Best method of erecting a 50' wind mill

[joes_427_vette]

Will have the tower painted and ready shortly. The 1929 Sears motor and fan are ready to go. Probably the only safe way to get it in the air may be hiring a crane ( 3-4 hundred minimum or more ). No sky hook in sight.

 

[cowboy357]

Will have the tower painted and ready shortly. The 1929 Sears motor and fan are ready to go. Probably the only safe way to get it in the air may be hiring a crane ( 3-4 hundred minimum or more ). No sky hook in sight.

Good luck with it & take plenty of pics , I have one to take down & move so I,d be curious as to how it goes .

I have limited acsess to get a crane in Our place so Still haven,t figured out what I,m going to do other then piece by piece. Looking forward to the Process . Bob

 

[GeneD14]

We have a very heavy 35' tall aeromotor windmill with a wooden tower. I welded up some heavy hinges to mount on 2 of the legs. Then pulled it up into position using a nylon pull strap and the loader on our tractor. We had a smaller rope that a friend would pull against by hand as the tower got close to vertical to help prevent the tower base from slamming down on the concrete pad.

 

[GeneD14]

The first time I put a windmill up I thought that the only way must be with a crane. I couldn't afford that option so I did some research at the library. I saw a method that was used over 100 years ago. Hinge 2 of the legs and firmly anchor them to the ground. Near the base use two 16' long poles and attached them together to make an "A" frame that is stould up over the base. then tie a heavy rope to the top over the tower, run it over the top tof the A frame and hook the end to a team of horses, or in my case a tractor. When you pull: the top of the tower starts to raise up and the A frame begins to lean towards the tractor. Keep a slow steady pull and the tower raises higher and the A frame falls over on the ground. At this point there is no turing back so you keep pulling until the tower is vertical.

 

[GeneD14]

Here is a sketch showing how the A frame was used to raise the tower up.

 

[wvpolekat]

An alternative to Gene's method (which is a testament of inginuity), you can use a tree with a pully as well to get your pulling rope lifting instead of trying to drag it across the ground.

Be safe as well, nobody under/around the windmill while hoisting and be mindful of the rope/cable when under tension.

And, since you posted it here, you MUST post pictures.

 

[cowboy357]

Thats one fine looking windmill Gene & thanks for the idea on the on the a frame . Bob

 

[Treemonkey1000]

I put up radio towers as part of my Ham radio hobby and tree work. If you hinge your tower up as mentioned there is a large force on the hinged legs that could bend them. Be aware of that. That triangle method can work but is risky. Make sure anyone on the ground is clear of that tower collapsing in any direction. As the tower is going up you might have timbers or pipes on the bottom side to support and help push it up. If the tower legs are not that strong maybe reinforce the hinged legs with pipes or wooden studs by strapping them on with hose clamps or U bolts.
With radio towers we either tilt them up with the same method. Or we bring up sections of tower and bolt them on using what is called a Gin pole. If you can bribe a friend with a boom truck or bucket truck that can lift that much weight you might be better off.

 

[schmism]

generally they are assembled on the ground laying flat, or blocked up so that the axis of it is straight, then its stood up either by jin pole method or crane

 

[Egon]

Use a crane and save some time and money.