[TowerTalk] Boom splice securing

[RICHARD BOYD]

The last I bought some it was very expensive.  I think those of us here in 
the Maryland area building large homebrew yagis have bought it from 
Dillsburg Aeroplane Works in Dillsburg, Pennsylvania.  Maybe Texas Towers 
sells it too.  If you know some of the guys who have built these big yagis, 
you may be able to buy a several-foot-long piece left over from one of their 
projects.  It seems like the price was a couple hundred dollars for one 
splice piece.  For something that thick wall there's a lot of aluminum in it 
and aluminum prices have been very high, historically speaking.

I was fortunate to get a couple other long ones (e.g. 20') in tower 
takedowns (used as masts) and/or laying in the weeds at out-of-service ham 
QTHs and recognized their value as splice material.

But, not just the thick wall stuff but even thin wall aluminum tubing has 
been very high for some years, and even the G10 fiberglass-type material 
used in 1" thickness for element to boom plates cost $70 (probably more now 
I would guess) apiece for 1" x 12" x 12".  None of these things are cheap. 
I guess that's why commercial yagis can cost $1,000 and up.

Which brings us to the best bargains in ham radio -- antennas like used TH-6 
tribanders.  I've had a number of them used and had trouble selling them for 
$150 or even $100, but could usually "place" one by reducing the price to 
between $50-$100 and knowing of someone who might be in the market.  Take 
them to a hamfest on top of your pickup and they get very few "looks."  The 
aluminum in these antennas must cost considerably more than what they go for 
used.  Or, ask around to all your friends and you may well find someone 
willing to give an old one away free.  I offered a TH-6 to a friend 
yesterday and he turned it down (I realized later it was a TH-3).

73 - Rich, KE3Q


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tom Sessions" <k4rv at mindspring.com>
To: "TowerTalk" <towertalk at contesting.com>
Sent: Friday, February 04, 2005 3:02 PM
Subject: RE: [TowerTalk] Boom splice securing


>
> Speaking of boom splices, where does one find a splice for 3" boom 
> sections?
> Thanks/73
> Tom K4RV
>
> > [Original Message]
> > From: <wb4mle at ctvea.net>
> > To: TowerTalk <towertalk at contesting.com>
> > Date: 2/4/2005 19:52:22
> > Subject: [TowerTalk] Boom splice securing
> >
> > I have a HyGain TH3-MKIII that has about 1 foot of the boom gone from a
> > fall. I have a piece of another boom- same size with a swage that will 
> > go
> > into the boom 5 inches (2 1/2 inch split in boom). I plan to use a hose
> > clamp and think I should rivet the splice to the boom at the split 
> > outside
> > ends to control torqueing. If I use rivets, I feel the split should face
> > UP, as facing downward will tend to open or bulge the split with 
> > downward
> > force. The split will be sealed with butyl rubber and chrome tape under
> the
> > hose clamp.
> > Am I missing/overlooking something with this plan?
> >
> > Thanks!
> > Eddie, WB4MLE
> > _______________________________________________
> >
> > 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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> > TowerTalk at contesting.com
> > 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.
>
> _______________________________________________
> TowerTalk mailing list
> TowerTalk at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
>