I have been using nylon insert ss lock nuts on ss bolts and u-bolts. I have
not had any seize or loosen. Also don't need a lock washer. The only pain is
that you can't hand tighten them. You need to use a wrench for putting them
on and off. I use an air ratchet wrench which makes the job easy.
73,
N2TK, Tony
-----Original Message-----
From: towertalk-bounces@contesting.com
[mailto:towertalk-bounces@contesting.com]On Behalf Of Bill VanAlstyne
Sent: Wednesday, April 21, 2004 2:49 PM
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.
_______________________________________________
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_______________________________________________
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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