[TowerTalk] Mixing concrete for a base

Fri Mar 12 22:55:33 PST 2010

Google "Tremie method"...  It is common to pour concrete underwater via a 
tremie chute for a variety of projects in water.  The key is to keep the 
concrete undisturbed while pouring so the water-cement ratio of the mix 
remains as designed.  Water curing is good.

73, Pat K7KR

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Don Snider" <dsnider at rhrs.com>
To: "'Tower and HF antenna construction topics.'" <towertalk at contesting.com>
Sent: Friday, March 12, 2010 20:06
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Mixing concrete for a base

> 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
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>>
>>
>>
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