Topband: Biodegradable staples

[Gary Smith]

My 2 pennies...

regarding the "durability" of staples in 
the wild; I'm an avid metal detectorist 
using a detector that costs as much as a 
new K3s. Iron has a particular 
characteristic when detected as does other 
metals like silver, copper & gold. 

I usually ignore iron/steel readings on 
the screen & the audible tones 
accompanying it, just too many old nails 
in the ground and they are everywhere. 
However... an old bit of iron with a bend 
in it can also register with the same 
values as silver so I have to dig when I 
find that.

You have no idea how many times I have dug 
14" down only to find a 1/2" bit of wire 
the thickness of a staple that has been 
sitting for easily 100 years in acidic New 
England soil. We think of things degrading 
quickly but they do not. Thin bits of iron 
will be around for a very long time.

As a side thing, the aluminum pull tabs 
from the 60's ring up much like 14K gold. 
Because I find hundreds of them I decided 
to make one of the old "love chains" from 
these that we used hang from the rear view 
mirror back in the 60's. Those pull tabs 
are in the same condition today as 40 
years ago. Metals last in the ground a 
very long time.

73,

Gary
KA1J


> You should never use steel staples in the ground.  Think for a minute.
>  They are sharp, rusty objects that stay a long time.  Imagine a
> barefoot child playing in the area (after you are SK possibly). 
> Imagine a lawn mower grabs a piece of radial wire and jerks it out of
> the ground with wire staples attached.
> 
> All you need to do is buy or make wooden dowels, drill a hole and
> string them along the radial and pound down in.  Only need to be 4
> inches long.  Simple, cheap, safe.
> 
> 
> Rick  K2XT
> 
> ________________________________
> From: Topband <topband-bounces at contesting.com> on behalf of
> cqtestk4xs--- via Topband <topband at contesting.com> Sent: Wednesday,
> June 6, 2018 8:54:59 PM To: topband at contesting.com Subject: Re:
> Topband: Biodegradable staples
> 
> I recently laid down about 6000 staples.  After several months most of
> them are starting to really get crusty rust with all the rain we get
> at this QTH.  They'll be pretty much gone in a couple of years...no
> need to worry about biodegradable out here, or in most wet areas.
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: N2TK, Tony <tony.kaz at verizon.net>
> To: topband <topband at contesting.com>
> Sent: Wed, Jun 6, 2018 7:10 pm
> Subject: Topband: Biodegradable staples
> 
> Somewhere recently someone had mentioned somewhere about 
> biodegradable staples for radials. Getting ready to cut the grass real
> close and start adding radials. I like the idea of the biodegradable
> parts over the steel staples I have.
> 
> Tnx
> 
> N2TK, Tony