[TowerTalk] grounding

[Rob Atkinson, K5UJ]

<<<But then, you may see oxidation starting to build up in the joint and 
possibly rendering the connection useless (meaning high resistance).  >>>

I have had copper wire antennas soldered and exposed with no trouble for 
years.

<<<If Cadwelding is the way to go, then why not just go there.  Cadweld 
"Oneshots" by Erico can be purchased for around $5 -6 each if purchased in 
box quantities from an electrical supply house and Harger sells "Unishots" 
by the each for around $7 - 8.>>>

I love it when you guys talk about cadwelding as if I can just go get one 
out of a coke machine with complete instructions and use it as intuitively 
and easily as falling off a log.

My cadweld experience:  Caldweld company--forget it--no retail.  Rob finds 
obscure cadweld vendor--girl answers phone...Me:  "Do you sell Cadwelds?"  
Girl:  (As if I just asked her if she sells stolen pistols)  "Uh, yes...?"  
Me:  "Okay, I'd like to buy 7 of them."  Girl:  "Um, would you hold please?" 
  Guy comes on line:  "Sir, we have a minimum order of 100."    I call local 
electrical supply..."Do you sell Cadwelds?"  Guy on phone:  "Yep, ...Wassa 
ugala bugala?*

*At this point guy has lapsed into Cadweld terminology, or some secret code 
only known to the high priesthood of professionals and everyone on this list 
who likes to say, "Just Cadweld it!" I, unable to get a straight answer on 
what to buy; what I need; how to use the stuff and knowing only vaugely that 
there are many molds and you have to have just the right one for the 
hardware you have, which may not be the right hardware after all, wind up 
going back to Home Depot to buy clamps.

How about one of you telling the rest of us what we need to purchase, what 
the stuff is called so we know what to ask for, what we're going to need and 
how to use it?  I'd love to do cadwelds if someone would explain the 
process, how it works, and what all the stuff I'm supposed to have is.  
Telling me to buy a Unishot, whatever that is, isn't really an explanation.  
Phil is right about the clamps loosening--on top of that, you can over-do 
the tightening.  I tore off one of the screw heads on one of mine so next 
time I'm gg to have to saw it off to replace the screw (it's pretty tight 
right now : ).

Tnx,
Rob Atkinson
K5UJ

p.s. Pse send ur answers to TT so anyone else besides me who wants to know 
can learn something.
pps. How to Cadweld with a demo would be a great topic for a talk at a 
monthly radio club meeting along with other external ground related matters 
(easy rod driving methods, trench depth to avoid heave etc.).

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