[TowerTalk] How to stiffen a mast

[k2qmf at juno.com]

How about filling the center of the mast with Viagra???

73,  K2QMF

On Tue, 1 Feb 2005 11:19:23 -0600 "Keith Dutson" <kjdutson at earthlink.net>
writes:
> I agree that combining wood and metal helps with rigidity.  You must 
> make
> certain that the wood is sealed against the elements to prevent 
> weathering.
> Fiberglass and/or epoxy coating makes it even more rigid.  The floor 
> pan in
> my Corvette is actually made of fiberglass coated plywood that is 
> bolted to
> the steel frame.
> 
> Keith NM5G
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: towertalk-bounces at contesting.com
> [mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of MIKE 
> GREENWAY
> Sent: Tuesday, February 01, 2005 7:50 AM
> To: Barkey, Patrick M.; towertalk at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] How to stiffen a mast
> 
> 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.
> 
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> _______________________________________________
> 
> 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
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> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
> 
> _______________________________________________
> 
> 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.
> 
> _______________________________________________
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> 
>