[TowerTalk] Open Wire Spacers - Summary

[Wyllma Wall]

Hi everyone,

mgs4u.com sells solid fiberglass rod about 5/16" round and works great. Has a
very good UV life and are cheap.
                                                               Bill Wall
KC4UZ

Bill Coleman AA4LR wrote:

> A week or two ago, when the merits of open wire line were discussed, I
> noted that the biggest impediment to using REAL open wire line is the
> requirement of fashioning spacers. Here's a summary of suggestions:
>
> Material:
>
> * Dowels boiled in Paraffin - (Not to mention the relative dangers of hot
> paraffin) this is a classic method. K7GCO indicates that these don't last
> long, and I would tend to agree.
>
> * Tongue Depressors - Another classic. K7GCO says they crack easily.
> Dowels would probably be a better choice.
>
> * Delrin or Teflon Rod - I don't know where you get these, but it sounds
> good.
>
> * PVC - W8JI ran tests. Gray PVC hold water as it weathers - not
> recommended. White PVC is good, but gets brittle and cracks. Can fail
> when wet.
>
> * Plexiglass - W8JI found it too brittle to work. Also failed when wet.
>
> * UV Resistant Lexan - W8JI found it was best in his tests.
>
> * Nylon - W8JI found it works OK.
>
> * Ceramic - A classic, but they are very heavy and difficult to find.
>
> * K3HX noted a QST hint (QST AUG 86) to use 120-size plastic film spools.
> Free for the asking at professional film houses.
>
> Construction:
>
> * N6NZ came up with a neat idea: Take flat plastic pieces and cut them in
> a stack:
>
> +---------------+
> |               |
> |   |       |   |
> +---+-------+---+
>
> Slap two of these together on the wire in opposite direction, and hold
> together with cement, or use a UV resistant cable tie.
>
> * My variation on N6NZ's idea: Cut slots on opposite sides
>
> +---+-----------+
> |   |           |
> |           |   |
> +-----------+---+
>
> Cut slots slightly over center, then hold as above, or drill a hole in
> the center and hold together with a screw and nut (makes the spacers
> reusable)
>
> * K6LL provided an excellent suggestion: use plastic coathangers for
> material. But the interesting idea was his construction technique. Set up
> a little drilling pattern, alternating little hole, big hole, little hole
> (o O o      o O o) in the straight pieces of the coathanger. Then, using
> a diagonal cutter, cut in the center of each big hole, which will leave a
> slot for the feedline wires. The
> tie-wires go in the little holes. This method could easily be used with
> any type of plastic rod or narrow plastic sheet.
>
> Thank you everyone for your suggestions! Lots of creative folks on the
> list.
>
> Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASEL        Mail: aa4lr@radio.org
> Quote: "Boot, you transistorized tormentor! Boot!"
>             -- Archibald Asparagus, VeggieTales
>
> --
> FAQ on WWW:               http://www.contesting.com/towertalkfaq.html
> Submissions:              towertalk@contesting.com
> Administrative requests:  towertalk-REQUEST@contesting.com
> Problems:                 owner-towertalk@contesting.com
> Search:                   http://www.contesting.com/km9p/search.htm


--
FAQ on WWW:               http://www.contesting.com/towertalkfaq.html
Submissions:              towertalk@contesting.com
Administrative requests:  towertalk-REQUEST@contesting.com
Problems:                 owner-towertalk@contesting.com
Search:                   http://www.contesting.com/km9p/search.htm