[TowerTalk] Tower Legs in Concrete

[Eddy Swynar]

Hi Again Roger,

On second reading of your note, what you say makes sense to me now---but in order to benefit from such a scenario, one would have to bury in concrete a complete 8' tower section...and since the sections are tapered, one would lose that much height in doing so.

~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ


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On 2011-07-06, at 11:13 AM, Eddy Swynar wrote:

> Hi Roger,
> 
> Read the line you just saved again---there are no cross braces at the base extensions...!    : >)
> 
> ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ
> 
> 
> **************************************************************************************************************
> 
> 
> On 2011-07-06, at 8:50 AM, K8RI on TT wrote:
> 
>> On 7/6/2011 7:16 AM, Eddy Swynar wrote:
>>> Hi Chas,
>>> 
>>> The Delhi-brand tower sections---including the base extensions that are placed inside the concrete base---have bolt holes at each end for attaching to the next section(s)...the extensions are essentially the "legs" of the tower sections minus the cross-braces.
>> 
>> I would think the cross braces between the legs would be far more 
>> efficient making the bolts redundant
>> 
>> 73
>> 
>> Roger (K8RI)
>>> The manufacturer recommends inserting long bolts through the bottom holes of each extension (again, the parts that are imbedded within concrete) to ensure (I guess) a firmer "bond" within the concrete after it has set, afforded by the fact that these bolts protrude 90-degrees from the plane of each extension...
>>> 
>>> Sorta like the barb on the business end of a fish hook...
>>> 
>>> ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ
>>> 
>>> 
>>> ************************************************************************************************************************
>>> 
>>> 
>>> On 2011-07-05, at 11:46 PM, chas wrote:
>>> 
>>>> On 6/29/11 8:35 AM, Eddy Swynar wrote:
>>>>> Hi Mike,
>>>>> 
>>>>> The DELHI-brand self-supporting tower instructions here do not
>>>>> specifically reference the necessity of coating the in-cement leg
>>>>> extensions with ANYTHING...
>>>>> 
>>>>> They DO, however, explicitly state that you must install long bolts
>>>>> through holes in the extensions at the bottom, to ensure that the things
>>>>> won't somehow extricate themselves from the concrete.
>>>>> 
>>>>> ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ
>>>> Eddy...
>>>> 
>>>> ok, can you say that again?  my understanding is that he is taking a 10'
>>>> section of 45 and putting 5' of that into a hole and then filling it with
>>>> concrete.
>>>> Same thing I did with a 25G.  Btw,  I do suggest that room be left for
>>>> drainage of water - 1. put a 6" layer of large aggregate in the bottom of the
>>>> hole and that allows condensate, etc to drain out of the vertical tubes and
>>>> into the aggregate 2. also drill a couple of 1/4" holes in each leg about 2"
>>>> above the MOUNDED concrete top (to encourage rain runoff) to allow water to
>>>> drain out of each tube.  also, DO get a gallon of roofing cement (tar
>>>> asphalt) and paint the tower section from one foot below the top, MOUNDED
>>>> surface to one foot ABOVE the top surface of this mounded concrete.  DO pour
>>>> enough to get the top of the concrete above the level of the ground - use a
>>>> form tube set about 6" down into the ground and extending between 6" and 8"
>>>> above the ground level.  iow, get a 1 foot long piece of 3' diam concrete
>>>> form tube used for sign or highway columns.  In fact, I have formed a
>>>> relationship with a couple of sign companies and have them do odd jobs like
>>>> drilling the 3' diam hole and I have them do plate welding, winch/crane work,
>>>> buy the cardboard concrete form tube.   Remember, mound the top of the pour
>>>> about 3 - 4" above the top edge of that form tube.  Do NOT allow any chance
>>>> of dirt to cover the top of that concrete foundation.
>>>> 
>>>> some of the above is from about 4 yrs of being a sign inspector, more is
>>>> plain old common sense. btw, about the asphalt, our swamp coolers at home
>>>> never rusted out... most did within 2 yrs.  tried pricing one of those
>>>> lately?<G>
>>>> 
>>>> good luck
>>>> chas, k5dam
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> Chas
>>>> -- 
>>>> A: Because it messes up the order in which people normally read text.<B>
>>>> Q: Why is top-posting such a bad thing?<B>
>>>> A: Top-posting.<b>
>>>> Q: What is the most annoying thing in e-mail?<B>
>>>> 
>>>> .
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