[TowerTalk] aluminum tube and pipe

[Roger (K8RI) on TT]

On 9/17/2014 1:41 PM, David Robbins wrote:

6 or 7 feet is as long as you'll get via Fed-X and UPS. Longer, goes 
motor freight with a hefty minimum charge.
I get 10 or so full length pieces.  Check the types. There are much 
better strengths for masts than T-6, prices vary widely.
I had a load of antennas (years ago) come in when I had a business in 
Breckenridge.  We loaded the KLM and Wilson antennas onto the pickup at 
the depot. Went in to sign.When I got home I was short an antenna.  
Somebody got a bunch of expensive Aluminum while I was inside.  Take 
some one with you in cases like that.

If you live anywhere near a city, they probably have a number of 
suppliers. I use Alroe(sp?)  In Bay City MI.  However the industrial 
supply places are unlikely to have many stock sizes that will slip fit 
and the finish isn't likely to be a polished finish like the antenna 
suppliers use.  I don't know their minimum order for them to get the 
discount prices, but if a group wanted to go in, they might get 20 or 30 
24' lengths.

That's why the ham suppliers have high prices.  They have a lot of 
overhead to stock just to be able to sell the stuff at a price hams will 
pay.

DX Engineering will sell longer pieces if you are willing to go the freight.

There's one other limitation.  That stuff comes on long trucks that need 
to get to your driveway and out again.   I have to have big stuff, drop 
shipped to the local airport where I have to meet the truck.  Oh, yah.  
YOU are responsible for unloading what ever and getting it home.  The 
trucker is only responsible for getting it there.  Normally they will 
not help although I have had them lend a hand when it appeared it might 
take one more body with the equipment we had so they wouldn't be late 
for their next drop.  Time is money!

With only one side working, I'm pretty well out of getting those big 
pieces delivered..

73

Roger (K8RI)

> I have been wary of ordering tubing from McMaster-carr or many of the other industrial places... if you look you will see that they don't specify that the tubing is seamless, it is also not one of the common antenna tempers like t6 or t832.  they also only have 6' lengths listed unless longer stuff is elsewhere.  I prefer to go to a supplier like marmon-keystone:
>
> https://www.marmonkeystone.com/ecomm/servlet/ProductSearchServlet?producttypeid=1&producttype=alumseamless#top
>
> if you use their search app you can see that they break down tubing by welded or seamless and its all t6.  they also have longer lengths, up to 24' I think for aluminum... and at least they used to have free delivery at least in some areas.  and they offer services like swaging, though I have never used them for that.
>
>
> Sep 17, 2014 01:11:45 PM, k5gak at powerc.net wrote:
>
> http://www.mcmaster.com/#standard-aluminum-hollow-tubing/=trilat
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-- 

73

Roger (K8RI)


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