I was recommended but Universal to use galvanized bolts as the SS are not
available in high enough grade. (I don't remember now what grade they
recommended.) In my mind I will replace the bolts in a few (maybe 10 - 15)
years. That will also give me an idea what condition they are.
I don't know how important the grade issue is and in my case I think I already
have both "belt and suspenders" as I have a self-supporting tower equipped with
guy wires. (The tower should be able to sustain 135 mph even if the base gives
in.)
SS bolts are not a panacea. Even if the bolt doesn't corrode, which it actually
might anyhow, it might damage the surrounding aluminum. Has something to do
with Redox potential. The problem is that the Redox potential is not stable for
aluminum and SS steel, in other word, you can not predict what will corrode
when you connect and aluminum piece to a SS piece. When dirt cover the two
metals it will form the destructive electrolyte, which will cause the
corrosion. Depending on what the dirt contain you will get different results
(place of corrosion). If you can keep the dirt away (not necessary easy) you
can prevent or slow the corrosion rate (needless to say, really).
As a final note: SS needs access to air to stay stainless. A thin oxide layer
on the steel surface serves as the corrosion prevention. If you cover the steel
and the protective layer get damaged the corrosion can set in very fast (know
that from experience, not from a tower, though).
Hans - N2JFS
-----Original Message-----
From: john <john@kk9a.com>
To: towertalk <towertalk@contesting.com>
Sent: Thu, Jan 9, 2014 9:28 am
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] N2JFS photos of bolts
I had the same bolt issue with my first Universal tower. I have never seen
corrosion of the base, except in Aruba and it was only surface rust. I had
filled the square tube with concrete too keep if from filling with water.
As I recall the supplied bolts were just poor quality zinc plated.
Aluminum and galvanized steel touch in many areas of my tower systems with
no issues so I do not think it is a dissimilar metal problem. In fact, in
corrosive environments I have seem many instances were stainless steel
destroyed the aluminum it was in contact with so SS hardware has its
problems.
John KK9A - P40A
To: towertalk@contesting.com
Subject:[TowerTalk] N2JFS photos of bolts
From: kr2q@optimum.net
Date: Thu, 09 Jan 2014 12:31:15 +0000 (GMT)
Wow..those photos bring back lots of memories from the late 60's/early 70's..
I had an aluminum (Heights) crankup tower (84 feet?).
I noticed some "rust" one year and pulled out the bolt that came with the
tower.
They looked well on the way to what you showed in your photos.
Yeah...you can't use steel bolts on an aluminum tower..this happens every
time.
So I replaced all of the bolts with SS. Worked great and let me sleep at
night.
However, I was always worried about the Al to Steel junction at the base.
Also, the steel
triangles at the top/bottom of each (telescopic) section "rusted" (dissimilar
metals - eaten
away) pretty badly. I had SS triangles fabricated, but by the time they
arrived, I went off
to college and wen I returned, I found a greenhouse where my tower used to
be.
:-)
So I bought some taper sections and no longer had a crank up. My dad was
kind
enough
to let me "move the tower" to the other side of the house...again using SS
bolts..but still had
the same issue with the base.
When I got my own place, I bought steel crankup towers. Heavier but no
worries
about the
aluminum eating away the steel.
de Doug KR2Q
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