[TowerTalk] [Bulk] Re: New To ME US Towers HDX-555- advice needed

[Patrick Greenlee]

Being careful with the galvanize coating is a good thing.  Drilling can 
cut through it. Tapered tool is better/safer. If you do have an oops 
then "Cold Galvanize" in a spray can is a very good idea, not as good as 
hot dip but way better than nothing or most regular paints.  Look at the 
zinc content listed on the can.  More is better.

Good luck to everyone maintaining the galvanize as an intact coating 
extends the metal life indefinitely.

Patrick   NJ5G

On 4/24/2015 2:31 PM, Ed Williams wrote:
> Hi all
>
> The hot dipping might fill the holes, but if you use a bit two sized under
> the original hole and then use a taper pin the galvanizing should still be
> intact.
>
> 73, de KN4KL ed
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: TowerTalk [mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Roger
> (K8RI) on TT
> Sent: Friday, April 24, 2015 3:10 PM
> To: towertalk at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] [Bulk] Re: New To ME US Towers HDX-555- advice
> needed
>
> One suggestion:
>
> ROHN says to us a taper pin punch to open up the galvanizing and not to
> drill it out.  The punch will leave the galvanizing in tact where drilling
> removes it and exposes the edges of the hole to corrosion.
>
> I doubt it would cause a problem, but that's a personal opinion, where ROHN
> is the official stance.
>
> It does seem a shame after all that work and money to hot dip galvanize and
> then remove some to expose the steel.
>
> 73
>
> Roger (K8RI)
>
>
>
> On 4/24/2015 11:29 AM, Grant Saviers wrote:
>> Another option is to regalvanize each section.  Hot dip galvanizing
>> here cost me $0.55/lb for 10 x 20' sections of Rohn 65. About $1500
>> for 20+ years of no maintenance life, good as new, at less than 10% of
>> new section cost.  The prep process requires all paint to be removed
>> (none on my former AM tower sections).  The caustic degrease handles
>> most organic contamination, then there is an acid bath which removes
>> light rust and the old Zn, then fluxing and into the vat of molten
>> zinc.  Rohn designs for HDG so both the id and od get new Zn,
>> something you can't do with paint.  Turn around at a very busy Ace
>> Galvanizing in Seattle was 2 weeks.  Plan to ream some holes that may
>> have excess Zn in them.  ebay usually has some cheap bridge reamers
>> (ironworker "bridge", not guitar "bridge") or core drills which in the
>> right sizes are perfect for this task, or very carefully use a two
>> flute twist drill bit as the soft Zn will grab.
>>
>> Grant KZ1W
>>
>> On 4/23/2015 18:42 PM, Mike Reublin NF4L wrote:
>>> Mike -
>>>
>>> If you pull the axle for the pulley, and remove the sheave, you can
>>> push a U-loop of the cable thru the housing and then put the sheave
>>> back in.
>>>
>>> 74, Mike NF4L
>>>
>>>> On Apr 23, 2015, at 9:27 PM, Mike Ashby <seabassm01 at hotmail.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Sam;
>>>> I to am in the process of doing the same thing.  All of the sheaves
>>>> were sluggish and I did not know the history of the cables.  Went to
>>>> Kaman bearing and bought sealed heavy duty bearings and had a
>>>> machine shop bore and press the new bearings into the old sheaves.
>>>> Much less expensive than new purchase from U.S. Towers.  Went to a
>>>> rigging supplier and purchased new cables.  I purchased heavy duty
>>>> cable clamps for the end terminations.  The rigging company could
>>>> have done the swagging cheaper but the ends would not fit through
>>>> the sheave housings.  Took the tower to a welding shop and had them
>>>> grind and weld 2 or 3 spots that had some small hairline cracks.  I
>>>> then went over the entire tower and put 2 coats of cold galvanizing
>>>> on questionable spots.  3 coats on the thrust bearing shelf and
>>>> rotor shelf.  Wire brushed thrust bearing and painted. Squeezed
>>>> bearing grease into bearing until old was replaced with new.  Bought
>>>> 2 collar stops to bolt to mast and rest on top of t
>> he thrust bearing.  Going to purchase a funnel to slide down the mast
>> and cover the thrust bearing for water protection.  Have also
>> considered a vent pipe flashing instead of funnel.
>>>> I consider this as a good investment into peace of mind.
>>>> Mike
>>>> W7PIM
>>>>
>>>>
>> snip
>>
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>