SELF-SUPPORTERS
Steel smokestacks are generally supported by guy wires, although there are some steel stacks without guy wires, which are called self-supporters.
Self-supporters taper at the base and have an extra heavy foundation and a ladder to enable you to climb to the top, although in my travels I have come in contact with one self-supporter that had neither ladder nor gimblet wire. Fortunately this self-supporter was very small in diameter.
In order to make the top of this particular stack I had to rely on an extension ladder, working my way up by degrees; first lashing the ladder to the stack, extending it as far as safety would permit, then lashing the stack again with an extra large sling about ¾-inch, making a bow-line knot and with a sling to both sides of the ladder I used the block and fall, pulling the bottom part of the ladder up as far as possible, lashing off again, then pushing the top part up.
Ladder Lashed to Self-Supporting Stack
Ladder Lashed to Self-Supporting Stack
After making the lower half of the extension ladder solid at the top and bottom so as not to permit it to sway to either side, climb the top half of the ladder, lashing the stack again, and repeat as before. Guy wires have to be replaced from time to time, as these wires rust and fall down, leaving the stack to the mercy of the winds, if not attended to before they become so badly decayed.
As stated before, stacks that are supported by guy wires have from one to three sets, and generally four wires to a set. A ½-inch galvanized wire is sufficient for any stack, although some people prefer a larger size wire for double safety.