On submarines we used simple graphite lubricants on stainless parts to
prevent galling. A similar compound used to be available as a lock
lubricant though I haven't checked for it recently. You should note
that once ss parts are assembled it is probably too late to try to
lubricate them to take them apart, the galling often happens as the part
is tightened so the damage is already done. A penetrating lube may help
a bit in preventing further damage when the parts are disassembled but
they still should not be reused.... so my approach has been to use a
bigger wrench and just twist the bolt off.
David Robbins K1TTT
e-mail: mailto:k1ttt@arrl.net
web: http://www.k1ttt.net
AR-Cluster node: 145.69MHz or telnet://dxc.k1ttt.net
> -----Original Message-----
> From: towertalk-bounces@contesting.com [mailto:towertalk-
> bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Bill VanAlstyne
> Sent: Wednesday, April 21, 2004 18:49
> To: towertalk@contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Stainless Steel Hardware
>
> I can't emphasize strongly enough the advisability of using an
anti-seize
> compound on stainless steel hardware when assembling antennas with it!
I
> had to
> completely replace the SS hardware on my Cushcraft yagi antenna
because,
> out of
> ignorance, I failed to do this during assembly, and I ended up having
to
> dismantle the antenna with a hacksaw and a carborundum cut-off wheel.
> (Cushcraft
> doesn't mention anything about this potential problem in their
manual.)
> Having
> now done my due-diligence on the subject -- a day late and a dollar
short,
> as it
> were -- I've learned that seizing (galling) is a well-known and
> commonplace
> problem with SS fasteners assembled without anti-seize compound,
> especially if
> conditions are ideal for galling: a) high torque on bolt/nut
assembly,
> typical
> of U-bolt clamps on large antenna arrays; b) high ambient
temperatures,
> such as
> over a typical New Mexico summer; and c) bolt and nut are the same
> formulation
> of SS -- i.e., have the same distribution and proportion of additive
> elements.
>
> So if you ever want to take that antenna apart again, don't forget the
> anti-seize! Penetrox works well, as do the many anti-seize compounds
> available
> in most auto parts stores. I also read, however, that if you live on
the
> seashore and have a moisture/salt/wind condition continually battering
> your
> antenna, you have to be a lot more selective in your choice of
anti-seize,
> because the moist salt air will, over time, wash the metal particle
> suspension
> (oftentimes copper) out of the anti-seize compound and replace it with
> corrosive
> salts, leaving the fasteners even more vulnerable to galling than if
no
> anti-seize had been used in the first place. A non-metallic anti-seize
> compound
> (much harder to find at retail) is recommended for such environments.
> Though
> here in hot sunny New Mexico, that's hardly a concern. :-)
>
> Bill / W5WVO
> Albuquerque, NM
>
>
> Tower (K8RI) wrote:
> > Don't forget to check your local businesses in the phone book.
> >
> > We have a large industrial faster distributor here in Midland;
"Prime
> > Fastener". They also have a large store in Alma.
> >
> > I'm not pushing them,but rather the idea there are probably many of
> > this
> > type of business in almost any major metropolitan area and their
> > prices are
> > going to be a surprise for anyone who has been purchasing bolts and
> > such at
> > hardware and discount stores.
> >
> > I can buy an entire box of 100 SS bolts for about the same price as
6
> > or 8
> > when purchased at Low's, Builder's Square, or local hardware stores.
> > Hence,
> > always running short, I now tend to buy them by the box and have
> > accumulated
> > a pretty good stock of them.
> >
> > The same is true for steel and aluminum stock. Although not cheap by
> > any
> > means I've come up with some pretty good prices for aluminum from an
> > outfit
> > in Saginaw (bout a 20 mile drive)
> >
> > A while back I needed some larger SS bolts. As I recall they were
> > 1/2" NC.
> > and about 2" long. I picked them up (not a whole box this time) for
> > about 20% to 25% of the price at the so called discount store. That
> > can add up to
> > a huge savings in a hurry when looking at several hundred bolts in a
> > project. That is $40 worth of bolts for about $10 as a comparison.
> > OTOH you
> > could say the one store is getting $40 for $10 worth of bolts. <:-))
> >
> > When I need steel for a project there are three places locally. One
> > has very
> > good prices and if the pieces needed are too big for me to easily
> > transport
> > home, the guy drops them off on his way home. (hasn't charged me a
> > cent for
> > delivery yet)
> >
> > Again most larger towns should have such outlets. Midland is only
> > about 75,000 in population.
> > I think many times we spend a lot of time searching the net
> > Roger Halstead (K8RI, EN73 & ARRL Life Member)
> > N833R, World's Oldest Debonair (S# CD-2)
> > www.rogerhalstead.com
> >
> >> Here is an interesting website for those looking for Stainless
Steel
> >> hardware.
> >>
> >>
> >> www.jschmidtstainless.com/products.htm
> >>
> >>
> >> De Richard K0XG
> >>
> >>
> >> Richard Hassell-Bennett
> >> hasben@ix.netcom.com
> >>
> >> www.K0XG.com
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >>
> >> See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers",
> >> "Wireless
> > Weather Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041
> > with any
> > questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> TowerTalk mailing list
> >> TowerTalk@contesting.com
> >> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
> >>
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> >
> > See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers",
> > "Wireless Weather Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free,
> > 1-800-333-9041 with any questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > TowerTalk mailing list
> > TowerTalk@contesting.com
> > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
>
> _______________________________________________
>
> See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers",
"Wireless
> Weather Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041
with
> any questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
>
> _______________________________________________
> TowerTalk mailing list
> TowerTalk@contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
_______________________________________________
See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless Weather
Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any questions
and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
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