Novice metal fabrication question

[javadog]

Originally Posted by Hockey fan

Perfect! Any idea of what effect concrete has on encased steel? It had made it the first 50+ years so it must not had too bad of an effect.

Well, I assume that you will be painting it, as any steel that is left outside needs to be painted. If you paint the part that goes in the concrete, it will be fine. I would suggest that the concrete that you pour be an air-entrained mix. That will need to come from a readymix company, it’s not something you’re going to mix yourself out of a bag from Home Depot in a wheelbarrow. Slope the top surfaces of any exposed concrete for drainage and caulk around the steel concrete interface.

[Hockey fan]

Originally Posted by javadog

Well, I assume that you will be painting it, as any steel that is left outside needs to be painted. If you paint the part that goes in the concrete, it will be fine. I would suggest that the concrete that you pour be an air-entrained mix. That will need to come from a readymix company, it’s not something you’re going to mix yourself out of a bag from Home Depot in a wheelbarrow. Slope the top surfaces of any exposed concrete for drainage and caulk around the steel concrete interface.

Thank you. That was exactly was I was hoping to learn. Talking with the company that will do the final install they mentioned having concrete delivered and that they would set the rocket with a Skytrak or similar piece of equipment.

I'm looking forward to doing the restoration of the piece itself. It will neat to see it all clean and shiny again. It's one of those things that makes no sense financially but even running numbers still makes me smile.

[javadog]

If you plan to remove it later, you should consider that in your design. With regards to the center post, take a look at how flagpoles are anchored to the ground. With respect to the fins, consider welding a flat base plate on the bottom of each fin that can be bolted to the concrete that you pour. When you move, that would allow you to unbolt everything, remove the center pole and off you go.

[Hockey fan]

Originally Posted by javadog

If you plan to remove it later, you should consider that in your design. With regards to the center post, take a look at how flagpoles are anchored to the ground. With respect to the fins, consider welding a flat base plate on the bottom of each fin that can be bolted to the concrete that you pour. When you move, that would allow you to unbolt everything, remove the center pole and off you go.

For sure I'd like it to be somewhat easier to take down in the future. I really like the idea of plates and then we wouldn't have to cut the fins again someday. Since the center pole was also cut at ground level I was thinking of perhaps of setting a sleeve above and below the ground level and slipping the original center pole into the new sleeve. The new one would be the required length underground and tall enough to to safely join the original. The original center pole does have the brackets and such to mount each of the 4 round floors (levels) so would like to not have to recreate that piece.

[javadog]

Originally Posted by Hockey fan

For sure I'd like it to be somewhat easier to take down in the future. I really like the idea of plates and then we wouldn't have to cut the fins again someday. Since the center pole was also cut at ground level I was thinking of perhaps of setting a sleeve above and below the ground level and slipping the original center pole into the new sleeve. The new one would be the required length underground and tall enough to to safely join the original. The original center pole does have the brackets and such to mount each of the 4 round floors (levels) so would like to not have to recreate that piece.

You could also weld a base plate on to the center pole and bolt it to the concrete footing.

[Hockey fan]

Originally Posted by javadog

You could also weld a base plate on to the center pole and bolt it to the concrete footing.

I ran your idea past the installation guys today and they liked it. It would be similar to the way traffic signals or highway light poles are installed. Form tubes for each of the fins and the center pole all with rebar and long j bolts that each plate would attach to. We could then have it set on the footings and simply bolt it down. Then when we needed to move it someday there's no cutting or trying to break it free from the concrete - just unbolt it and lift it off of the footings.

Thanks again for the suggestions!

[Scott Douglas]

I watched them replace the street lights in our 'hood doing something similar. They had pre-drilled plywood forms that they mounted the J bolts to when they poured each of the footings for the new poles. They just supported the plywood on top of the forms so the J bolts stuck out the desired amount. Worked out well as the poles just slipped right over the J bolts without much trouble when they set the poles.

[javadog]

We call those anchor bolt templates, in the business. In my world, they are usually made from steel plate, but plywood also works for smaller projects like this. The idea is to place all of the templates in place prior to the concrete pour, so that you can verify the alignment, spacing and elevation/projection of the bolts.

[Scott Douglas]

It's a good idea for this project especially since he wants to be able to move it later.

The J bolts used on the light poles were @18-24" long if I remember correctly. I didn't actually measure them though.

[Hockey fan]

Originally Posted by javadog

We call those anchor bolt templates, in the business. In my world, they are usually made from steel plate, but plywood also works for smaller projects like this. The idea is to place all of the templates in place prior to the concrete pour, so that you can verify the alignment, spacing and elevation/projection of the bolts.

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

It's a good idea for this project especially since he wants to be able to move it later.

The J bolts used on the light poles were @18-24" long if I remember correctly. I didn't actually measure them though.

Thanks again gentlemen. I'm really thinking this is the route to go. The engineer at the installation company can come up with pad size, j bolt lengths, etc. I've got photos of one being installed in 1962 and it was just a bunch of guys with a backhoe and some bags of concrete. The original documents for the slide just mention placing the center pole 5' below the surface.

[porsche930dude]

Any progress on the rocket?

[David]

By far my favorite playground equipment when I was a kid.

I haven't driven by lately but google maps still shows this one near my house:



As I recall, they do sway a bit so I'd say the fins mounted in concrete is a must.

[LWJ]

Not sure if someone mentioned an epoxy based paint where it is stuck in concrete. I would do that.

[asphaltgambler]

I'll solve your problem by taking it off your hands, putting it in my backyard

[john70t]

Someone(baz I think) mentioned using Ospho as a anti-rust prep before painting.
A good choice after looking at vids.

Once that structure has been cut at near ground level you have all the choices in the world to attach it to base.
-Add reinforcements.
-Add chamfers and corner brackets.
-But treat any below ground metal first.

[Hockey fan]

Originally Posted by porsche930dude

Any progress on the rocket?

Sadly not yet. 2020 has been a bit of a roller coaster and it seems there's constantly been something else needing the "fun" money. I am about wrapped up with the restoration of a vintage 15' neon sign so there's that.

[Bill Douglas]

Originally Posted by Hockey fan

we loaded it in a Uhaul and over to a warehouse where we strapped everything to skids

Good score!!!

You weren't tempted to just fly it over to the new site...

[Hockey fan]

Originally Posted by Bill Douglas

Good score!!!

You weren't tempted to just fly it over to the new site...

Sure would have been a lot easier! The only having 1 day to plan & remove severely limited options. Being 1000 miles away I didn't even have time to get there and had to leave it up to a few friends to somehow keep it from going to the scrap metal yard. In a perfect world I would have arranged to have it lifted whole and laid on a trailer to move here. Instead I could only arrange 3 friends with a toolbox, a sawzall and a Uhaul truck.