EMT Electrical Conduit!!!!!!!!

[Bill Coleman]

>From:        John Brosnahan, broz@csn.net
>
>At 11:25 PM 10/6/96 -0400, you wrote:
>>Fellows:     PLEASE!!! PLEASE!!! PLEASE!!!  DO NOT USE EMT FOR TOWER 
>>WORK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
>>
>>I spent many years in the electrical supply business, and EMT Electrical 
>>Metalic Tubing is just that, TUBING.  It is cold rolled steel and then 
>>"lightly" galvinized!   EMT is made to be bent, EMT is made to be used 
>>inside only!!  Ask any electrician and he will tell you that EMT is 
>>"Cheap" stuff and should not be used for any load handling duty.  I 
>>wouldn't use EMT for anything heaver than a pipe to hold my tower rope!!

As has been pointed out by others, we have a terminology problem. I have 
been speaking of "thick wall" EMT, which is more correctly known as rigid 
electrical conduit.

Rigid electrical conduit is thick, heavy, strong and richly galvanized. 
It makes a suitable SHORT mast for LIGHT loads.

>>If you must be "Cheap" with your mast material please use at least the 
>>Chain link fencing posts or top rails, at least this stuff is "Designed" 
>>to be used outdoors.  A trip up the tower to remove even a vertical that 
>>is attached to a bent piece of mast material is no fun!!

Chain link fencing posts are pretty sturdy, but I would not use top rails 
for anything structural. They bend far too easy. I've seen fences where 
people have hopped over the rail repeatedly that resemble spagetti. 

>Fellows:     PLEASE!!! PLEASE!!! PLEASE!!!  DO NOT USE CHAIN LINK
>FENCE FOR TOWER WORK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
>
>I would even be very suspicious of chain link fence toprail!  I have seen 
>some
>of the stuff that is not tubing at all--just a piece of flat stock that is
>rolled
>into a cylinder and then galavanized.  This sticks it together and makes it
>appear to be a welded pipe but there is no welding.  Under even a modest
>load the NON-seam will just pop open.  Not all of the stuff is made this
>way but unless you know what you have I wouldn't use it!

Amen. 

Bill Coleman, AA4LR           Mail: aa4lr@radio.org
Quote: "Not in a thousand years will man ever fly!"
            -- Wilbur Wright, 1901


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