> Steve, I thought I read that the F-12 rivets ( the rivets used by F-12 are
> not your everyday garden type...no holes in the center or something like
> that....) give the entire antenna somewhat less wind resistance ( and
They are a closed end, pop rivett. The closed end is on the inside. All the
ones I've seen look like other pop rivetts on the outside. Even if they
were smooth on the outside, the area is so small it should make little
difference aerodynamically in an antenna as they make no not iceable
difference in airplanes. The Sonex uses pop rivetts throughout and with the
larger engine will cruise near 200 MPH.
"Theoreticaly" the closed end will prevent water from seeping in, but you
still have the outside junction between the rivett and element. So, again in
practice I doubt if it makes much if any difference.
the strongest pop rivetts are the "Cherrymax" that are allowed for some
applications in certified aircraft. However most aircraft rivetts have to be
"bucked" or set and are either round or flat head. Round head are used quite
often even in high performance aircraft like the Bonanzas that cruise near
200 MPH, give or take depending on model.
> survivability? ) than do clamps or screws, washers and nuts. What do you
> make of that? - Mike
A properly sized and installed rivett creates a much more uniform connection
than a screw and gives a cleaner connection than clamps. However the rivewtt
needs to be the proper length and diameter for the thickness of the material
being joined and the hole has to be round with clean edges and of the proper
size. Unlike metal screws, rivetts are unlikely to work loose and make a
better all around joint. (OTOH in 46 years as a ham I've never had a metal
screw loosen up in an antenna. Stainless steel hose clamps will make a more
sound split tube to tube connection, but rivets are a few cents each, ae
faster to install with less effort. The SS clamps may run from 50 cents to a
dollar or two for element size clamps and again the SS clamps should be
properly sized. That and the hose clamps just don't make the antenna look as
elegant as rivetts. <:-))
Roger (K8RI)
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: towertalk-bounces@contesting.com
> [mailto:towertalk-bounces@contesting.com]On Behalf Of K7LXC@aol.com
> Sent: Friday, May 11, 2007 5:15 PM
> To: towertalk@contesting.com; k2vi@cox.net
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Question about force 12 c-4
>
>
>
> In a message dated 5/11/2007 12:47:35 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time,
> towertalk-request@contesting.com writes:
>
>> I realize the forch 12 antenna preforms excellent but my problem with
> force 12 is the rivets for the element construction.
>
> Why would they be a problem? Umm, airplanes are held together with
> them.
>
> Granted I would recommend additional rivets in windier environments
> but
> other than that, they are a terrific way to connect element pieces. I
> don't
> see a downside.
>
> Cheers,
> Steve K7LXC
> TOWER TECH
>
>
>
>
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>
>
>
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