[TowerTalk] hose clamps and end caps

[donovanf at starpower.net]

Oops...

While stainless steel screws may perform useful mechanical functions
if applied correctly, they can NOT perform electrical functions at RF
because of skin effect.

73
Frank
W3LPL

---- Original message ----
>Date: Sun, 3 Feb 2008 09:52:39 -0600
>From: "Bill Parry" <bparry at rgv.rr.com>  
>Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] hose clamps and end caps  
>To: <Cqtestk4xs at aol.com>, <TOWERTALK at contesting.com>
>
>Bill
>
>Did you still use the hose clamps too? I considered the SS screw idea but
>decided that I would use the rivets instead. One hole in the element not
>two. Years ago I used to use aluminum self tapping screws but I quit that
>because I sheared a couple of those off.
>
>Bill
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: towertalk-bounces at contesting.com
>[mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Cqtestk4xs at aol.com
>Sent: Monday, March 03, 2008 9:41 AM
>To: TOWERTALK at contesting.com
>Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] hose clamps and end caps
>
>In a message dated 3/3/2008 2:41:31 P.M. Greenwich Standard Time,  
>bparry at rgv.rr.com writes:
>
>had two  experiences that made me reconsider what I was doing. The first
>was putting  up a KLM 15 6 element yagi.  It had been up for a few weeks
>when
>two  of the hose clamps popped and broke.  I have always thought that I  had
>tightened them too tight and the extremes of the temperature here in  South
>Texas had done the rest. The elements slowly slid out and fell to  the
>ground. I began to worry about how tight I should be tightening  those
>clamps. With a ratchet, it is easy to break or over-tighten hose  clamps.
>(Incidentally, I would replace those hose clamps while the antenna  is
>down.)
>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> 
>My old KLM antennas used the hose clamp method.  I simply drilled a  small 
>hole at each joint and inserted a small stainless screw covered with
>NoAlOx.  
>It helped to secure the joint as well as making a good electrical
>connection.
> 
>Bill KH7XS/K4XS
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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