[TowerTalk] Trenching (OUCH)

[ersmar at comcast.net]

Mike:

     While you're recuperating this weekend, you might want to get some electrician's putty at Home Despot or Lowe's to use with your one-shots.  The first one I fired off leaked out through the bottom of the crucible.  After I cut off the bad slug atop the ground rod, I refitted the second ceramic mold to the ground rod.  I then put a bead (more like a snake) of putty around the rod just underneath the mold so as to prevent (I hoped) any leakage.  As a belt-and-suspenders move, I also put some putty around the holes where the wires entered the mold.

     After I fired the shot (stay upwind from it - it's pretty smoky) and let it cool, I removed the ceramic mold.  The resulting slug on the ground rod was nice and round and smoothly attached to the wires.

     I fully admit that the first erroneous shot might have been my fault and I might not have needed the putty.  But I didn't want to ruin any more shots, and all of the remaining shots went just fine.  

73 de
Gene Smar  AD3F



     
 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: "Merlin-7 KI4ILB" <merlin-7 at sc.rr.com>
> 
>  A good old fashined electric arc might do the trick and getting it fired
> up.
>  Arc welder or even a few 12 volt car batteries wired in seris may do the
> trick.
>  If I understand your problem corectly.
> 
>  Joe
> 
> > Greeting fellow TT colleagues,
> >
> > Today I'm "recovering" from serveal hours behind a Ditch-Witch (Model
> > 1030) yesterday.  My yard looks like I've got HUGE GOPHERS everywhere.
> That
> > machine has vibrated and bufffed every muscle in my body and I feel like a
> guy
> > whose had several rounds in the ring with Ali!    This thing is not for
> > precision work.  It gets a job done but much hand work is now required
> owing to
> > the fact that I had set all my ground rods first (would rethink this next
> time)
> > and followed by trenching between them.
> >
> > After I finished trenching I excitedly brought out the One-Shot Cadwelds
> > I got just for this job.  There I was, all set up and ready to go.
> Everything
> > was in place.  Spark-spark-spark - nothing!!  Humm, so, let's try again,
> > Spark-spark-spark.  Nothing again.  Well, I'll stick some fuse into it.
> Again,
> > nothing!  Opened another one - same thing.  Opened a 3rd one -same thing.
> Okay,
> > I headed right for the phone to call my contact at Erico.  When I
> explained the
> > problem in detail (no "starting powder" was retained in the container -
> it's all
> > mixed  together) she told me they have had some problems with Q.C.  I
> asked if
> > they would overnight new "powder cartridges" to me and she agreed but I
> made the
> > mistake of not specifying "Saturday Delivery."  Hence, my project is on
> hold
> > until Monday when I hope to make real progress in tying all the many
> ground rods
> > together.  Seems there are about 20 of them forming the tower radial
> system
> > which ties into the peripheral ground system around the house.
> >
> > My body needed a rest today - there is little doubt in my mind about
> > that, so I guess it all worked out for the best.
> >
> > 73,
> >
> > Mike DiGiroalmo, W4XN
> > Charlottesville, VA
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> >
> >
> >
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> >
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