[TowerTalk] Square Hole or Round Hole for Self Supporter?

[Patrick Greenlee]

Matt, Drillers who will come out in rural south central Oklahoma aren't 
in good supply.  I searched a lot and found two.  Best deal of the two 
for a 5 ft diameter hole 8 ft deep was $2000 and I was responsible if 
they broke a tooth and I was responsible for a commercial tow rig in 
case they got stuck.

I knew they wouldn't get stuck but I have no experience re breaking 
teeth on their machine so I was a tad leery and used a local "dirt 
contractor" who charged $80 to dig my hole with a backhoe.

How does $2000 for 5 ft diameter 8 ft deep compare to your experiences? 
This was for digging through clay, sandy clay and maybe some soft sand 
rock.  Sand rock is a local name for a type of sand stone that crumbles 
by hand strength alone and digs pretty easy with backhoe.

Patrick        NJ5G

On 1/20/2018 2:54 PM, Matt Lovewell wrote:
> Drillers that can do it are all over the place... usually within a few hours of one another depending upon the population base.  The problem is that their machines generally are much more expensive than a backhoe, so it usually wouldn’t be cost effective, even if they’re located very close - unless they own a truck mounted rig and can run right over.  Usually around $450-600 per hour port to port and they have to have a second truck bring the bits and caissons if needed and depending upon the company, job, and crew, another machine to move the bits.
>
> Lots of experience with that sort of thing.  I’ve been hiring them for years.
>
> Best,
>
> Matt
> K0KB
>
>
>
>> On Jan 20, 2018, at 2:05 PM, Clay Autery <KY5G at montac.com> wrote:
>>
>> My tower actually calls for a cylindrical hole...
>> The hole should be engineered to support the load.  Mine is 4 foot diameter x 8 foot deep.
>> Depth is generally more important than area beyond footprint and decent overhang.
>> Please forward the driller info to me...  I haven't found one yet!!!
>> And as of yet, I haven't found a mchine to rent.
>>
>>
>> Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
>> -------- Original message --------From: Richard Thorne <rthorne at rthorne.net> Date: 1/20/18  13:01  (GMT-06:00) To: Towertalk <towertalk at contesting.com> Subject: [TowerTalk] Square Hole or Round Hole for Self Supporter?
>> I have an HDX-589.  I'm in the planning stages for getting the tower
>> installed.
>>
>> I ran across a driller yesterday that can drill the 10' deep hole to a
>> diameter of 7'  (87" to be exact).
>>
>> We have excellent soil here for self supporting towers, caliche. Digging
>> by hand is out and using a back hoe would probably make an over size hole.
>>
>> Is there a reason not to use a cylinder vs a square hole?
>>
>> Rich - N5ZC
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