[TowerTalk] How best to keep the rebar cage centered in the hole?

[ersmar at comcast.net]

Scotty:

     Do NOT use the rebar in the foundation hole as an anchor point for your rebar cage.  The ends of the rebars sticking into the dirt will eventually corrode and follow the rest of the rebar into the concrete mass.  That could lead to cracking, especially that close to the top of the concrete.  (That's why you're using paving stones in the bottom of the hole - to keep the rebar ends out of the dirt - right?)

     If you framed out the top of the hole to form a neat concrete crown for the top of the concrete pour, you can hammer in a few nails around that wooden form, leaving a half inch of nail sticking out.  Then wrap some rebar wire around the upper rebar pieces and use the nails to hold these wire pieces in place.  That will give some rigidity to your rebar cage while the concrete is being poured.

     If you did not use wood to form the top of your concrete base, then you can hammer some rebars into the dirt ON TOP of the ground, then anchor the rebar wires to these rebars.  

     When the concrete gets near these top pieces of rebar, simply cut the wires off the rebar and pull the wires out of the form, then finish the pour.  There will be enough concrete in the hole by that time to keep the rebar from moving any more.  Don't let the wires stick out of the concrete while it's curing - corrosion can find its way into the concrete through the corroding wires.

73 de
Gene Smar  AD3F

  
 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: "Scotty Rathjen" <scotty at ashiko.com>
> What is the best way to keep the rebar cage in the center of the hole as I
> pour the concrete?  The rebar cage is held together with wire and when it
> sits vertical in the hole on the paving stones the cage wants to sag against
> the side of the hole for support.  Can I pound a 8 inch piece of rebar into
> the dirt on the inside of the hole wall, a foot from the top, and use a
> piece of wire to hole the rebar cage up in the position I want it to be in?
> Is this a problem?  Is there a better way?
> 73 and thanks for any and all help.
> Scotty W7SW
> W7SW at ARRL dot Net
> 
> 
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