Topband: Dacron & varmits

[George Taft]

 Grant has the answer as far as we are concerned. The Dacron from Synthetic Textiles is good rope.

Been using it for mni years. Currently guying my 5 el 80 M array that has been up 25 years. Looks bit weathered but no failures.

Charlie, W0CD (SK) used the same rope and when we dismantled his low band array, the rope was still in FB shape. His antennas had been up over 25 years.

FWIW

73 George W8UVZ     On Tuesday, February 18, 2020, 11:05:24 AM EST, Grant Saviers <grants2 at pacbell.net> wrote:  
 
 aircraftspruce.com  (but airplane stuff is $$$$$)

If it is really dacron then http://synthetictextilesinc.com/supportham.html

And available at several ham radio suppliers.

Maybe you want nylon based, this ebay seller has high quality 
"para-cord"  also called "550 line"  I suspect originally mil-spec as 
parachute riser lines, pretty important.  I have bought from others but 
the sheath was loose on the core.  This may not affect the strength, 
don't know, but it sure makes for messy cutting, heat sealing and poor 
handling.

Also, red based colors while highly visible fade very quickly in sun. 
The herringbone patterns even in blues and greens are still highly 
visible, if that is desired.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Bulk-1000ft-Spool-of-550-Parachute-Paracord-Type-III-7-Strand-Nylon-Cord/233012186762?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

Grant KZ1W



On 2/18/2020 01:25, Roy Morgan wrote:
> There is a company that sells aircraft parts and supplies. The name is something like "American Spruce" or some such. Memory is unreliable on this.
> 
> They sell spark-plug shaped silica gel de humidifier devices used in preserving piston engines and also used in early Collins PTO's.
> 
> Some creative searching will turn up the company name.
> 
> Roy Morgan
> K1LKY Western Mass
> 
>> On Feb 18, 2020, at 3:01 AM, Gary Smith <Gary at ka1j.com> wrote:
>>
>> Coupla things. I need new Dacron, some I
>> have is from the 80's & finally at its
>> end. I bought some replacement but it's
>> not what I had. What I had was greenish
>> and solid braid, tough and incredibly
>> resistant to nature.
>>
>> What my new "Dacron" is, is a white center
>> conductor I assume is Dacron, with a black
>> braided sleeve/outer-layer which slides
>> over the center conductor. It's OK but
>> difficult to work with and certainly not
>> what I am going to keep using. I contacted
>> one source who said he sells pure Dacron
>> rope but never buying from him before,
>> asked for a photo of an end piece so I
>> could see if it's what I'm looking for. He
>> never sent it to me so I'm still looking.
>>
>> For the moment I need 500', soon, double
>> that. If there's a known source for the
>> good stuff in the states, please let me
>> know.
> ..,
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