Excuse me, please move me over to the W3LPL and K3MM column. My experience was
identical to yours, mine was replaced and I uncoiled it. I think you imply
that I was one of the stupid guys who didn't learn his lesson and didn't follow
good advice. You have it wrong. But, if you want to dump in W2BZR, you have
my permission. hi.
I think I did make the tactical error, though, of telling you and "everyone"
that the busted up pieces make good beverage antenna supports, which is what
I've used mine for, so none has gone to waste! If I hadn't mentioned it, I
could probably have picked up everyone else's broken pieces! 73 - Rich, KE3Q
----- Original Message -----
From: Frank Donovan<mailto:donovanf@erols.com>
To: towertalk@contesting.com<mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
Sent: Saturday, April 09, 2005 12:24 PM
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] polyrod
W3LPL, K3MM, KE3Q and W2BZR suffered significant
failure of Polygon fiberglas rod when stored in the original
eight foot diameter coils. This happened with multiple
shipments over several years.
If anyone doubts this, you're welcome to visit W3LPL
and I'll show you many failed pieces of Polygon fiberglas
rod from W2BZR's and W3LPL's coils. After my first
experience with broken rod, I always uncoil the shipments
immediately after receipt. I've never suffered a failure
after the first shipment that I did not uncoil immediately.
My Polygon rod has been installed for ten years, and the
rod is just beginning the show slight surface deterioration
(the outer layer is just beginning to turn white from
ultra-violet exposure). There's no evidence of loss
of strength. This deterioration is likely to be more rapid
and severe in the more extreme UV environments such
as Florida or the western states.
Despite reported claims by Polygon's "sales people," I spoke
their engineer ten years ago, after four coils of my coiled
Polygon guy failed after being stored for six months. He told me
that Polygin fiberglas rod should be uncoiled after its received.
He definitely warned against long term storage in coils.
He explained that the outer edge of the coiled fiberglas rod
is under extreme tension when coiled. Thermal cycling
eventually causes the resin binder to crack when its coiled.
The fiberglas strands will tear when the resin cracks.
After he apologized that their sales people did not warn me
about the requirement to uncoil the factory coils after receipt,
he talked the sales people into replacing all of the failed
coils (over 10,000 feet) at no charge to me or K3MM.
We agreed to pay FOB freight charges only.
If you fail to uncoil your Polygon fiberglas rod shortly after
receipt, don't say you weren't warned! Ask WB2BZR and
KE3Q who were both warned, and both found that they
had thousands of expensive tomato stakes when they
uncoiled their Polygon fiberglas guy that had been long term
stored in coils.
73!
Frank
W3LPL
donovanf@erols.com<mailto:donovanf@erols.com>
_______________________________________________
See: http://www.mscomputer.com<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<mailto:TowerTalk@contesting.com>
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk<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
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