[TowerTalk] Climbing mast

[Jim Thomson]

###  These hb mast steps are easy to make.   Just a couple of  .375 inch holes
for the pair of armour plated  grade 8 bolts..and a couple of .25 inch holes,
for the 1/4 –20  SS  bolts on the extreme ends.   If your mast is say 3 inch od,
the steps will have to be  1 inch wider.   My mast is  4130 chromolly, not
4160, that was  a senior moment.   I used SS flatwashers on  both ends of the
4 x bolts, under the head..and under the nut.   Never seize applied to  all 4 
bolts of course.   On a side note, if you buy never seize goop.... mine is made by
loctite corp, for a few bucks more you can get their marine grade version. 

##  I used their regular version.  I use it on everything, including lug nuts on
my mustang.   I use flat washers under the bolt heads.... that way if you are in
an awkward position,   you can tighten the bolt head...instead of the nut,  but this only
works if you have a flat washer under the head.    I install flatwashers under the heads of
everything tower and ant related. 

##  On the SS  1/4-20 bolts... or any size  SS  bolt,  I always run the die up and down the threads
to clean and straighten out  the bolt threads.    A tap is run through each nylock SS  nut.... or plane
jane  SS nuts.   You only need one slightly dinged SS thread for SS bolts to gall up on you...even if  never
seize is used... ESP  when  SS  nylocks are used.  

Jim  VE7RF




From: Richard Zalewski 
Sent: Wednesday, December 02, 2015 8:05 AM
To: Jim Thomson 
Cc: Towertalk 
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Climbing mast

Great idea with the bolts at the end of the step.

On Wed, Dec 2, 2015 at 8:45 AM, Jim Thomson <jim.thom at telus.net> wrote:

  Date: Wed, 2 Dec 2015 08:29:13 -0500
  From: Mike Reublin NF4L <nf4l at comcast.net>
  To: towertalk reflector <towertalk at contesting.com>
  Subject: [TowerTalk] Climbing mast

  Anybody remember who made the masts with steps? Are they still made?

  73, Mike NF4L

  ##  I made mine  from  2 inch x  2 inch  x  .25 inch thick  angle aluminum, 6061-T6.
  14 –15 inchs wide.   This was for a 2 inch OD  x .375 inch thick  4160 chromolly mast.
  Angle AL is held to the mast via a single DX engineering super duty  saddle clamps. They have a
  huge amount of surface area.  They use a pair  of  Grade 8 bolts,  .375 inch diam types.
  That non skid stuff was available locally in 2 inch wide rolls.
  I applied  it to both the vertical and horizontal surfaces.   At the extreme ends of the Horz
  portions,  I installed  a 1/4-20  SS  bolt and nylock, that sticks up aprx 1.5 inchs.  That
  is there so I can feel them  with my boots, and know where the ends of the steps are.
  IE:  slide your foot over a bit, and it will butt up against the SS  rider bolt.   Then there is
  no way you can  step off into...mid air.

  The super duty saddle clamps are available in 2 inch and also  2.5 inch..and also 3 inch.   These things are the real deal, and come with their own  .25 inch thick  SS  backing plate.

    http://www.dxengineering.com/search/brand/dx-engineering/department/clamps-and-fasteners/product-line/dx-engineering-super-duty-saddle-clamps?autoview=SKU&N=401126%2B4294950919&sortby=Default&sortorder=Default

  Jim   VE7RF
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-- 

Tnx es 73
Richard W7ZR
www.w7zr.com

www.ridiculousones.blogspot.com/


Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer