I hate to bring chemistry into this, but using sulphur or its compounds
around structural metal is a bad idea. Sulphur easily reacts with many
different materials... which can result in compounds with a very low pH,
like sulfuric acid. Sulfur is one reason that calcium gets dissolved and
caves form.
Your mileage may vary - in a sealed anerobic environment, molten sulphur
will last for a very long time.
Mickey N4MB
On Sat, Jan 4, 2014 at 11:47 AM, Ray, W4BYG <w4byg@att.net> wrote:
> When drilling into concrete or stone for mounting bolts, I many years ago
> learned a neat trick from an old time machinist, Grover Shank. He advised
> me concrete injected around bolts or hardware store expansion devices will
> vibrate and eventually come loose.
>
> He suggested the way they would anchor bolts into concrete for heavy
> equipments, was to drill the holes larger and deeper than needed for the
> bolts. Then buy a bag or two of powdered sulfur (purchased at a local Drug
> store, inexpensive) and melt it in a melting pot, with a butane torch. Set
> the bolts in place and temporarily wire them to stay in position. Then
> pour
> the melted sulfur into the holes. Let it cool.
>
> The logic is there are only two natural substances that will expand when
> cooled, water and sulfur. The sulfur expanded and locked the bolts in
> place
> securely for years.
>
> I did this for a 72' tower carrying a 2 element 40 meter beam on top and a
> 5
> element tribander below, while living in Atlanta. Years later the tower
> has
> was moved to another city, but I'm pretty sure the 2 bolt guy brackets
> which
> were attached to granite rock at the surface, are still there. The bolts
> showed no sign of loosening or cracking.
>
> Since then, I understand hydraulic concrete in tubes has become available.
> I have seen it used for metal fence rails and have noticed cracks in the
> holes after just a short time. Therefore I wouldn't put much trust in it
> for tower foundations.
>
> But my experience with the sulfur even though it stank pretty bad while
> being melted, worked so well I would use it again today "in a heartbeat"
> for
> similar applications.
> 73,
> Ray, W4BYG
>
>
>
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