[TowerTalk] Mixing concrete for a base

[Mike]

Fence post concrete is a low quality mix, I would not use it, I would use a
5 bag mix. All concrete will cure in water eventually, too much water will
make a weak mix though.

I would pump the water out, a little would not hurt and could be allowed for
in the mix.

Mike 

-----Original Message-----


How about the quick-dry concrete used for fence posts? Can this be used for
towers? My hamshack is on Chincoteague island with a water table about 18
inches down. Most people use the quick dry concrete for general projects
because it will dry in the water but is it strong enough for an antenna
base? The only other option may be to put well taps in and pump the water
our while the concrete drys.

Thoughts?

Don
N3MK

-----Original Message-----
From: towertalk-bounces at contesting.com
[mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Mike
Sent: Thursday, March 11, 2010 11:18 PM
To: 'Tower and HF antenna construction topics.'
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Mixing concrete for a base

Most cement/concrete guys are in terrible shape at the moment, they will be
happy to deliver minimum 3 yards.  They will make delivery charge, so try
and pick a company close to you. Concrete pump people do not charge
transport here anyway.

Telephone a few different companies and tell each one that you have phoned
around for quotes and you may be surprised what they will do.

Even in California here I had 3 yards delivered and I had a concrete pump
guy to pump the concrete into the hole.  The cost was around $900.00 total
for pump, Concrete and delivery.  I can tell you the pump guy earned his 260
bucks with 30 minutes preparation and 30 minutes clean up time plus 15
minutes to pump the concrete 50 yards. If you do use a concrete pump you
have to let the concrete people know so that they can use smaller round
stones. 

Usually if you have the concrete delivered they will wait about an hour or
less (ask them for their waiting time) while you wheelbarrow it to the hole
and charge waiting time which is expensive after that time.  For some reason
if you use a concrete pump they will stick around for as long as it takes
with no extra charge, maybe it is because the concrete delivery guy does not
have to do much work when you pump concrete.  With wheelbarrows he has to
keep opening and shutting the valve for an hour.

If you have concrete left over use it to make something like concrete
weights. Put it in plastic buckets that pool tablets come in and make a "U
shape" out of left over re-bar to make a hook and put into the center of the
concrete filled bucket.  When it is "set", a couple of them make a great
cheap counter weight for a tilt over tower like a LM-470.

Mike, K6BR



-----Original Message-----

There is such a thing as a false economy - but I think
it would be difficult to finish 2.5 yards by hand, in a
timely manner.  Such a pour should be done in one shot,
that is going to be tough.

If you have any value on your time, adding the cost of
materials, etc, you quickly cost more than the price of
redi-mix.

Although some places have a 5 yard minimum, most of
those will deliver 2.5 yards, with a extra delivery charge.  Most
of the places I have bought concrete in the past 6 months,
NY, PA, OH, MO, and OK, have been right around 75 bucks
a yard, plus a delivery charge for under 4-6 yards.

Cheaper to call them for me!


Don't take your organs to heaven,
heaven knows we need them down here!
Be an organ donor, sign your donor card today.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ed Swiderski, KU4BP" <ku4bp at triad.rr.com>
To: "'Tower and HF antenna construction topics.'" <towertalk at contesting.com>
Sent: Thursday, March 11, 2010 6:38 PM
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Mixing concrete for a base


>
> No, don't like pain. Just trying to it right with the least amount of 
> money.
>
> Ed
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: towertalk-bounces at contesting.com
> [mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Blake Bowers
> Sent: Thursday, March 11, 2010 7:17 PM
> To: Tower and HF antenna construction topics.
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Mixing concrete for a base
>
> 6 bags of cement, 8 cubic feet of sand, and 20 cubic feet of gravel makes 
> on
> square yard of concrete - using the 1, 2, 3 measuring.
>
> It also makes for a terrible day.
>
> Do you just like pain?  I cannot imagine mixing 2.5 yards, I would use the
> local redi mix plant.
>
>
> Don't take your organs to heaven,
> heaven knows we need them down here!
> Be an organ donor, sign your donor card today.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Ed Swiderski, KU4BP" <ku4bp at triad.rr.com>
> To: "Tower Talk" <towertalk at contesting.com>
> Sent: Thursday, March 11, 2010 5:57 PM
> Subject: [TowerTalk] Mixing concrete for a base
>
>
>>
>> All,
>>
>> I'm considering mixing my own concrete for my installation. Been trying 
>> to
>> get a grasp on how much cement, gravel and sand to get. My proposed base
>> is
>> for 70ft of 25G. Total, with the anchors, is 2.2 cu yds. Call it 2.5 
>> since
>
>> I
>> plan to "bell" the base.
>>
>> I was pricing the ingredients today but got a little confused on the
>> amount
>> of each needed. I looked at 94 lb bags of cement and 50 lb bags for both
>> the
>> sand and gravel. The problem I had was determining how much in cu yds a
>> bag
>> would cover. I have seen that a 50 lb bag of sand covers .5 cu yd.
>>
>> So what I'm looking for is a formula of some sort so I can figure out how
>> much I will need of each. I've heard of the "1-2-3 rule" but not 100% 
>> sure
>> I'm using it correctly.
>>
>>
>> Ed KU4BP
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> TowerTalk mailing list
>> TowerTalk at contesting.com
>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
>
> _______________________________________________
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> TowerTalk mailing list
> TowerTalk at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
>
>
> _______________________________________________
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> TowerTalk mailing list
> TowerTalk at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk 

_______________________________________________



_______________________________________________
TowerTalk mailing list
TowerTalk at contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com 
Version: 8.5.436 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2736 - Release Date: 03/11/10
07:33:00

_______________________________________________



_______________________________________________
TowerTalk mailing list
TowerTalk at contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk

_______________________________________________



_______________________________________________
TowerTalk mailing list
TowerTalk at contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com 
Version: 8.5.436 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2739 - Release Date: 03/12/10
09:42:00