[TowerTalk] Llinseed oil

[Red]

That use of linseed oil may have been suggested by the practice of 
protecting steel tubing used in aircraft with linseed oil.  However, 
that application involved welding shut the tube after placing a small 
quantity of the linseed oil inside it.  The linseed oil oxidized before 
the steel, thus limiting oxidation of the steel.  Sealing the tube, by 
welding and not by any organic or other permeable material, prevented 
(or slowed) any exchange that might introduce more oxygen.

This process obviously can't work on open cables.

Hermetic seal requires solid metal, glass, or certain ceramic material, 
fused together.  Water and other gases permeate through rubber, plastic 
and such materials.  Those materials slow but do not stop exchange of gases.

73 de WOØW

K7LXC at aol.com wrote

>  linseed so it 
>seeps into the nooks and crannies of the cable. This should  effectively 
>passivate the cable for quite a few years.
> 
>    Umm, not really. I don't know of any  wire cable manufacturer that 
>recommends that so I won't either. There are  commercial tower companies that have 
>techniques and tools to lubricate big  cables on big towers but there's nothing 
>required for ham tower guys. 
> 
>    Galvanized EHS will last for 20-30 years if left  alone so I wouldn't 
>worry about it. Besides, the linseed oil will get washed  out in less than a year 
>so you're really not accomplishing anything. I sure  wouldn't want to work 
>with those slippery, slimy guy wires anyway. 
> 
>Cheers,
>Steve    K7LXC
>TOWER TECH 
>
>
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