[TowerTalk] Yet another used W51 (base/foundation) ??? de K6LPM

Fri Jun 9 20:17:26 EDT 2017

I needed a new base for my WT-51 when I first moved it from Portland to the 
OR coast. Looked at the base dwg I had, figured how much time, labor, 
material, and new swear words it would take me to build it. Ha, I may be old 
but I'm also lazy. Took the dwg up to a local fleet machine/welding shop and 
they knocked one out in a day for a little over $200. Included in the deal 
was free coffee, a couple of doughnuts and entry to a new set of friends who 
have now done a lot of custom work for me at very fair prices. And they are 
certified and highly experienced in working with SS's and marine grade al u 
min ni um (known as aloom na num to most Americans).

All I had to do was get the hold dug by some young bucks looking for beer 
money, build the wood alignment hanger, and pour concrete (from a truck of 
course).

Never looked back.

Don W7WLL

-----Original Message----- 
From: KJ6Y--- via TowerTalk
Sent: Friday, June 09, 2017 4:56 PM
To: EZRhino at fastmovers.biz ; towertalk at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Yet another used W51 (base/foundation) ??? de K6LPM

Well said Chris.
Skip, KJ6Y

In a message dated 6/9/2017 4:43:34 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time,
EZRhino at fastmovers.biz writes:

In the  amount of time it took you to type out this treatise, you could
have called  Tashjian Towers, ordered a new base, and then still had time 
left
over to walk  into the kitchen and make a nice turkey and swiss sandwich,
and consume said  nutriment.

If you're still wanting to build your own, there is a  no-weld solution
that involves anchor bolts set into the wet concrete during  the pour, and a
very large piece of 1/2" plate steel with holes drilled for  the anchor 
bolts.
Then another set of holes are drilled for very large  angle, like 3/4"
thick, where one side of the angle bolts into the base plate  and the other
side bolt to the tower.

By the time you're done trying to  bore a dozen or more 3/4" diameter holes
through steel that thick, you're  going to be wishing you had made the
phone call and eaten the sandwich  above.  Make the call, thank me later. 
:-)

Chris
KF7P

On  Jun 9, 2017, at 15:50 , southbound suarez wrote:

Seems as if there's a  huge proliferation of these towers out there. I'd
dare say probably record  production compared to any other Ham/private
consumer tower if you exclude the  25G series.
That said,
Does anyone have any plans or instructions or  essentially a how to recipe
for fabricating or securing this old Tri-Ex  crankup tower to a foundation?
Ideally some specifications for specific  material type selections
(metallurgy) , size/thickness and retail sources for  these materials? 
Welding
requirement as well as what design considerations or  possible critical 
failures
that a DYI guy should be aware of?
I am well  aware of and respect the fact that this is indeed a critical
application and  that there exists some major risks including major
liabilities. The  possibilities of a catastrophic failure places strong 
risks in the
form of  severe property damage,; great bodily injury and possible death.
I believe  in good conscious that I have a healthy respect of these facts.
While I am a  very handy person with good mechanical apptitude and
experience in  construction trades, I know enough that I am far from a 
proper
mechanical  engineer. I have much to learn of actual loads , stresses and 
best
practices.... Experience and hardknocks does have some merit similiarly does
common sense (usually an oxymoron) especially judgement or  understanding.
Obviously, "Rocket Science" can be applied to anything and  make for great
efficiency, betterment and overall greater safety.  (So  much better the hit
over miss ratio)
I CAN APPRECIATE THE NUMBERS BEING  CRUNCHED! BUT.....
When you look at the designed base of what this tower  was shipped when
purchased brand new and even the same with what is being  provided by
manufacturer today? Engineering practices and formulations set  aside... The 
Base
appears as if it is just three 2" wide by 12" long 3/8" mild  steel plates. 
The
plates tab welded with full bead along there length to about  a 24" length
of rebar. Each plate/rebar upright are then  welded to a  triangular formed
rebar horizontal member. This is then conventionally   tie wrapped to the
structual rebar concrete reinforcement... Doesnt seem so  exotic or rocket
science to me???
I do understand that there might be some  subtle but important things not
so obvious. I consider that there exsists  certain forms of weldable rebar
and that heat will anneal steel. Especially  mild ductile steel plates.
Certain critical welds must adhere to specific  standards...

I fully respect the reasoning for good uniform codes and  standards. I
understand about professional peer review and adoption of  professional
standards.....

Maybe to everyones benefit we can get a  good and educational discussion
going on here. Maybe there's some esteemed  slide ruler type that could give
the class a presentation on some of the basic  physics and caculations. For
those industrial insiders that govern over the  art and practices, how about
a quick review of the most pertinent and  applicable sections of the
numerous plethora of codes and overlapping  professional disciplines in 
which
contribute to the structure of radio  amatuers affection.  AND..........
Selfishly and ultimately educate me  on how to best
construct/obtain/procure the basis (or bases) <pun> for  constructing my own 
foundation to bolt my
second hand W-51 tower into an  upright position that is useful (safe) and
reliable all on my own.....
MY  SPECIFICS ....
This will be a non-inspected install with at least 100ft  setback in all
directions. No structures or pathways in peril .... simply a  private 
install
on private land with minimal intrusion by local governing  officials...
None the less,  I do wish to meet or exceed proper  building standards.

Thanks for reading my lengthy and intial posting as  a new member of your
excellent and esoteric community.

73,
Brian  K6LPM

Brian
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