts.
73 - Rich, KE3Q
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Mike Gilmer - N2MG 
  To: towertalk at contesting.com 
  Sent: Tuesday, September 16, 2003 9:03 AM
  Subject: [TowerTalk] Refurbishing Tower Sections


  Right next door to where I work is a place that did 
  just this for my Rohn 25 sections.  I don't believe 
  they would have been able/wanted to remove any paint 
  (I had none so this wasn't an issue).

  They had a 300# minimum and charged me ~$0.35 per 
  pound (that's per pound of my material, not of the 
  zinc) plus another $0.05 per pound to strip the old 
  zinc.  At 40# per Rohn section, this works out be $16 
  a section.

  Even though they cater to commercial entities (guard 
  rails, highway signs, etc.), they had no problem 
  dealing with my small order - just don't ask them to 
  rush!  (It took about a week)

  If you go this route - be sure to check all the hole 
  diameters and other clearances when you get the 
  material back.  I had to grind off some zinc flashing 
  in places (but admittedly less than the crap I got on 
  brand new Rohn 45).

  Mike N2MG

  K4XS wrote:
  Suggest you take it to a professional big galvanizing 
  place.  They will strip it and regalvanize it.  No 
  need to sandblast it unless it has been painted.

  The local place here has a minimum charge of around 
  $450 to do the strip and regalvanizing.
  That will cover the first 1000 pounds...much more 
  effective and long lasting. 

  W3AU had that done to his AB 105 down here in FL.

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