[TowerTalk] Advice on Old TV Antenna Tower

[Keith Dutson]

All depends on amount of rust/corrosion inside tower legs and condition of
guy wires and anchors, if any.  If you discover any rust inside the legs, do
not trust the structure with your life.  I would remove a leg bolt to have a
look.

If you want to remove the tower, use a cutting torch at the base so that it
falls where it will do no damage, sort of like cutting a tree near the
house.  Or, rent a lift bucket and pull it down.

73, Keith NM5G

-----Original Message-----
From: TowerTalk [mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Cox,
Norman R.
Sent: Friday, June 30, 2017 2:41 PM
To: towertalk at contesting.com
Subject: [TowerTalk] Advice on Old TV Antenna Tower

     There is an old 55 ft (Delphi) TV antenna tower at the end of my house.
The antennas have blown apart in the wind and we haven't used them in years.


      Not wanting to waste a tower already up, I wanted to climb the tower,
take down the old TV antennas, and mount a light-weight VHF/UHF antenna.  I
got up to the 45 ft level, but decided to come down.  As I would take a step
upward, I could see the top of the self-supporting tower begin leaning and
wagging around.  There is some rust on the galvanized steel at the top of
the tower, but I think it's just surface rust.


Question:  Have you ever known of these things buckling and bending over
with a climber?  Or am I overreacting?  With the climbing/safety gear on, I
am at 200 lbs.  I have seen a repairman go up this tower 20 years ago.  I'm
wondering if the bending and bowing around is normal and I am overreacting.


Thanks,

Norm

KE0ZT

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