I live on the ocean and avoid anti-seize on all my SS hardware (just a
hassle I found). I ensure hardware is properly installed and have not had a
problem in 9 years with anything coming apart or getting anything apart, but
I do generously coat all threads and connections that I will want to take
apart later with a great product used locally by the fishing fleets. Also
use it on my element tubing to tubing connections. Local fishing fleet uses
it also over their DC and AC electrical boat connections. It is a Canadian
product called CorrosionBlock, comes in small tubes or larger containers. RF
neutral, doesn't wash out in the rain, easy to see with aqua color. Sources
locally are http://www.englundmarine.com/ and
http://www.westmarine.com/1/3/grease-lear-chemical but I would guess any
marine supply might have it.
Don W7WLL
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Thomson" <jim.thom@telus.net>
To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
Sent: Thursday, June 24, 2010 6:43 AM
Subject: [TowerTalk] anti seize/never seize ?
This stuff comes in 8 oz containers [and also larger] The stuff available
from my local
fastener place is made by locktite. It's used on SS threads so they don't
gall, etc.
It comes in two grades.. standard 'silver'.. and 'marine grade'. I see DX
eng also sells
this goop... and also in both grades. The only diff i can see between the
2 x types
[besides price] is the marine grade stuff is rated for a higher temp. [1800
deg f vs 1600 deg f]
The guy tells me the marine grade stuff has a higher temp rating cuz it's
used on engine parts
in marine applications. [ I can't see any engine getting this hot, even a
turbo].
No mention of the marine grade being better suited for wet environments.
I'm going to use it for outside ant stuff... like dx eng SS U clamps, etc,
etc. So other than being
in the rain, the temp is not an issue.
I bought the regular grade. Did I buy the wrong stuff ? On a similar
note, today, 3 of us took down
my trylon tower [to be replaced with a crank up] ... and I had replaced 4 of
the leg splice bolts with
longer 1/2" diam SS bolts... and had not used any anti seize on em. I
required longer bolts since I had
mounted small al plates on one tower face.. to side mount a 15m yagi.. fixed
due east.
Of course one of the 4 x SS bolts gauled.. and flat out would not come out!
Fortunately, we had mounted the
nuts on the outside of the tower legs. We had to use the sawzall to come
the damn thing off !
I have made up 8 x new boom to mast plates from 3/8" thick al plate....
F-12 style.. with one vert plate
on the mast.. and one horz plate on the boom.[ 4 x ants in total] 5 x
1/2" diam SS bolts mate the 2 x plates together.
I can just envision just 1 of 20 x SS bolts gauling.. and a gong show
ensuing, trying to cut em off.
How reliable is this anti-seize /never seize stuff.. esp after several yrs
?? I think if I was to ever remove any of the
SS nuts, i would slop some more anti seize goop on the exposed, excess
threads.. just prior to removal.
I only had gauling problems just once b4.. and that was when using SS nylock
nuts on SS bolts. In that case, the
SS nylock was being tightened for the 1st time.. and the nut seized up..
with a 1/8" left to go ! Would not loosen
and would not tighten. I cranked on it with a breaker bar.. and sheared
off the SS bolt. [these were 3/8" bolts]
I had that happen 3 x times.... and the gauling problem was only when SS
nylocks were being used..... until
today's incident [ no nylocks, just SS flatwashers and SS split ring lock
washers]
Of course, I had not put any goop on the 3/8" bolts nor SS nylocks either.
I just discovered the goop a few months back.
Funny thing is.. I use SS machine screws all the time on HB amps... [ like
10-32 1/4-20, 8-32 6-32 etc] and have never had a
gauling problem with em in the last 20 yrs. The gauling problem only
seems to happen with 3/8" and bigger.. and esp when
SS nylocks are employed. BTW... just bought a ton of dx eng SS saddle
clamps [ SS u bolts with solid AL saddles] to use on the
el to plate connections for each el on the yagis. All my F-12 ones had
rusted. In some cases, it was just the nuts.. some times jut one thread
on one side of a U bolt..some times both. I was getting fed up with rusted
hardware... and have not found a source for galvanized
u bolts..yet.
I hope this anti seize/never seize goop actually works. Trying to cut
rusted /gauled hardware..up a tower is no fun.
Later..... Jim VE7RF
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