I have been given a 50 ft Rohn tower (galvanized).

Problem is, I have to get it down. and I have a couple questions.

Weight of each section?

estimate of a resonable charge to have someone do it for me? I don't
like climbing

Is it worth paying 160 bucks to rent a 50 ft cherry picker to do it?


Thanks

Jonathan
KB8PFA

"yoyo" wrote
I have been given a 50 ft Rohn tower (galvanized).

Problem is, I have to get it down. and I have a couple questions.

Weight of each section?

estimate of a resonable charge to have someone do it for me? I don't
like climbing

Is it worth paying 160 bucks to rent a 50 ft cherry picker to do it?


Thanks

Jonathan
KB8PFA

Hi Jonathon, a lengthy discussion ensued on this group months ago, regarding
the failure of a home-made gin pole and near disaster avoided by some very
capable Parisians. Theirry's LUXORION website has outstanding information
about all aspects of the hobby, including tower erection. But he adapted
this post of mine regarding the mindset of amateurs to be jack-of-all
tradesman (even I don't claim that ;-) The full topic and article can be
found at:

http://www.astrosurf.com/lombry/qsl-tower-assembly6.htm

It reads in part (Thanks, Thierry, for your outstanding work):

Jack
--

Take care assembling an antenna system

If you are not confident and used to erect antenna towers, do not entrust
the job to close friends or so-called skilled radio amateurs... Your life
and the one of your friends is more important that sparing a few money in
doing the job yourself without competences.

Here is the comments of Jack, an ironworker in this regard : "there are some
places and some jobs where if you make a mistake, people, either yourself or
others or both, will be killed. Amateur Radio is not defined as one of these
occupations, and no amateur has any business working aloft with rigging and
equipment unless he was properly trained in that field. That certainly
doesn't stop many from doing it, but it doesn't make it safer because they
survive it. The skills sets that seem to congregate in radio are amazing for
sure, and the field-expediant thinking and can-do attitudes are good for all
involved in the hobby.

But there are some things better left to professionals. Anyone who doesn't
think a lot of Ironworkers die doing what they do better than anyone else
could, is just delusional. The bravado I've witnessed from so called
antenna-tower experts far outweighs their knowledge of safety, strength of
materials, rigging principles, or safe working aloft. Even the better ones
at it are not properly qualified to train others, and so often enlist any
brave soul they can find as riggers, connectors, ground support, etc

When a low quality gin pole breaks...[ picture ]

Radio amateurs are not riggers! You are old men who have no business up in
the air. You belong ON THE AIR, not in it ;-) Paste those pictures of your
rigging days upon the club walls and stop your friends from believing they
can think these jobs out. They can't erect an antenna tower in certifying at
100% that they will never incur the least risk. One or another day you will
have to discover a new principle, strength/weakeness, fault, improper
manufacturing or material failure, improper tools, breakage of tools,
physical exhaustion of a team member at a critical time, unexpected wind
condition, improper response to a command or order at a winch, line, etc.
And each time those things happen, your fingers, hands, feet and possibly
life will be at risk. It comes with the understanding that all injuries
happen between 0-10 meters (0-40 ft). After that, you're either dead, or
wish death would release you from the disfiguring and crippling pain.You
better get used to the fact that you can and will have injuries so bad from
a 2-10 meter fall into or around steel that you will never be the same
again, if you live.

All the blind leading the blind. I happen to know better than to work with
untrained people at the effort of erecting antenna towers. I knew better
when I erected steel as a professional and I still know better 20 years
later. But some people's purpose in life is to serve as a warning to others.
Don't let one of your friend's falling to his death make your club that
purpose. Hire a professional company and take pictures from a safe
distance."

Jack, Journeyman Ironworker.

Regularly ham magazines highlight similar accidents, sometimes involving a
crane and a truck... So think twice to the risk you incur is doing such a
job alone or with friends but without know-how.

"yoyo" wrote in message
.. .
I have been given a 50 ft Rohn tower (galvanized).

Problem is, I have to get it down. and I have a couple questions.

Weight of each section?

depends on the type, anywhere from #25 to #75 for common ham sizes.


estimate of a resonable charge to have someone do it for me? I don't
like climbing


depends on condition, how much room there is to work and what is on it for
antennas if anything. i could drop it for $20 if you didn't care about the
condition, or you could pay a pro $1000 to remove it from a tight yard with
antennas on top.

Is it worth paying 160 bucks to rent a 50 ft cherry picker to do it?


yes, if it comes with a qualified operator who knows how to handle a tower.
no, if its a drive it yourself and learn on the job rig.

my best suggestion is to ask hams locally who really knows how to do it
right and who has the right equipment.

I have been given a 50 ft Rohn tower (galvanized).

Problem is, I have to get it down. and I have a couple questions.

Weight of each section?

estimate of a resonable charge to have someone do it for me? I don't
like climbing

Is it worth paying 160 bucks to rent a 50 ft cherry picker to do it?

The catalog lists the 25G (most common type for hams) at 26 pounds per
section. Look here for some info on the towers and what Rohn recommends as
to putting one up.

http://www.rohnnet.com/ROHNNET/rohnn...004/index.html

Think I payed about $ 40 per section for some good looking ones that were on
the ground. Make sure there is a way to jack the sections apart and the
bolts may be rusted , especially if the Rohn bolts were not used.

yoyo wrote in message ...
I have been given a 50 ft Rohn tower (galvanized).

Problem is, I have to get it down. and I have a couple questions.

Weight of each section?

Depends on which type Rohn tower sections are used. Hams generally use
25G or 45G and occasionally 55G.

http://www.rohnnet.com/ROHNNET/rohnn...004/index.html

http://www.antennasystems.com/towers.html#ROHN%2025G

estimate of a resonable charge to have someone do it for me?

$50/hr. for a semi-pro (part-timer) with a gin pole, the tools and the
experience to do it right safely.

I don't
like climbing

Neither does anybody else!

Is it worth paying 160 bucks to rent a 50 ft cherry picker to do it?

I wouldn't want to take a tower apart from a bucket, it would be very
awkward at best and possibly dangerous.

If I were in your position I'd get in touch with a ham in your area
who knows his way around towers and get him involved.

Thanks

Jonathan
KB8PFA

w3rv

Brian Kelly wrote:
yoyo wrote in message ...

I have been given a 50 ft Rohn tower (galvanized).

Problem is, I have to get it down. and I have a couple questions.

Weight of each section?


Depends on which type Rohn tower sections are used. Hams generally use
25G or 45G and occasionally 55G.

http://www.rohnnet.com/ROHNNET/rohnn...004/index.html

http://www.antennasystems.com/towers.html#ROHN%2025G


estimate of a resonable charge to have someone do it for me?


$50/hr. for a semi-pro (part-timer) with a gin pole, the tools and the
experience to do it right safely.


I don't
like climbing


Neither does anybody else!


Is it worth paying 160 bucks to rent a 50 ft cherry picker to do it?


I wouldn't want to take a tower apart from a bucket, it would be very
awkward at best and possibly dangerous.

If I were in your position I'd get in touch with a ham in your area
who knows his way around towers and get him involved.


Thanks

Jonathan
KB8PFA


w3rv

I'm not exactly sure of the type 25 45 etc. Originally it was a 60 ft
dispatch tower for a towing service. They moved it once and it became a
50 ft. both applications the tower was bracketet to a building about 25
ft up. Is there a way to determine the tower type?

I thougt it would be relatively easy to do this from a bucket.. Come
along side, unbolt it. then go above and lower it with a rope?

Jon

yoyo wrote:

Brian Kelly wrote:

yoyo wrote in message
...

I have been given a 50 ft Rohn tower (galvanized).

Problem is, I have to get it down. and I have a couple questions.

Weight of each section?



Depends on which type Rohn tower sections are used. Hams generally use
25G or 45G and occasionally 55G.

http://www.rohnnet.com/ROHNNET/rohnn...004/index.html

http://www.antennasystems.com/towers.html#ROHN%2025G


estimate of a resonable charge to have someone do it for me?



$50/hr. for a semi-pro (part-timer) with a gin pole, the tools and the
experience to do it right safely.


I don't like climbing



Neither does anybody else!

Is it worth paying 160 bucks to rent a 50 ft cherry picker to do it?



I wouldn't want to take a tower apart from a bucket, it would be very
awkward at best and possibly dangerous.

If I were in your position I'd get in touch with a ham in your area
who knows his way around towers and get him involved.


Thanks

Jonathan
KB8PFA



w3rv


I'm not exactly sure of the type 25 45 etc. Originally it was a 60 ft
dispatch tower for a towing service. They moved it once and it became a
50 ft. both applications the tower was bracketet to a building about 25
ft up. Is there a way to determine the tower type?

I thougt it would be relatively easy to do this from a bucket.. Come
along side, unbolt it. then go above and lower it with a rope?

Jon



If anyone here is interested in job I'm in Macomb County MI and the
tower is local!!!!

yoyo wrote in message ...
Brian Kelly wrote:
yoyo wrote in message ...

I have been given a 50 ft Rohn tower (galvanized).

Problem is, I have to get it down. and I have a couple questions.

Weight of each section?


Depends on which type Rohn tower sections are used. Hams generally use
25G or 45G and occasionally 55G.

http://www.rohnnet.com/ROHNNET/rohnn...004/index.html

http://www.antennasystems.com/towers.html#ROHN%2025G


estimate of a resonable charge to have someone do it for me?


$50/hr. for a semi-pro (part-timer) with a gin pole, the tools and the
experience to do it right safely.


I don't
like climbing


Neither does anybody else!


Is it worth paying 160 bucks to rent a 50 ft cherry picker to do it?


I wouldn't want to take a tower apart from a bucket, it would be very
awkward at best and possibly dangerous.

If I were in your position I'd get in touch with a ham in your area
who knows his way around towers and get him involved.


Thanks

Jonathan
KB8PFA


w3rv

I'm not exactly sure of the type 25 45 etc. Originally it was a 60 ft
dispatch tower for a towing service. They moved it once and it became a
50 ft. both applications the tower was bracketet to a building about 25
ft up. Is there a way to determine the tower type?

Check the detail dimensions of the center-to-center distances between
the legs given in the links.

20G = 12.5" CC with 7 horizontal elements
25G = 12.5" CC with 8 horizontal elements
45G = 15.75" CC
55G = 18" CC

I thougt it would be relatively easy to do this from a bucket.. Come
along side, unbolt it. then go above and lower it with a rope?

It's not a simple disassemble and drop process. 99% of the time the
sections have to be jacked apart often via considerable force due to
misalignment and corrosion effects. Particularly if the tower has been
used for a number of years as it has in your case.

At the instant the topmost section finally pops loose from the next
section down you'd have an unmanageable 10 foot long pile of steel by
it's bottom end wavering in the wind over you in the bucket. NO
THANKS! And it gets worse if it's an R45/55G tower with it's much
heavier sections . . etc.

The normal procedure is one man up the tower and belted in doing the
wrenches and the jacking while the section being removed is tensioned
upward via a gin pole (portable crane, Google it) controlled by his
helper on the ground. Who lowers the section to the ground after it's
off the the tower.


Jon

w3rv

yoyo wrote:
I have been given a 50 ft Rohn tower (galvanized).
Ever read the Rhon ad in QST? The one that warns you about climbing used
towers that may not be in very good shape? It used to be in the back of
the magazine and was really not an ad, but an FYI on the dangers of
taking down a tower. Partly in their own interest, no doubt, related to
potential lawsuits.

73 - Lee H
Wishing he had a tower...

Jonathan:

Well, I usually point out the dangers, but these other replies are all over the map and typically misleading. If you
have a 50 foot long clear area, and some competent help, send one person up in the cherry picker. Raise it to about 90%
of max height, and tie a short rope to the tower. Then, jack apart the lowest joint, while keeping the slack out of the
rope. If the bottom section is buried in cement, torch it off at the ground instead. With a little care, there will be
no sudden changes in loading on anything. When the tower is loose, walk the bottom away from the base while the cherry
picker lowers straight down. Then do the remainder of the disassembly at ground level. Be sure the cherry picker is
rated for the load, and the outriggers are properly set.

--
Crazy George
Remove N O and S P A M imbedded in return address
"yoyo" wrote in message .. .
I have been given a 50 ft Rohn tower (galvanized).

Problem is, I have to get it down. and I have a couple questions.

Weight of each section?

estimate of a resonable charge to have someone do it for me? I don't
like climbing

Is it worth paying 160 bucks to rent a 50 ft cherry picker to do it?


Thanks

Jonathan
KB8PFA