[TowerTalk] SS "U" bolts

[Jim White, K4OJ]

some excellent suggestions from  the DC ham....

FWIW - I use blocking of the boom to prevent crushing made form "plastic 
lumber" - it is currently very in vogue to use this stuff for decks, 
etc... it is recycled 2 litter pop bottle with some wood strands mixed 
in - very environmentally conscious to use it.

If you have access to a lather this stuff turns like a charm in no time 
you can spin it to the right diameter and when the bolts tighten down 
that boom wont be "yielding"

I have had good luck drilling a small hole in the center of the piece to 
be turned and then put a lag bolt into the mass... drive the lag bolt 
all the way into the block.  This will give you a six sided clamp on 
point which is great for the three jawed chuck on the lathe... the other 
end goes on a pointy rotatable center. For 3: boom you can get the 
plastic lumber equivalent of a 4X4 - if you get lucky you can convince 
them to cut a ten foot piece back to eight foot and sell you the two 
foot which is more than you will need! Remember to repeatedly measure - 
once it is too small the next stop is for a smaller boom!

Only down of using boom "plugs" is if you live in a climate where there 
is freezing - trapped water can freeze inside the boom and cause 
failure!  fortunately here in FL we don't have that problem... although 
I recommend a weep hole... did not do that on the first boom I 
plugged... after taking the heavy antenna down I heard the water inside 
the boom - drilled the weep and it "peed" for 10 minutes!

GL

Jim, K4OJ



Eric Scace K3NA wrote:
> Galling of stainless steel hardware can be prevented by using anti-seize compound.  Suitable compounds are available at auto supply
> stores.
> 
> Not sure what you are trying to hold.  If you are trying to keep the boom from rotating, maybe an extra U-bolt will help.  It might
> also help to place some material inside the portion of the boom on which the U-bolts bear, so as to keep the boom round while the
> U-bolt is compressed.  A wood dowel of appropriate diameter is one approach.  If the boom compresses or deforms over time, the
> U-bolt will become loose.
> 
> If you are simply trying to tighten things enough so that the nuts don't get loose again, use nylock nuts.
> 
> Hope this helps.
> 
> -- Eric K3NA
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: towertalk-bounces at contesting.com
> [mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com]On Behalf Of Joe - KC2TN
> Sent: 2003 July 18 Friday 15:30
> To: kk9a at arrl.net; TOWERTALK at contesting.com
> Subject: RE: [TowerTalk] SS "U" bolts
> 
> 
> I've used DX Engineering's 2 1/2" SS U bolts on my KT36XA mast bracket and
> they DON'T hold.
> You can't tighten them enough without galling. I visited DX Engineering
> while at Dayton this year and expressed my displeasure with their 5/16" vs
> 3/8" SS U-Bolts and they just shrugged.
> 
> I'm also looking for 2 1/2" x 3/8" SS or Galvanized U-Bolt source.
> 
> Joe - KC2TN
> 
> 
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