Although not called for in the assembly manual, on recommendation from Brian W7BJN, a glue bead is placed at each nesting tube junction to prevent them from sliding back in over time. Constant movement in the wind at the top of a tower can cause them to work in according to Brian. Made sense to this crew.

Driving those ground rods down at least 6 inches below grade with a power hammer.

The #4 solid wire and the copper strap is also run to the house electrical ground and into the ham shack entrance.

Director element EHU and element return fixture.

The tower base hole. 2x4's above the forms hold up and align the top rebar grid. There is also lower grid sitting on concrete blocks. The tower base that will be submerged in concrete floats in the center of both the top and bottom rebar grids. Temporary guy ropes hold the tower in perfect plumb. Grandson Adam approves.

The break wasn't so bad. The mess was created when the sprinkler controller decided to turn the water on, washed out the far bank and filled the hole. Duhhhh.

A better view of the rebar cage.

Fritz loves to ride in the cart as Steve (WA7DUH) goes to the shop to pick up SteppIR antenna parts.

Yikes-- hit the sprinkler pipes. Anyone know a good way to find these sub-surface?

Basic process when digging all the holes-- dirt goes in the cart, Linda (WB7CNV) hauls away.

One of three ground tower ground rods. The are each connected to a tower leg with both a #4 solid copper wire (per NEC) PLUS a 1 1/2 inch low RF impedance copper strap. Once connections are made, the ground rod is then driven down so it is at least 6 inches below grade.

WB7CNV (Linda) bows properly to the tower gods.

Hygain T2XD rotator mounted on the hazer.

Linda WB7CNV cut about 450 tie wires for the tower base and 3 guy station rebar cages.

A very thick polifin heat shrink tube locks each joint into place.

There is a lot of electronics and relays that go into this antenna. Pictured is Gary W7TYQ that came up to help from Yreka CA.

Trying to fix a cave in. Sandy soil.

#4 solid copper over to the house electrical entrance ground. Found more irrigation, Spinkler valve control cable (run in water pipe PVC) and some Romex (indoor only) that the previous owner had run to some outdoor lights. Gotta fix all that.

Each of the 3 tower grounds are out abot 7 feet from each tower leg, with #4 solid copper and 1 1/2 inch copper strap back to the tower, over to the house electrical ground and down to the ham shack. Two inch rigid non-metal conduit is also buried in the trench to hold 4 runs of LMR-400 coax.

W7TYQ (Gary) tightens everything down after applying antiseize paste.

A completed element. 30M & 40M beam operation is achieved by pushing the beryllium tape through the sweep and down the "return" side, creating a resonant folded element. Thus these elements are only 40 feet wide instead of the 62 feet that would be required if they where straight out.

OK, how to these hollow fiberglass tubes go together??

Dave W7DJE helps measure out an element tube. These nesting tubes are pulled out, and the ends are trimmed to length with a hacksaw.

Adam loves Jessica Kabota.

Guys from Speedy Angeles Concrete, LLC out of Pasco WA do the work. They have the equipment and muscle, and did the job for a good price.

Many parts to each unit..

The guy rods have 6 x 6 x 1/2 in steel plates to keep them from pulling out of the concrete guy station blocks. Picture shows drilling the 3/4 in holes for the rods. I need a slower turning drill press.