[TowerTalk] Digging the Hole

[W5CPT]

Check out Sign Companies and the larger Electrical Contractors in the area.  They can have (or have access to) large truck mounted augers.  They set poles for the really tall signs for Gas Stations that you can see from the Interstate.  My local electrician has a 24" auger that drilled my Rohn 25G tower base for $70.  It took him longer to maneuver the truck around in the yard than it did to go 5 feet.  Less then 15 minutes start to finish and worth every penny.  I realize a 40 inch auger might be hard to find but it worth a few calls.

As far as the round vs. square hole, my Rohn catalog (circa 1984) says either is acceptable.  I would check with my tower manufacturer to see if your particular base could be approved with a round hole.

Clint - W5CPT

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Bill Gaines AD8P 
  To: towertalk at contesting.com 
  Sent: Wednesday, August 27, 2008 3:38 PM
  Subject: [TowerTalk] Digging the Hole


  Some many months ago I either asked on this reflector or read on it about the particular piece of equipment some of you have used to dig a 3-1/2X 3-1/2X 7-1/2 deep hole for an LM-370 tower. I am at the point I can actually get it going but am having trouble getting the right excavating company with the right equipment. So, I really hate to beat a dead horse on this subject, but outside of "day laborers" which I may end up using anyway, what is the best way to dig this hole so the remaining soil around it is undisturbed? Who has a picture of the actual machine they used? I have seen it before but don't remember where.

  Thanks everyone for the indulgence.
   
  Bill AD8P ad8p at wcoil dot com
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