[TowerTalk] Truss clamp for 2" mast ??

Jim Thomson jim.thom at telus.net
Tue Jul 20 18:50:35 PDT 2010


Ok... I'm not impressed with the F-12  method of securing the over head truss line to the 2" mast. 
The F-12 method consist of  looping the  1/8"  SS  truss cable  through the "U"  portion of a standard
U-clamp.. with the saddle on the back end of the mast.   While this method works, it's an absolute 
bitch to get some tension on the truss line.   IE:  you have to push up on the U bolt.. and hold it there, then tighten
the U bolt. 

Does anybody make a 2 x piece clamp  that will  clamp onto a 2"  mast, such that a SS /galvanized  small
turnbuckle can be installed on either side of the 2" mast ???    That would  make life a LOT easier.   Of course,
the  one coninuous piece of stock truss line would have to be cut in the middle, and either cable clamps or nicropress crimps 
installed + a pair of thimbles, etc. 

I can envision the proposed 2 x piece wrap around clamp assy in my head.   Plan B is... since I use  several  HB mast steps
already, which use a single DX eng  super mast clamp assy,  I might be able to slide a thin piece of flat bar steel between
the 2 x clamp halves... and drill it for a 3/8"  hole.    Then the G-8  bolt  would pass through both halves of the mast clamps
plus the flat bar in the middle.   Once tight, there is a small gap between the 2 x halves of the DX eng clamps anyway. 
The flat bar would pivot down on an angle, and the other end of the flat bar could be used to terminate one
end of a turnbuckle. 

What do other folks use to terminate  an over head truss ?  

later...... Jim   VE7RF


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