Why aluminum?
Lighter, yes. No rust, true.
But the main reason is that in some applications, such as
a modest tribander and a couple of modest VHF/UHF
beams, the aluminum is more than strong enough, AND, from
what I'm told, if a steel mast gives, it will tend to break, resulting
in the loss of all antennas, whereas an aluminum mast will tend
to just bend but stay intact, probably resulting in antennas that
are still (mostly) undamaged or repairable.
(I'm sure someone will let me know if I'm all wet ;-)
--
Dave N0RQ
http://www.powerlinenoise.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bob Maser" <bmaser@tampabay.rr.com>
To: <kb0fhp@comcast.net>; "Roger Kissel" <kc8hz@hotmail.com>;
<towertalk@contesting.com>
Sent: Wednesday, January 03, 2007 20:07
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Aluminum mast
> Why would anyone want to use aluminum for a mast? Rust resistance?
> Lightweight? Flexibility? None of these are necessary characteristics of
> a
> mast. The toughest aluminum alloy made doesn't come close to most steel
> alloys. I recall back in the 70's a certain ham(a WB9) decided to use
> aluminum to stack some beams. To stiffen it up, he drove a hardwood
> dowel
> into the mast. 6 months later the top half broke off in a wind storm and
> came right thru his kitchen roof. True story.
>
> Bob W6TR
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "D. Scott MacKenzie" <kb0fhp@comcast.net>
> To: "Roger Kissel" <kc8hz@hotmail.com>; <towertalk@contesting.com>
> Sent: Wednesday, January 03, 2007 7:19 PM
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Aluminum mast
>
>
>>I would inspect it - perhaps doing a dye-penetrant examination (look at
>> welding supply stores) - but other than that - it should work well as
>> long
>> as you apply adequate safety factor and do not load it excessively
>>
>> Scott
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: towertalk-bounces@contesting.com
>> [mailto:towertalk-bounces@contesting.com]On Behalf Of Roger Kissel
>> Sent: Wednesday, January 03, 2007 7:14 PM
>> To: towertalk@contesting.com
>> Subject: [TowerTalk] Aluminum mast
>>
>>
>> Hi All
>>
>> I think I recall seeing a comment about mast, tubing and pipe.
>>
>> Back in my early days, we used extruded 6061-T6 in 2 inch diameter with
>> 1/4
>> inch wall. Many of us sprung for the tubing and put as much os 20 feet of
>> it
>> out the top of the tower. It seemed to hold up and I don't remember
>> anyone
>> having any problem with it.
>>
>> That being said, I'm planning to put a tower with some HF antennae and I
>> found my old 24 foot 6061 mast in the barn. It's about 30 years old and
>> isn't even corroded. You know what I'm planning to do, so let me
>> hear
>> why I SHOULDN'T use this. Especially after all the years of great track
>> record from the locals in southwestern Ohio.
>>
>> Roger
>> KC8HZ
>>
>> _________________________________________________________________
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>> evscarl.spaces.live.com/?icid=T001MSN38C07001
>>
>>
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