[TowerTalk] Temporary guys ???

[jimlux]

On 2/10/16 7:24 AM, Douglas Ruz (CO8DM) wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I just started installing the tower...it is Rohn 25G clone.
>
> I have a buried base...about 3 ft deep in concrete 2 x 2 ft.
>
> I add the 2nd section and i add temporary guy ropes. I am using Paracord 550 ropes...single paracord ropes is 4mm diameter and handle up to 550 pounds, it strech a little, so i used 3 ropes per guy (12mm diameter and more pounds to handle)...3 + 3 + 3...
>
> Do you think it is OK to climb and add the 3rd section with permanent guys?
>
> A gin pole is not available, so we are TWO hams climbing the tower.
>
> Thoughts ??
>

There's no "official" way to know.

It's really about whether YOU feel safe. You're only up 20 feet. 
(granted, a fall from 20 feet can kill you).  I'd not feel too nervous, 
but I'm not you, and my risk tolerance isn't yours. Just like when rock 
climbing, I'd want to look at it, shake it, and see how it feels.

I'd feel more safe on a 20-30 foot high stack of Rohn25 with rope guys 
than I would, for instance, on a 30 foot extension ladder leaning 
against the side of my house, particularly if I were horsing around a 50 
pound tower section.

Is it unequivocably safe? Can you and your partner up there swing back 
and forth to get it really swaying without a failure? Probably not..

20 feet is also close enough to the ground that if things seem a bit 
wobbly when you get up there, you can quickly downclimb.

Compared to being 100 feet up, that's a huge difference.


If you've got a step ladder as a fulcrum, have you considered just 
stacking your 3 sections on the ground (horizontally) and then tipping 
them up, then mating with the section sticking out of the ground?  Yeah, 
30 feet and 150 lbs of tower is a bit unwieldy but it might actually be 
easier.