[TowerTalk] HG52SS base

[K7LXC at aol.com]

In a message dated 8/19/2009 4:23:43 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,  
towertalk-request at contesting.com writes:

>  Ive used dirt bases at all of my locations since 1961  with nary a 
problem. They are usually go about 5' down to the crushed rock  .  The 
last couple I fabricated out of 3/4" steel rod and 1/8" Steel  strap, 2" 
wide. I gave it a good two coats of paint and planted it.   Yes it's 
heavy but didn't cost much and has proven very  effective.

>  The dirt base only serves two real functions; The  first to keep the 
base 
of the tower from moving sideways and the second is  to keep it from 
sinking into the ground.  Setting it on crushed rock  helps here.  
However to work well the soil needs to be firm and not  acetic.  A hole 
in damp sand with a half a foot of crushed rock will  support a lot of 
weight.  Pea gravel is not as  effective.

I think we're talking apples and  oranges here. The original poster wants 
to install a free-standing crank-up  and I'm surmising that you are referring 
to guyed towers. Putting a  self-supporter in dirt alone is a recipe for 
disaster. And, as always, follow  the LXC Prime Directive to "DO what the 
manufacturer says."


Cheers,
Steve    K7LXC
TOWER TECH