[TowerTalk] Tower identity

[Al Kozakiewicz]

-----Original Message-----
From: towertalk-bounces at contesting.com [mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Larry WA9VRH
Sent: Sunday, December 18, 2011 7:33 PM
To: towertalk at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Tower identity

>HI Rob and all,

>FYI the Rohn HBX towers are assembled with aluminum rivets.  If you have one regalvanized the rivets will melt and you will have a bunch of loose pieces.  (so I am told)

Maybe.  Zinc melts at about 787F and hot dip galvanizing baths are around 850F. Aluminum melts at 1200F, though I am sure that if the rivets are heat treated it's possible they would lose some strength properties at galvanizing temperatures.

I don't know about the HBX, but most Rohn tower sections aren't so expensive that regalvanizing, IMO, makes much economic sense even if you value your time at nothing.  I certainly wouldn't hot dip anything that's assembled with fasteners (no matter what the material) without removing them first and replacing them after.

Put another way, if the structure pieces are so badly worn as to require regalvanizing, should't they be replaced?

Al
AB2ZY