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Re: [TowerTalk] Force12 rivets

To: towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Force12 rivets
From: K8RI on TT <k8ri-on-towertalk@tm.net>
Date: Thu, 24 Feb 2011 10:27:16 -0500
List-post: <towertalk@contesting.com">mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
On 2/24/2011 8:30 AM, Gary E. Jones wrote:
> I have a bunch of Force 12 antennas up in the air, all without any problems
> for years. However, that is probably because a good friend of mine bought a
> bunch before me, and rather quickly had one of the sections of element tips
> simply drop to the ground. The preferred method of construction was to have
> three rivets, all on positioned on the bottom of the element and on only one
> side of the element. There was enough "play" in the telescoping elements
> that the rivets would simply gradually be worked by the play until the
> rivets dropped to the ground and the element sections worked out of their
> telescoping tubing and drop to the ground also.
>
> MY friend (K5JZ) spent a lot of time talking with Force-12 and they came up
> with the process of using 6 rivets per junction, three on one side of the
> tubing and opposed by three on the other side of the tubing so they were 180
> degrees apart. Placing them on opposing sides removed all the very small
> "wiggle" of the elements and held them firmly in position.
I "would think" that two or 3 sets at 120 degrees staggered with a 60 
degree offset would give the most secure connection.

BTW I mentioned way earlier in this thread that my force 12's didn't 
have blind rivets, but I discovered the two packages of *spare* rivets 
from force 12 ARE blind rivets.  Not sure why those in it aren't.

OTOH I really don't see as if it'd make much difference. If properly 
seated either type should seal and if not neither type would seal properly.

I don't like the idea of rivets on line 180 degrees apart. It makes a 
good secure connection, but at the expense of the element strength along 
one axis which is admittedly in a low stress area so it probably makes 
no difference. OTOH it would be a good idea to avoid the practice in 
higher stress (or loaded) areas.

73

Roger (K8RI)


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