[TowerTalk] Insulators

[K1TTT]

A carbide tipped blade in a power saw works just fine, the more teeth the
better the cut.  Be sure to use a dust catcher or do it outside and stand
upwind.


David Robbins K1TTT
e-mail: mailto:k1ttt at arrl.net
web: http://www.k1ttt.net
AR-Cluster node: 145.69MHz or telnet://dxc.k1ttt.net
 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: jimlux [mailto:jimlux at earthlink.net]
> Sent: Friday, October 09, 2009 21:22
> To: n8de at thepoint.net
> Cc: towertalk at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Insulators
> 
> n8de at thepoint.net wrote:
> > FYI:
> >
> > I discovered a new source for insulator material that I will be using
> > on my 80m tower verticals.
> >
> > At the local 'feed store', I found 1+1/4" fiberglass ROD with a few
> > small pre-drilled holes ... it's designed to be used as an electric
> > fence post.  The rod is VERY STRONG and should hold up quite well.
> >
> > The cost for a 6' rod is about $6 .... quite inexpensive.  Cutting it
> > into 6+" lengths is quite easy.
> 
> I used to use a lot of structural fiberglass in various forms. Whatever
> you cut or drill with will get dull very quickly when working with glass
> composites.. The glass is quite hard (harder than the steel in your
> cutting blades).
> 
> If you have a diamond grit blade that works real well (like a tile saw).
>   A carbide toothed blade works fairly well, too. An abrasive cutter
> also works, but is messy, melts the plastic matrix, and makes dust to
> boot (which as was pointed out, is nasty stuff).
> 
> Don't contemplate taking a 6 foot rod and hacking it into 6"
> insulators.. the rod might be cheap, but the sharpening costs or new
> blades won't be.
> 
> I haven't tried it, but cutting it with a shear, axe, or tree branch
> loppers might actually be a better strategy, since it would tend to
> "cleave" the glass fibers, and it's easier to sharpen the blade when it
> gets dull.
> 
> _______________________________________________
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> TowerTalk mailing list
> TowerTalk at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk