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Al and all,
Agreed drilling a hole in the base at the high
stress point is not the best idea.... But, you must remember that a
tower will remain there for many years. I have tried the porous pea gravel
method and after a few years the porous effect gets clogged up like the fuel
filter on an automobile. Bad part of it you have no
knowledge the clogging process is happening until the next
freeze, then its too late. Now you have a major crack at the worst possible
place. It makes me very nervous to drill anything like that at that location.
Maybe a 1/16 hole would be more appropriate. On a TRI (120 deg) legged
tubular tower I drilled the holes on the inside of each leg. I have
never had a tower come down either in my 50 years of tower installs. Years ago I
drove to Toledo, On arriving and upon exiting my car in a heavy wind storm
I observed a 40 foot tower with a honker TV antenna going horizontal. That was
impressive. Concrete was at grass level instead of at the bottom of the
hole where it should have been.
Building codes and township variances. Get one if
you require one. Don't sneak it up because your present neighbors say
they don't care what you do. 20 years down the road your nice neighbor will move
or die, or whatever. The new home owner may have a totally different opinion of
your tower. I was talked into obtaining a building variance for my tower by an
old ham friend. Glad I did. Because years later the woods turned into houses and
the Civic Association presented a petition to the township about
my 'ugly' tower. They were told to leave me alone, its long time
ago approved and accepted. I
f you need engineering help get it. Find a
state licensed PE or someone who is qualified. Do your homework. NEVER
trust a weld and remember tubular towers rust from the inside out. Remember that
when you climb an old tower.
Gary K2UQ
YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS
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