Hydroelectric Plant Stoplog Structure, Need Big I-beam

admin

Hey Guys:I am building a stop log structure, at Indian River Hydrostation, to block off the water to my forebay on the Westfield River. Does anyone know where I can find/buy a used bridge beam? I need between a 33 inch and a 48 inch by 70 foot beam with no welds. It would be nice to find one closer to Massachusetts! We are having a difficult time draining the river. There is too much water. We have the 6' high by 10'wide drain gate open but the water is still flowing over the top of the spillway. The permits took $77,000 and 14 months to obtain. The sediment chemical tests took $26,000 alone!!!! How can anyone get anything built in this country anymore???PS: I bought this really cool old planer in NJ off of e-bay. It is a magnificent machine and I will set it up in Turners Falls near the 120 inch Niles Boring Machine. We were going to NJ today to pickup the 16" stroke Rockwell shaper but I think I will cancel due to the rain.Sincerely,Bill Fay
Reply:You might try Fazzio's in South Jersey.http://www.josephfazzioinc.com/I don't know if they have anything that big in stock. 70' in length is a PITA to transport..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:you might be better off going with a concrete beam of that size, it sounds like it doesn't really NEED to be steelVantage 500's LN-25's, VI-400's, cobramatics, Miller migs, synch 350 LX, Powcon inverters, XMT's, 250 Ton Acurrpress 12' brake, 1/4" 10' Atlantic shear,Koikie plasma table W/ esab plasmas. marvel & hyd-mech saws, pirrana & metal muncher punches.
Reply:Hey Guys:Thanks for the advice! We got two 200 pound/foot 36 inch by 70 foot I-beams from T-Buck Construction in Maine. They charged us $800.00 apiece and delivered them to Russell, MA for $1400.00. Total cost $3000!!! I am starting to cut the beam pocket in the forebay wall today. Please see the following for an update:http://frenchriverland.com/indian_river.htmThanks again!!Sincerely,William K. Fay P.E.West Ware, MA
Reply:When I first read this thread, I didn't want to sound negative, so I decided not to post my thoughts about how a used beam in a 70' length is going to be a tough order; and that unless you could somehow luck-out and find a job in progress, you would probably have to splice beams, because normally, a contractor would have little incentive to rig for such difficult removal of scrap beams, plus pay for expensive permitted hauling.Typical nasty condition of removed beams:Attachment 42503But you showed me, you bought 14,000 lb beams for less than their scrap value. At that price, you may as well buy the rest of 'em too!  Interesting project, thanks for posting the link, we'll wander over and check it out.Good LuckLast edited by denrep; 10-19-2010 at 11:43 PM.