[TowerTalk] Sources for mast material

[Michael Fox (K5MEF)]

I used Champion Radio's WinMARC tool to calculate the recommended masts for
my planned VHF/UHF stack.  If I enter an extra safe wind speed of 100 mph
(my county is 70 mph basic speed), the tool suggests the following masts:

 

Wall  Yield Strength    Description

----  --------------    ------------------------------------------

0.120       40,000      6063-T835         Drawn aluminum tube

0.120       42,000      2024-T3           Drawn aluminum tube

0.120       46,000      A 500 Grade B     Structural steel pipe

0.120       50,000      1010              Carbon steel CDBW 

 

Of course, something even stronger could be used, but just adds extra weight

 

I need a 10 foot mast and that's too long to ship via UPS, etc.  So I'll
need to obtain locally in order to avoid multi-$100 freight charges.  But, I
suspect if I took this list to a local hardware store or Home Depot or
Orchard Supply Hardware, they wouldn't have a clue.  

 

So, my questions are:  

1)  Does any of this stuff have a "common" name?  

2)  What type of place would I go to look for it?

3)  How can I tell that I'm getting the right stuff?

 

I'm in the S.F. Bay Area (peninsula), if that helps.

 

Thanks in advance,

 

73,

Michael - K5MEF

 

--

We are what we repeatedly do.  Excellence, then, is not a single act, but a
habit. -- Aristotle