[TowerTalk] Help with saw blade selection

[David Robbins]

I've used a skilsaw on top of a tower to cut u-bolts... not easy to position
because of the guards and hard to avoid the plume of sparks.  I much prefer
the hand grinder.  Much smaller and easier to get in around stuff.

One warning if you have to cut u-bolts... it looks obvious to cut them from
the side where the straight section is away from the mast, avoid that
temptation.  The normal result of that is the one side parts and leaves the
long, now hook shaped piece, hanging on to the antenna but now with no way
to get it off except to cut the other side... but now with an antenna that
isn't firmly fastened down.  The best way I have found is to do all the
rigging so the weight is off the bolts and then cut them at the middle of
the U so they separate cleanly and let go of the mast or boom all at once.
That is usually the safer place to stand also as you aren't under the boom
or elements.

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: TowerTalk [mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of
K7LXC--- via TowerTalk
Sent: Sunday, August 30, 2015 16:51
To: towertalk at contesting.com; ersmar at verizon.net
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Help with saw blade selection

>    In addition, I believe I may  have
> to  use this tool to saw off the SS U-bolts that attach the mounting
bracket
>  of my Bencher Skyhawk to the mast above the bushing.  I'll need to
release
> all these items from the boom so I can lower the boom through  the 
> tower
to
> add the small Yagis before I install the replacement  rotator.
>
>      My question:  What specific  blade should I purchase for this 
> cutting work?
 
    You're looking for a metal cutting aggregate blade  for your Skilsaw. 
They're cheap (less than $5) and will zip thru any metal  quickly. The
problem is that the Skilsaw is heavy and awkward at altitude but  it'll work
FB. 
 
    My favorite tool for this is a 4.5" hand-grinder.  They're not very
expensive. Get the smallest cutting blades for it (I think  they're 1/8").
And they're lighter and easier to use. 
 
Cheers,
Steve    K7LXC
TOWER TECH
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