[TowerTalk] Thrust bearing thread

[Stan Labinsky Jr.]

One thing to bear in mind, gents, is the effect that UV has on HDPE.  I have 
a nice European (looking) low band Ringo style antenna which is shot because 
the HDPE sleeve which insulates the radiator from the mounting sleeve is 
cracked and split in multiple places, all courtesy of Mr. Sunshine.

Stan

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jim Lux" <jimlux at earthlink.net>
To: <towertalk at contesting.com>
Sent: Friday, October 14, 2011 10:46 AM
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Thrust bearing thread


> On 10/14/11 4:34 AM, w8zn at comcast.net wrote:
>> It has been interesting seeing all the posts about this. The real 
>> question is why would you ever use a TB3 or TB4 at $161 and $185 (from 
>> 3Star) when you can have a REAL bearing for only $30.98???? Made with 
>> REAL steel, seals and a zerk fitting?
>>
>> Check out 
>> http://www.thebigbearingstore.com/servlet/the-88/2%22-Four-Bolt-Flange/Detail
>>
>> A nice  1" thick plate of Delrin with a two inch hole cut in it using a 
>> hole saw from your local hardware store works really well also - Delrin 
>> however is way more expensive than these bearings.
>>
>
> Delrin might even be overkill..   A couple slices from a 1/2" thick
> cutting board (or a 1" thick board) made of HDPE (aka poor man's teflon)
>
>
> Almost any plastics supplier can supply it.  A quick google for HDPE
> Cutting Board turns up, for example, US Plastics a 1/2"x12x18" sheet for 
> $11
>
> That acetal/Delrin is expensive.. $100 for a 1x12x12 chunk... Acetal is
> nice to machine, though.  It's a lot harder than PE and it doesn't melt
> while you're machining it, but it's probably overkill for the radial
> load bearing application.
>
> HDPE in 1x10x10 is $18, they also have UHMW PE, PVC, Nylon,
> polypropylene, etc.  They're all fairly inexpensive.
>
> McMaster Carr also has this kind of thing, and really, really fast
> delivery, if you want to get working on it tomorrow.
>
> For the impecunious among us, checking with restaurants who are throwing
> them away could probably get one for free.   (They have to dispose of
> them when the cuts and scratches get too deep to be properly
> sterilized).  The cafeteria at work probably has 200 of these boards in
> various colors stacked up in the kitchen.
>
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