I'm not sure how they get around the Hazmat conditions. "One shots (TM)"
come complete. There is no deactivation or activation. The material itself
is considered hazadarous. It'd burn a hole in a concrete floor.
The igniter is in the same container and in contact with the regular charge.
The only thing the user does is knock it out of the bottom of the container
and pour it on top where it can be ignited by what ever means is used. Me? I
just use a match, but I do wear leather gloves.
Roger Halstead (K8RI, EN73 & ARRL Life Member)
N833R, World's Oldest Debonair (S# CD-2)
www.rogerhalstead.com
> Personally I pay only about $6 each for my OneShots. I have to order a
> case at a time (12 ea.) and order from the local industrial supply house
> (I use Steiner Electric) with whom the plant has an account. I'm not
> sure if there is any Hazmat charges for shipping to Steiner from Erico;
> all the units are so to speak deactivated and are not listed as
> pyrotechnics or explosives. Phil KB9CRY
>
> Tower (K8RI) wrote:
>
> >Unfortunately for me the shipping would be a killer. There is this
Hazmat
> >thing about to contents. <:-)) Besides I have a full carton of the
things
> >out in the shop.
> >I was paying about $8 plus change, but the last time the price had gone
up.
> >
> >Roger Halstead (K8RI, EN73 & ARRL Life Member)
> >N833R, World's Oldest Debonair (S# CD-2)
> >www.rogerhalstead.com
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >>TT:
> >>
> >> Check out www.therfc.com (The RF Connection) near here in
> >>
> >>
> >Gaithursburg,
> >
> >
> >>MD. Their prices for one-shots are a bit better than ten bux a piece.
> >>
> >>73 de
> >>Gene Smar AD3F
> >>(Not an employee, just a satisfied customer.)
> >>
> >>----- Original Message -----
> >>From: "Tower (K8RI)" <tower@rogerhalstead.com>
> >>To: <kd4e@verizon.net>; <towertalk@contesting.com>
> >>Sent: Saturday, July 03, 2004 3:53 PM
> >>Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] What Welder Makes Good Exothermic Bonds?
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>>If you are talking ground rods, it's by far cheaper (and easier) to
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>just
> >>
> >>
> >>>>>purchase a few "one shot" cartidges. Everything comes premeasured.
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>You
> >>
> >>
> >>>just
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>>fit the form around the rod, put the ground wire in the opening(s)
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>provided,
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>>pack dirt around the form, pour in the charge, put on the top, add
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >the
> >
> >
> >>>>>igniter charge, and touch it off with an igniter.
> >>>>>http://www.rogerhalstead.com/ham_files/ground.htm
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>It would appear that I am looking at 12-15 ground rod welds, plus
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >maybe
> >
> >
> >>>>some rebar welds, that's a lot of disposable "one shots"! ;-)
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>I now have some where around 33. I lost track. <:-)) Purchasing them
by
> >>>
> >>>
> >>the
> >>
> >>
> >>>carton they are roughtly $10 each. There are 12 per carton and of
> >>>
> >>>
> >course
> >
> >
> >>>the price break comes at 13. IF they have to order them they are
> >>>
> >>>
> >available
> >
> >
> >>>only by the carton, at least around here.
> >>>
> >>>Of course $200 worth of one shots is a lot less than a $900 welder, let
> >>>alone a $4000 welder.
> >>>Then, unless you are already a welder, you have to learn how to use the
> >>>
> >>>
> >>darn
> >>
> >>
> >>>thing.
> >>>
> >>>Then again you are *almost* guaranteed a good weld if you follow
> >>>
> >>>
> >>directions
> >>
> >>
> >>>with the one shots. They are fast and contain just the proper amount
of
> >>>filler and give a joint that would take either a lot of skill or luck
to
> >>>match with other forms of welding.
> >>>
> >>>There is also the carbon block/form and purchasing the charge in bulk.
> >>>
> >>>
> >As
> >
> >
> >>I
> >>
> >>
> >>>recall the break even point was around 12 to 15 welds. I would have
> >>>
> >>>
> >saved
> >
> >
> >>>money by going that route, but I didn't want to mess with the carbon
> >>>
> >>>
> >>block,
> >>
> >>
> >>>or keeping that much thermite in my shop.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>>>I will not only be using it for the house and tower-related
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>I would add that using a TIG welder is very much like using an
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>OxyAcetylene
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>>torch, but the heat is supplied by an arc. The arc supplies the heat
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>and
> >>
> >>
> >>>you
> >>>
> >>>I should have noted It's also more concentrated.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>>feed in the rod just like brazing or torch welding. As with MIG
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>welding
> >>
> >>
> >>>you
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>>need a nice calm day outside.
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>So far I am seeing TIG welders for $900. - $4,000! Out of my range
> >>>>for sure! Perhaps something used/refurbished?
> >>>>
> >>>>I have yet to find any reference to copper and references to
> >>>>only certain models sufficient for aluminum. Hmmm.
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>They may not reference it, but any TIG welder that has the heat
capacity
> >>>should work on coper and aluminum. You'd probably need to use a
> >>>
> >>>
> >different
> >
> >
> >>>cover gas though.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>There are several problems using an arc on Aluminum and copper. As I
> >>>
> >>>
> >>recall
> >>
> >>
> >>>the big difference is between the voltage necessary to establish the
arc
> >>>
> >>>
> >>and
> >>
> >>
> >>>that required to carry the current to melt the metal. It takes a *lot*
> >>>
> >>>
> >of
> >
> >
> >>>heat (BTUs) to melt Copper and Aluminum copared to steel even though
> >>>
> >>>
> >steel
> >
> >
> >>>has a much higher melting point..That is one of the things that raises
> >>>
> >>>
> >the
> >
> >
> >>>price.
> >>>
> >>>Also "to me" TIG welding is much more of an art than MIG, or stick
> >>>
> >>>
> >welding
> >
> >
> >>>and a class on welding would be a good idea.It usually takes most
people
> >>>quite a few hours before they can run a good horizontal bead/weld
> >>>
> >>>
> >joining
> >
> >
> >>>two flat plates with any type of welding.
> >>>
> >>>I still think your best bet for the ground rods is the one shot
approach
> >>>followed by OxyAcetylene. Bernzomatic does make a OxyAcetylene and
> >>>OxyMapgas torch with tanks the same size as the butane tanks. I think
> >>>
> >>>
> >the
> >
> >
> >>>tanks run on the order of $10 to $12. One tank of Acetylene would
> >>>
> >>>
> >>probably
> >>
> >>
> >>>get you through ... guessing... maybe 6 or so ground rods. I'm not sure
> >>>
> >>>
> >>how
> >>
> >>
> >>>far the Oxygen would go. They are limited to using a relatively low
> >>>pressure which means the tanks will probably not last long.
> >>>
> >>>To braze the copper cable to a ground rod I'd get a good thick coat of
> >>>brasing rod melted to the top of the rod and then using lots of flux
> >>>
> >>>
> >work
> >
> >
> >>up
> >>
> >>
> >>>through the copper cable, or thouroughly coat the copper with brazing
> >>>
> >>>
> >rod
> >
> >
> >>>and then bond the two together. That might be easier.You do have to be
> >>>careful as the melting point of coper is close to that of the brazing
> >>>
> >>>
> >rod,
> >
> >
> >>>but it can be done. With experience the copper could be brazed to the
> >>>ground rod with a secure and good looking joint. Unfortunately
> >>>
> >>>
> >experience
> >
> >
> >>>costs money and lots of time, at least for most of us <:-)) To top
it
> >>>off, mistakes can be expensive.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>Guess I need to keep learning and searching
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>We all do. I was counting on that 290 million lottery for my new floor
> >>>
> >>>
> >>mill
> >>
> >>
> >>>and lathe <:-)) Maybe I should buy tickes next time to increase my
> >>>chances... slightly?
> >>>.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>You *might* find a reconditioned TIG, but the ones I've seen were all
> >>>industrial size units and still expensive. My neighbor is a rep for
one
> >>>
> >>>
> >>of
> >>
> >>
> >>>the local industrial suppliers which does help a bit <:-))
> >>>
> >>>Roger Halstead (K8RI, EN73 & ARRL Life Member)
> >>>N833R, World's Oldest Debonair (S# CD-2)
> >>>www.rogerhalstead.com
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>73, doc kd4e
> >>>>_______________________________________________
> >>>>
> >>>>See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers",
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >"Wireless
> >
> >
> >>>Weather Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with
> >>>
> >>>
> >>any
> >>
> >>
> >>>questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>_______________________________________________
> >>>>TowerTalk mailing list
> >>>>TowerTalk@contesting.com
> >>>>http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>_______________________________________________
> >>>
> >>>See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless
> >>>
> >>>
> >>Weather Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with
> >>
> >>
> >any
> >
> >
> >>questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
> >>
> >>
> >>>_______________________________________________
> >>>TowerTalk mailing list
> >>>TowerTalk@contesting.com
> >>>http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
> >>>
> >>>
> >>_______________________________________________
> >>
> >>See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless
> >>
> >>
> >Weather Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with
any
> >questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
> >
> >
> >>_______________________________________________
> >>TowerTalk mailing list
> >>TowerTalk@contesting.com
> >>http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> >_______________________________________________
> >
> >See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless
Weather Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any
questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
> >
> >_______________________________________________
> >TowerTalk mailing list
> >TowerTalk@contesting.com
> >http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
> >
> >
> >
> _______________________________________________
>
> See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless
Weather Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any
questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
>
> _______________________________________________
> TowerTalk mailing list
> TowerTalk@contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
>
_______________________________________________
See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless Weather
Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any questions
and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
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