wow, that was intense...
i don't think wisdom bear's idea is fully flawed, i just don't understand the logic. if he's gonna spend enough money on turnbuckles, cable, cable clips, shackles, concrete/duckbills ect. to do two separate guy heights along the tower, why stick with wood for the tower?
4" pipe can be had at salvage for $50-80 per 20' chunk. so an additional $100-160 to have the pole be steel when the rigging is gonna be a few hundred bucks anyways? it just doesn't make sense to me. i'm guessing he is not a welder, and more comfortable with through bolts ect, which could explain a lot.
i guess if you got a pole for free, and lathered it up with the best oil based ext. primer you could find, it may last a while... but after a few coats, that primer would cost as much as at least half the steel pipe. (which i understand needs primer/paint too, but WAY less)
or maybe he'll just let it sit 'til it rots, and replace as needed. even that sounds like a lot of repeated work.
i've worked at "death" heights, in a harness, roped up many times yarding around heavy windows, stove pipes, exhaust fans, chimney caps, ect. i never like it. it really isn't fun. i do it because i can charge a good wage for doing such things. i would never want to do that sh*t on my own property if i had another choice.
again, i just don't understand the logic of risking ones life on a regular basis for less than $200
furthermore, if he did go steel, he wouldn't be limited to 40-50 foot...
i understand the mentality of making it work with what is free/cheap, and i go that route often, but this is way beyond.
wisdom- these are just MY thoughts. go ahead and do what YOU think is right! because in the end, that is what will make YOU happy.
adam