[TowerTalk] nice trick for raising masts to drop into a tower

[Pete Smith]

The editor of the FRC newsletter has already received permission to reprint 
it in their Newsletter.  As long as credit is given to K4ZA and the PVRC 
Newsletter, clubs should feel free to reprint.

By the way, there is a picture of the device in the PVRC Newsletter.  The 
security on the server we use for the PVRC web site will not permit direct 
linking from URLs in e-mail, but if you go to the site at www.pvrc.org and 
scroll about halfway down, you'll find a link that does work.  The article 
(and picture) are on page 4.

73, Pete N4ZR


At 10:43 PM 2/4/04 -0500, Eric Scace K3NA wrote:

>    Don Daso K4ZA came up with a cute trick to help install masts in 
> towers.  He describes it as follows in this month's "PVRC
>Newsletter".
>
>    I think this is an important safety innovation in ham tower work and 
> think Don's idea should be widely circulated.
>
>    -- Eric K3NA
>
>The Toolbox
>By Don Daso, K4ZA
>
>    Hams sometimes do slightly dangerous things, and that can include tower
>work, especially the job of raising heavy masts. I've done it myself, plenty
>of times, using a variety of methods. Having tried all these ideas, having
>listened to everyone else's solutions, I was still convinced there "had to be
>a better way." Driving through my neighborhood a while back, I had one
>such "Eureka" moment--coming up with a solution to this age-old problem.
>This works better than anything else I've tried.
>
>    I recently had to install a 21-foot chrome-moly mast, working alone atop
>the tower. Installing a basketball goal (just the hoop) at the top of my 13-
>foot heavy-duty gin pole, provided a margin of control (and safety) 
>missing from all previous methods I've used. The mast, lifted at
>just above its midpoint, couldn't swing or "get away" from me once inside 
>the hoop, which made guiding it down, and into the tower
>top's thrust bearing, relatively easy. (No matter how big and strong the 
>tower worker is, maneuvering such a mast is always
>difficult ON THE TOWER, as there's no real mechanical advantage possible, 
>nor a good way to control the heavy mast.)
>
>Despite all the kidding from my ground crew, everyone agreed this simple 
>tool made our work faster, and more importantly, safer.
>
>I chose the basketball hoop because it was pre-made, relatively cheap 
>(mine cost $20), and sturdy. I ground off the small loops,
>which normally hold the net, then drilled matching holes for U-bolts and 
>saddles to allow mounting on the gin pole.
>
>The installation of long, heavy masts is now much easier. This simple tool 
>will always be in my tower toolkit.
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>
>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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73, Pete N4ZR
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