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Re: [TowerTalk] Source for 2" OD Mast

To: "'Jerry Gardner'" <jerryw6uv@gmail.com>, <towertalk@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Source for 2" OD Mast
From: "N2TK, Tony" <tony.kaz@verizon.net>
Date: Fri, 04 Jan 2013 18:42:38 -0500
List-post: <towertalk@contesting.com">mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
Hi Jerry,
2" tubing fits fine in theTB-3. In 1978 I bought a 22' x 2" x 1/4"piece of
heat treated 4130. Also picked up a 12' x 1.5" x 1/4" of 4130. Pounded the
1.5" piece into the 2" piece for about 2'. It just wouldn't go anymore.
Drilled and pounded in a taper pin. Bought some cold galvanizing paint.
Sealed one end of the tubing. Poured in some paint in the other end and
sealed it. Rolled the tubing in the driveway to make sure everything was
well coated. Drained out the remaining paint. Then coated the outside.
Except for some touchup every few years the tubing looks good, inside and
out.

Had 8' of the 2" tubing sticking in the tower. Then hung a Christmas tree of
antennas on the 24' sticking out the top. Swayed big time in heavy wind. But
nothing ever bent or broke. Still using it today. 4130 seems to be good
stuff.
Don't know if you hot dip galvanize it if it will fit in a TB-3. I would
think not. But others who have done it can answer that question.

4130 is a cheap price when compared to all the other costs of the tower,
antennas and associated hardware.

73,
N2TK, Tony

-----Original Message-----
From: TowerTalk [mailto:towertalk-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Jerry
Gardner
Sent: Friday, January 04, 2013 4:59 PM
To: towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Source for 2" OD Mast

On Fri, Jan 4, 2013 at 1:40 PM, Rick Karlquist <richard@karlquist.com>wrote:

> Also, pipe is never 2" OD.  So called 2 inch pipe has a 2.375" OD.
> It won't fit most tower hardware.
>

That goes to show how much I don't know about masts. I'm planning to use a
Rohn TB3 thrust bearing at  the top of the tower -- what tubing OD would I
specify to a metal dealer to get something that is compatible with the TB3?

Most of the places I've called sell the 4130 tubing "raw", e.g. not
galvanized. Does galvanizing the mast change its OD to the point where it
won't work in the TB3?

73, Jerry
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