[TowerTalk] Heights Towers Aluminum??

[Mark - AA6DX]

I was visiting my old buddies, Harbor Frieight, a couple weeks ago ... they 
had on special an aluminum welding rod that advertised you only needed a 
propane torch to make a super aluminum connection ... like, beams, towers, 
hardware?  I suppose this was what is meant by "buttering".  I did not buy, 
don't need any just this moment, but wonder if anyone else has tried this 
product ..
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=44810
Could certainly be handy if it does an anywhere near good job...Mark
AA6DX at ARRL.NET



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David H Craig" <n3db at radix.net>
To: <HansLG at aol.com>; <towertalk at contesting.com>
Sent: Friday, August 15, 2008 11:15 AM
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Fwd: Heights Towers Aluminum??


>    I have no first-hand knowledge of these towers, but I am currently
> working with an experienced aluminum welder (military aircraft) on a tower
> project.  Presuming arguendo this is not a "buttering" problem (cold weld
> with no penetration) it sounds as if the completed units are not
> heat-treated to bring them back to the original tensile strength.
>    An example- I asked my welder friend about the practicability of 
> welding
> a center-sleeve of 1 1/2" OD 1/4" wall aluminim tube into a 2" OD 1/4" 
> wall
> tube so I could have a travel mast with two 8 foot sections that would 
> silde
> together & bolt on just one side.  He told me the tube stength would be
> compromised unless the welded portion was "baked" at the appropriate temp
> for 24-36 hours, and that in his shop (a gov't facility with top of the 
> line
> gear) the "oven" can only fit 3ft long objects.  To wit:  "In some
> applications it is better to just use hardware and this is one of them".
>
>    Why do I get the impression that the critical welded areas of these
> towers are not re-heat-treated?
>
>    N3DB
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: <HansLG at aol.com>
> To: <towertalk at contesting.com>
> Sent: Friday, August 15, 2008 1:33 PM
> Subject: [TowerTalk] Fwd: Heights Towers Aluminum??
>
>
>>I am glad to get this information. The Height tower I have in my yard just
>> now is old. I noticed that some of the weld or the Z have opened and was
>> going
>> to fix that before I put the tower up. Now I may get all the welds
>> inspected
>> before I put it up. I looked at the welds before and wondered if they 
>> were
>> OK,  but as I am not an expert I thought they were OK. The welds that
>> brook were
>> under high tention after the Z itself bent at these places.
>>
>> Hans N2JFS
>>
>>
>>