If one used water pipe with extra braces, I would expect the tower to collapse
under its own weight. I think wood would be more suitable, if it is available.
Chuck W5PR
Sent from my iPhone
> On Jun 28, 2015, at 10:39 AM, Patrick Greenlee <patrick_g@windstream.net>
> wrote:
>
> 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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>
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