[TowerTalk] polyrod

[RICHARD BOYD]

Excuse me, please move me over to the W3LPL and K3MM column.  My experience was identical to yours, mine was replaced and I uncoiled it.  I think you imply that I was one of the stupid guys who didn't learn his lesson and didn't follow good advice.  You have it wrong.  But, if you want to dump in W2BZR, you have my permission.  hi.  

I think I did make the tactical error, though, of telling you and "everyone" that the busted up pieces make good beverage antenna supports, which is what I've used mine for, so none has gone to waste!  If I hadn't mentioned it, I could probably have picked up everyone else's broken pieces!  73 - Rich, KE3Q
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Frank Donovan<mailto:donovanf at erols.com> 
  To: towertalk at contesting.com<mailto:towertalk at contesting.com> 
  Sent: Saturday, April 09, 2005 12:24 PM
  Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] polyrod


  W3LPL, K3MM, KE3Q and W2BZR suffered significant
  failure of Polygon fiberglas rod when stored in the original
  eight foot diameter coils.  This happened with multiple
  shipments over several years.

  If anyone doubts this, you're welcome to visit W3LPL
  and I'll show you many failed pieces of Polygon fiberglas
  rod from W2BZR's and W3LPL's coils.   After my first
  experience with broken rod, I always uncoil the shipments
  immediately after receipt.  I've never suffered a failure
  after the first shipment that I did not uncoil immediately.

  My Polygon rod has been installed for ten years, and the
  rod is just beginning the show slight surface deterioration
  (the outer layer is just beginning to turn white from
  ultra-violet exposure).   There's no evidence of loss
  of strength.   This deterioration is likely to be more rapid
  and severe in the more extreme UV environments such
  as Florida or the western states.

  Despite reported claims by Polygon's "sales people," I spoke 
  their engineer ten years ago, after four coils of my coiled
  Polygon guy failed after being stored for six months.  He told me
  that Polygin fiberglas rod should be uncoiled after its received.
  He definitely warned against long term storage in coils.
  He explained that the outer edge of the coiled fiberglas rod
  is under extreme tension when coiled.  Thermal cycling
  eventually causes the resin binder to crack when its coiled.
  The fiberglas strands will tear when the resin cracks.

  After he apologized that their sales people did not warn me
  about the requirement to uncoil the factory coils after receipt,
  he talked the sales people into replacing all of the failed
  coils (over 10,000  feet) at no charge to me or K3MM.
  We agreed to pay  FOB freight charges only.

  If you fail to uncoil your Polygon fiberglas rod shortly after
  receipt, don't say you weren't warned!   Ask WB2BZR and
  KE3Q who were both warned, and both found that they
  had thousands of expensive tomato stakes when they 
  uncoiled their Polygon fiberglas guy that had been long term
  stored in coils.

  73!
  Frank
  W3LPL
  donovanf at erols.com<mailto:donovanf at erols.com>
  _______________________________________________

  See: http://www.mscomputer.com<http://www.mscomputer.com/>  for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless Weather Stations", and lot's more.  Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.

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