[TowerTalk] How to stiffen a mast

[MIKE GREENWAY]

I thought about this some years ago and had a friend turn some solid oak
dowels on his lathe that would just go into the mast.  I used a hammer to
tap them into place but I brushed on epoxy just to take up any spacing
between the two.  I capped the mast on both ends.  It has been there for
years.  I asked a structual engineer afterward about doing this and he said
they sometimes combine wood with metal to increase the strength.  Whether it
is worth doing or not I cannot say but it made me feel a lot better.73 Mike
K4PI


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Barkey, Patrick M." <pbarkey at bsu.edu>
To: <towertalk at contesting.com>
Sent: Wednesday, January 26, 2005 8:15 PM
Subject: [TowerTalk] How to stiffen a mast


I've been using 24 foot, half inch wall, 2.5 inch OD aluminum masts
on all of my towers for quite a few years, with no failures or real
problems.  During the recent ice storm, however, a couple of them
flexed a little more than I'd like to see (they've since sprung back).

Now that I have the opportunity to think this over, I am wondering
if it would be of any value to try to add a little more stiffness to
the existing mast by driving something into the hollow center.
I've got a 1.5 inch ID hole to work with - perhaps some pipe or
solid rod could be driven into it?

Wondering if anyone has ever tried anything like this?

  - Pat
    N9RV
.

_______________________________________________

See: 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.

_______________________________________________
TowerTalk mailing list
TowerTalk at contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk