Galvanized water pipe is NOT very good as a strength member. If you use
it you will have to make allowances to get the overall tower strength
you need. Braces (lattice elements) will have to be closer together
than with other stronger material. This means you can not safely copy a
commercially made tower since your materials are not as strong as
theirs. You will need more and closer lattice elements.
It has been my experience when flattening the end of a galvanized water
pipe by hammering it on an anvil or using a 20 ton hydraulic press that
you can get it to crack or split. Heating it first and flattening while
hot works. There are DIY You Tube videos on making your own forge out
of a scrap car or truck brake drum
I wish you the best of luck with your project. I too have a very non
standard tower project in process. For a little info on that take a
look at QRZ.com NJ5G and scroll down to the pictures.
Again good luck with your project.
Patrick NJ5G
On 6/27/2015 11:45 AM, Douglas Ruz wrote:
Hello everybody !!!.
Thank you very much for all ideas !!!...it is amazing...i am learning a lot.
Let me try give more information to all of you.
FIRST, Bryan, WA7PRC, you are absolutely RIGHT..."Reinvent the wheel" is a
trouble but i have not other choice...
Gerald, K5GW, yes i can get guy wires from electric power company...so, guy
wires are not a problem.
Jim Lux, sorry, i have not a lot of pipes and ground space, so, self supporting
is not possible. Guyed tower is my choice.
Rick, N6RK, yes, i am talking about 3/4 inch galvanized water pipe.
I am not the welder...I have been talking with the welder and he knows it is
dangerous welding galvanized parts but he work in OPEN SPACE with a FAN to
remove all gases.
He is also thinking use a CONTACT SOLDERING MACHINE and not a classic ELECTRIC
SOLDERING MACHINE...less gases.
To join sections i found that using a piece of 1 inch water pipe, after
"cleaning" the inside with a drill work perfect. Using bolts in both sides to
join each section.
I am WORRY about TWO THINGS:
TOWER STRENGHT: Is strong enought the 3/4 inch water pipe and 5/16 bars for
braces to replicate a Rohn 25G ??
CORROSION: Heat during welding destroy galvanized protection...i can not
galvanized after welding...maybe some cold galvanizing is possible...I am worry
about corrosion...maybe painting inmediately after soldering minimize corrosion.
I am listening (READING).
Thanks,
73...Doug, CO8DM
"No creo que haya alguna emoción más intensa para un inventor que ver alguna de sus
creaciones funcionando. Esa emoción hace que uno se olvide de comer, de dormir, de todo." -
Nikola Tesla
----- Original Message -----
From: Bryan Swadener
To: co8dm@frcuba.co.cu
Sent: Saturday, June 27, 2015 2:14 AM
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Homebrew tower...
Hi Douglas,
IMO, it's too much trouble to "reinvent the wheel". You need to be not only
the fabricator but also, structural engineer. Then, after you've designed and fabricated
the parts, you'll want to hot-dip galvanize the parts so they'll last a long time. Just
save your money to buy what you want. I did exactly that.
vy 73 es gl,
Bryan WA7PRC
http://www.tinyurl.com/wa7prc-tower
Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2015 11:50:40 -0400
From: "Douglas Ruz" <co8dm@frcuba.co.cu>
To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
Subject: [TowerTalk] Homebrew tower...
Hello,
I would like a tower in my property but i can not buy a Rohn or any other
tower, so, I WILL BUILD ONE...or will try build one.
I have many galvanized tubes, 7 ft long, 1 1/32 inch diameter and 1/8 inch
wall.
I have been reading dimensions of Rohn 25G and 45G...i like 25G.
My goals are:
-Reach about 50 ft high.
-Install a rotator.
-Install a lightweight tribander yagi (maybe an spiderbeam), a 6m yagi (5
elem) and maybe 2 elem moxon for 40m...I know 50ft is not OK for a 40m antenna
but my anchor points are to close, so, i can not install a higher tower.
I have another important questions...it is about GUY LINES...what is the
cheapest guy line solution ???
73....Douglas, CO8DM
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