[Towertalk] Quality of Home Center "tower" hardware

[K7LXC@aol.com]

In a message dated 7/30/02 1:21:37 PM Pacific Daylight Time, n2mg@eham.net 
writes:

> I am considering the use of pin shackles in my guying 
>  system and am wondering if anyone has any info to 
>  offer regarding the quality/durability of those one 
>  can purchase from Lowes/HomeDepot etc.  I'm concerned 
>  that they will end up rusting/corroding severely in a 
>  short time (even though they "look" galvanized).

    Buy one and leave it out in the backyard for a couple of months and see 
what happens. If it really rusts, chuck it over the fence. 

    Generally shackles/clevises aren't the weak links in the chain so some 
surface rust won't hurt anything. If you're really concerned, get one the 
next size up. A good rule of thumb for shackle size is to double the wire 
size; i.e. 3/16" EHS uses a 3/8" shackle. 

    I've found virtually all shackles useful - even the cheap Chinese ones - 
and haven't had any reason not to use them.

Cheers,
Steve    K7LXC
TOWER TECH -
Professional tower services for commercial and amateur