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[TowerTalk] A Question about Mast Tubeing

To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
Subject: [TowerTalk] A Question about Mast Tubeing
From: gscholten@michamber, com@vixa.voyager.net (Gale)
Date: Fri, 03 Jul 1998 11:20:04 -0400
TOMK5RC@aol.com wrote:
> 
> In a message dated 7/1/98 10:08:18 PM Central Daylight Time,
> gscholten@michamber.com writes:
> 
> > These mast are all good but you might consider using 1-1/2" Schedule 80
> >  pipe.  It is quite a bit thicher than sch 40 pipe and uses a higher
> >  grade of steel.  It works well for a lot of people and is less
> >  expensive.  Another option is to find a soil testing company, their
> >  drill rigs use 4350 semi stainless steel drill rods.  When the ends of
> >  the rods get bad they have to throw them out but they make fantastic
> >  mast pipe with incredable strength.  These drill rods come in many
> >  diameters.
> 
> ARGHHHHH!!!!!!!!
> 
> Please don't dispense advice based on pragmatic experience. Schedule 40, 80,
> whatever, pipe was designed to carry liquids and gasses, not to support
> anything. You will not find structural data published on water pipe.
> 
> Using any other material based on "It looks heavy" or "It has incredible
> strength" is equally foolhardy. I know, we have all "gotten away" with using
> almost anything for mast material, but, when someone is starting from the
> beginning, the best thing to do is use K7LXC's mast calculation program and
> then purchase the appropriate material for the job. Water pipe is never
> appropriate and aluminum is seldom strong enough, unless you are mounting one
> antenna 6" above the top of the tower.
> 
> Tom, K5RC
> 

WRONG, you just have not looked for the structural data, it does exist. 
Anyone that owns a "Machinery's Handbook" has the needed data. It is
also available from pipe and tubing manubactures.
 The "Machinery' Handbook" is a very common industrial bible.

N8GS

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