[TowerTalk] Tri-Ex W-51 Vs. Tashjian WT-51 specs?!

Chris Merchant KA1LMR ka1lmr at yahoo.com
Tue Oct 18 20:16:41 PDT 2011


I have seen reviews with these towers lumped together but after some research  after I bought a used W-51 and was told to use instructions and specs on the current production of the WT-51. 
 
Well I talked on the phone to someone at the company voicing  some concerns after finding a picture of this tower  bent in half google WT- 51 tower under images this was K8MN tower.  the guy at the company was shocked to see there bent over tower.  
then the distinction  this was the older  Tower. 
 
So, I asked for the specs on the older version of the tower  to see if it was the same . He could find no specs for me  Just some diagrams parts list dating back 2nd 1972 I didn't realize the towers dated back that far.
 
I confirmed one major difference the top section on the new towers are 1" with 1/8 wall but the older W - 51 has only  a 16th wall! 
 
If anyone has some Specs on the old tower  please pass it along the new tower  specs says 14 sq ft  at 85 mph winds.  But the tech on the phone  is saying with top section being 1/2  the wall thickness of the new  would  cut the  the wind sq ft rating down to only 5-6 sq ft!  so before you put up a large HF beams  and few vhf boomers if you have the older W 51 , I don't think 1970's specifications have it rated at 14 sq ft @ 85 mph wind as the ones are?
 
So I will be guying my "free standing"  W - 51 at the top and middle sections and a large frame bracket to the house at the 20 Ft level , 2.5 x 2.5  x  5 Ft concrete foundation  with re-bar cage  and pray it does not come down.
I plan to have  3 ele steppir with addon 8 sq ft total and 10 ft  steel mast with antenna at the top  with 3 feet of mast in the tower plus the rotator.  thoughts on whether this will be adequate and  specs on the older tower will be appreciated.


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