[TowerTalk] Re: Yagis and Rivets

[Dave D'Epagnier]

I guess I would have to disagree that our application is more modest than
the aircraft application. Aircraft parts (wings etc) do not bend as sharply
as Yagi elements in the wind. They also have higher rivet densities and do
not have small radius round telescoping members with just a few small rivets
on one side.

As far as the possibility of using the wrong blind rivet, well that's
possible, but I used what was sent to me from the manufacturer. The initial
installation resulted in tight joints. Also, some of the elements had
factory preriveted sections. These are loose too. The big rivets holding the
element brackets to the boom are still tight. Oh well, I guess I'll just
sigh, remove all the rivets (fun job), replace them, and hope for the best.

--Dave
K0QE



<snip>
With respect, the aircraft precedent is a red herring, because the needs of
our application are much more modest.  I know, I know -- I brought it up,
but my point was a different one -- that the alloys used in aircraft and
antennas are pretty strong stuff, and the analogy to aluminum electrical
wiring is therefore suspect.

I'm sure it's perfectly possible to use the wrong blind rivet in a ham
application and have it not pull up tightly.  It's also perfectly true that
a telescoping fit will have a few thousandths clearance between the tubes,
but with a metal-bearing anti-oxidant material like Noalox in the joint I
don't think that matters. After all, with a single line of rivets on one
side, there will be a relatively large surface area squeezed tightly
against the next tube, with conduction assured between them, even if the
other side of the joint was open (which I doubt). 

73,  Pete N4ZR



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