[TowerTalk] Force 12 hardware and aluminum treatment for corrosionresistance

[Jim and Hannelore Fisher]

Interesting, John. Sounds plausible but haven't noticed it so 
far...certainly if it has occurred it has been less of a problem here than 
the previous non-SS hardware breaking when I attempted to back off nuts for 
other maintenance or changes on the antennas.

My C51XRNjf and WARC7jf and the top 70' of their tower and associated 
Phyllistran guys are scheduled to come down within the next month to make 
room for my growing 6M EME array. I'll have a look. (They're for sale, 
too...)
http://www.texasantennas.com/index.php?option=com_fwgallery&view=image&id=11:ve1jf-3-stack&Itemid=268

73,

Jim VE1JF


----- Original Message ----- 
From: <john at kk9a.com>
To: <jwfisher at alumni.princeton.edu>; <towertalk at contesting.com>
Sent: Tuesday, September 10, 2013 1:19 PM
Subject: re: [TowerTalk] Force 12 hardware and aluminum treatment for 
corrosionresistance


> What an awesome QTH! I also use stainless steel hardware however I have
> seen severe salt spray corrosion to aluminum where the S.S. is in contact.
> What do you do to protect the tower system from corrosion?
>
> John KK9A
>
>
> To: towertalk <towertalk at contesting.com>
> Subject: [TowerTalk] Force 12 hardware and aluminum treatment for
> corrosion resistance
> From: Jim and Hannelore Fisher <jwfisher at alumni.princeton.edu>
> Date: Tue, 10 Sep 2013 12:36:46 +0000
>
> I live in a salt-air environment and have replaced just about all U-bolts 
> and
> other such hardware with stainless steel. Be sure to coat bolts with an
> appropriate compound before installing nuts--if you are not familiar with
> this,
> ask your SS supplier.
>
> Also, per advice from F12 many years ago, I assembled elements and then
> painted
> them with XIM400, which has protected them nicely. At some points, I have 
> had
> over 50 F12 elements up at the edge of a cliff with saltwater to the 
> horizon
> and little fluffy balls of salty foam flying up and over.
>
> 73,
>
> Jim, VE1JF
>
>