[TowerTalk] Tower base

[Gedas]

Very interesting.....I would not have thought the Sulfur would be that hard. 
Would you use the Sulfur over Epoxy ?
Gedas, W8BYA

Gallery at http://w8bya.com
Light travels faster than sound....
This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ray, W4BYG" <w4byg at att.net>
To: <towertalk at contesting.com>
Sent: Saturday, January 04, 2014 11:47 AM
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Tower base


> When drilling into concrete or stone for mounting bolts, I many years ago
> learned a neat trick from an old time machinist, Grover Shank.  He advised
> me concrete injected around bolts or hardware store expansion devices will
> vibrate and eventually come loose.
>
> He suggested the way they would anchor bolts into concrete for heavy
> equipments, was to drill the holes larger and deeper than needed for the
> bolts.  Then buy a bag or two of powdered sulfur (purchased at a local 
> Drug
> store, inexpensive) and melt it in a melting pot, with a butane torch. 
> Set
> the bolts in place and temporarily wire them to stay in position.  Then 
> pour
> the melted sulfur into the holes.  Let it cool.
>
> The logic is there are only two natural substances that will expand when
> cooled, water and sulfur.  The sulfur expanded and locked the bolts in 
> place
> securely for years.
>
> I did this for a 72' tower carrying a 2 element 40 meter beam on top and a 
> 5
> element tribander below, while living in Atlanta.  Years later the tower 
> has
> was moved to another city, but I'm pretty sure the 2 bolt guy brackets 
> which
> were attached to granite rock at the surface, are still there.  The bolts
> showed no sign of loosening or cracking.
>
> Since then, I understand hydraulic concrete in tubes has become available.
> I have seen it used for metal fence rails and have noticed cracks in the
> holes after just a short time.  Therefore I wouldn't put much trust in it
> for tower foundations.
>
> But my experience with the sulfur even though it stank pretty bad while
> being melted, worked so well I would use it again today "in a heartbeat" 
> for
> similar applications.
> 73,
> Ray, W4BYG
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> TowerTalk mailing list
> TowerTalk at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk