[TowerTalk] Tower Painting

[K8RI on Tower talk]

> Hi:
> In reply to Bob, I think he means red oxide primer, which is an oil based 
> primer that bonds to the rust (not

I'm not sure if the above is in reference to my remark about doing the 
inside of the masts and legs with the primer, but yes that is the primer to 
which I was refering.

>sure about the bonding). I have used a lot of that. It is good when there 
>is no galvanization left. That is, when

"I think" there is a chemical reaction with the rust from reading the lable 
on the can, but I'd not gurantee  it.

>there is no zinc left and the galvanized coating has been completely (or 
>nearly completely) replaced by rust. I >am not sure they let it get that 
>far in the Navy.
>
> Otherwise, I have used white water based primer that I think is only an 
> adhesive between the galvanized >metal and the top coat.

If there's no rust I'd think that would be plenty sufficient.

>
> My question was how do you get it on the inside of the tower leg? The 
> tower sections I work with, mostly, >are tubular steel.

It all depends on how messy you are willing to get. <:-))
Some just stick a high pressure spray gun into the end of each leg (with the 
section horizontal of pointeld slightly down hill). I cap off the ends of 
the legs using plastic pipe caps and wrap electrical tape around the outside 
over the bolt holes. Then I stand the section on end and pour in enough 
thinned primer to fill each leg.

Do this in an area where spilled paint will not be a problem. If one of 
those caps come soff , or the tape leaks it'll make a big mess in a hurry.

Roger Halstead (K8RI and ARRL 40 year Life Member)
N833R - World's oldest Debonair CD-2
www.rogerhalstead.com
> R.
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