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Not easily. Those metal tension cables are dangerous to cut and it’s going to have to fall like a tree in some direction.
by huytersd 3y ago
Not easily. Those metal tension cables are dangerous to cut and it’s going to have to fall like a tree in some direction.
- alistairSH 3y agoThese towers often have several sets of tension cables at various heights, so you could cut the outermost/tallest set, drop the top-third of the tower, and work your way down. Still dangerous, but it's not always "bring all 500' down at once".
- cf100clunk 3y agoThere are YouTube video compilations showing exactly what you've described.
- marcosdumay 3y agoMetal thieves are not known for following strict workplace safety protocols.
- huytersd 3y agoSure, but if you’ve ever been around high tension mental cables before you’ll realize you need a huge pair of balls to cut those. It’s not safety protocols, it’s fear that it might cut you in half.
- 0cf8612b2e1e 3y agoActually, as I learned from MythBusters, a wire snap will be unable to server a limb or worse. You will still be dead, but your body will be intact. https://mythresults.com/episode62 https://mythresults.com/episode62
- yourapostasy 3y agoContainer ship dock line snaps on the other hand...
- tyingq 3y agoAlso Navy aircraft carrier arrestor cables. Like: https://www.nytimes.com/1981/12/04/us/around-the-nation-two-sailors-die-as-cable-snaps-in-carrier-landing.html https://www.nytimes.com/1981/12/04/us/around-the-nation-two-...
- m463 3y agoIf you cut a wire under tension at the very limit of its range on one end, can it hurt you?
- sillysaurusx 3y agoI had the same question. Intuitively, I don’t think so, but that’s based on nothing but simulating it in my head. In reality you might risk the tower collapsing on you if you cut too many.
- deleted 3y ago[deleted]
- discardedrefuse 3y agoWhy even cut the cables? Wouldn't they just back out the tensors at the anchors and do it all under control?
- mynameisnoone 3y agoThat's how I would do it without remote cutters, a small shaped charge, or thermite. Fall direction will be completely out of control, so it would be worth being close to the tower to reach a safe area.
- lttlrck 3y agoI don't see how you would have less control by backing off tensioners vs. destructive approach. You don't have to release all guys at once in either case.
- asadotzler 3y agoMy tower has 8 guy wires and each is easily released from the ground with hand tools.