[TowerTalk] Wood constructed tower

Roger (K8RI) K8RI-on-TowerTalk at tm.net
Thu Apr 30 21:45:51 PDT 2009



Roger (K8RI) wrote:
> k2vi wrote:
>   
>> Would there be a way to construct a 40' wood tower, The base being 10'x10'square and the top at 5'x5' square. Probably 4x4 posts bolted together. A ladder made to climb up to the top. Sort of like a WW2 lookout tower. All pressure treated. I would love this because I can then bolt a 5' roof tower on top and maintain the antenna, feedline and rotor whenever I want with no help. As I get older i would still be able to maintain the antenna and not have to rely on others. Has anyone had if inducted this idea. Would be interested to know.
>>   
>>     
> Building a 40' wood tower is a relatively simple design that allows for 
> a lot of variation.
> Now days there are some problems such as finding *GOOD* pressure treated 
> lumber. I've been using pressure treated 10 and 16' 4 X 4s for other 
> applications and they've not stood up well. That speaks more for the 
> quality of the specific wood and not 4 X 4s in general. I couldn't find 
> any 20' 4 X 4s.  You'd probably have to go to a regular lumber yard 
> rather than any of the big box stores, tell them what you want, that it 
> will have to remain structurally sound for humans on top for at least a 
> couple of decades.
>
> Good quality 4 X 4's are heavy.  By using through bolts and a 3 to 5' 
> overlap they are strong. Another method of reinforcement of the 
> joints/overlap is with 1.4" steel straps/yokes  I haven't priced any 
>   
Ahhh... That was supposed to be 1/4" strap, not 1.4". Now that would be 
a hefty reinforcement by itself. <:-))

73

Roger (K8RI)
> recently but I'd guess a 40' self supporting wood tower of the required 
> strength and quality might be a bit more pricey than a 40' 25G, but one 
> whale of a lot easier to climb with a ladder built in.
>
> I'd also use 4 X 4s for the horizontal cross braces, but probably 
> pressure treated 2 X 6s for the diagonal braces.
>
> Then don't depend on just the pressure treatment.  Give it a good coat 
> of antifungal primer followed by at least one if not two coats of finish 
> paint.
>
> 73
>
> Roger (K8RI)
>   
>> tony k2vi
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