[TowerTalk] Choice of aluminum

Sat Oct 13 21:36:27 EDT 2012

All the radials for 4 SQ arrays for 160m, 80m, and 40m I can fit on 25 acres. I guess I need to start looking for bulk wire sold by the mile too :-)

Rudy N2WQ

________________________________
 From: David Jordan <wa3gin at comcast.net>
To: scottw3tx at verizon.net; Rudy Bakalov <r_bakalov at yahoo.com> 
Cc: towertalk at contesting.com; K1TTT <K1TTT at ARRL.NET> 
Sent: Saturday, October 13, 2012 9:24 PM
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Choice of aluminum

Just curious... how extensive of a radial system is planned for this vertical... prolly not worth a lot of effort if you can't install a significant radial system....  3" and larger irrigation tubing comes in 30 and 40ft lengths... Farmville, VA is home of one of the east coast largest suppliers of irrigation tubing.

73,
Dave
wa3gin
----- Original Message ----- From: <scottw3tx at verizon.net>
To: "Rudy Bakalov" <r_bakalov at yahoo.com>
Cc: <towertalk at contesting.com>; "K1TTT" <K1TTT at ARRL.NET>
Sent: Saturday, October 13, 2012 8:38 PM
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Choice of aluminum

> Hello Rudy,
> 
> Here's a simple and elegant method:
> 
> 1. Use irrigation drain tubing to make a form for a sack-Crete base. Insert a 12" G10FR4 rod  4 inches deep into the center of the concrete pad and let it cure. this g10 rod is machined to an OD that tightly fits into the ID of the bottom aluminum member of the vertical.
> 
> 2. Build the vertical elements starting at 2" x .125 wall x 24ft. Double bolt the g10 6" into the bottom 2" member. That leaves you a 2" gap between the concrete and the radiator.
> 
> 3. Step down the 1.75 ID OF THE 2" OD member using an machined reducer that has been machined to accept 1.25 OD aluminum. Telescope from 1.25 to 0.5 to obtain your final needed length.
> 
> 4. at the 2" to 1.25" articulation there is essentially a shelf. Use 3/8" aluminum plate to make a simple guy adapter. Guy using phillystran to stakes.
> 
> 5. You can make a second and third guy point higher on the vertical if desired.
> 
> 6. Rent a man lift or bucket truck to install. Trying to upright this unit using the Armstrong method would be dangerous.
> 
> 7. As always take all safety precautions!!! Especially DO NOT INSTALL ANYWHERE NEAR ELECTRIC UTILITY WIRES!!!  Also make sure that the man lift operator follows all safety precautions especially including setting the machine on good footing and never working on windy days.
> 
> Best regards,
> Scott w3tx
> 
> On Oct 13, 2012, at 6:35 PM, Rudy Bakalov <r_bakalov at yahoo.com> wrote:
> 
> Dave,
> 
> Your Rohn-25 verticals are indeed impressive, but unfortunately beyond my own capability to build unless I hire a tower crew. Ditto for making my own aluminum tower.
> 
> You reminded me that the other consideration is, if possible, to avoid guy wires. And yes, I am considering using 24' sections to make the construction even easier.  I guess the design boils down to what size taper I should use. I am also wondering how I am going to erect these 68' beasts, but my neighbors have any and all earthmoving piece of equipment known to mankind so I am sure we can figure it out.
> 
> 
> Rudy N2WQ
> 
> 
> ________________________________
> From: K1TTT <K1TTT at ARRL.NET>
> To: 'Rudy Bakalov' <r_bakalov at yahoo.com>
> Sent: Saturday, October 13, 2012 6:24 PM
> Subject: RE: [TowerTalk] Choice of aluminum
> 
> My material of choice was rohn-25... you might ask k1ea what he used, he
> made free standing 80m verticals.  T6 vs t8 - you probably won't notice the
> difference unless you had them side by side and were machining them.  the t8
> is a bit harder but has less shear strength.  There are also very comparable
> 6063 versions if you can't find 6061 for some reason.  I would go with .125
> or maybe even .25 for the bottom section or two probably, but I'll bet there
> is a design program out there that someone can provide that would give more
> specific requirements.  12' has other advantages, like lots less joints!
> 20-24' would be even better, I know some tubing is available up to 20' at
> least.
> 
> David Robbins K1TTT
> e-mail: mailto:k1ttt at arrl.net
> web: http://wiki.k1ttt.net
> AR-Cluster node: 145.69MHz or telnet://k1ttt.net
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Rudy Bakalov [mailto:r_bakalov at yahoo.com]
> Sent: Saturday, October 13, 2012 21:09
> To: towertalk at contesting.com
> Subject: [TowerTalk] Choice of aluminum
> 
> I was wondering if anyone can help me select the right material for
> full-size 80m verticals. My questions are as follows:
> 
> 1) metalsupermarkets.com offers 6061-T6 aluminum, but not T8. Is there a
> difference between T6 and T8 for my purpose?
> 2) Should go for the 0.125 or 0.065 wall thickness?
> 3) Is 1" tubing OK for the topmost segment? Too stiff for the wind at 70'?
> Not strong enough?
> 
> 
> I am aware that many ham stores offer 6061-T8 tubing, but I do want to buy
> it local in VE3, close to my QTH, in 12' lengths (instead of 6') and avoid
> shipping complications due to length or clearing customs.
> 
> 73 Rudy N2WQ
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