[TowerTalk] Rope/Guying

[Roger (K8RI) on TT]

I figured that was why you mentioned Duct Tape.  I don't like nylon 
because of the extreme stretch when new.  I used to use it to guy 33' 
tall verticals made of 1.5" steel TV masting.  If I just tied them on 
and pulled the guys tight, the masts would be almost laid over on the 
ground.  Tighten them back up with the mast vertical  and they would be 
leaning 3 or 4 feet the next day, but after 3 or 4 days, the Nylon was 
no longer stretchy. It was stiff and rough, but tough.  I'd have a pair 
with half wave spacing, with two figure 8 patterns until time to fit the 
fields the next spring.

73

Roger (K8RI)

On 12/30/2015 Wednesday 8:35 AM, Patrick Greenlee wrote:
> Roger, I wasn't recommending duct tape but used it as a parallel 
> example of something used for many more things than its original 
> purpose. Paracord was Nylon in its original incarnation to get the 
> shock absorber action desired to cushion the opening impact of a 
> parachute.  Dacron is for when minimal stretch is desired and would be 
> a very bad choice for parachute rigging.  I do not know if any of the 
> "paracord" available is made of other than  Nylon. Black paracord has 
> more UV resistance than white (which has very little) but how 
> resistant I couldn't say as it could easily vary from source to source.
>
> Walmart sells a few sizes of black Dacron line in its sporting goods 
> section that has proven over time to be fairly UV resistant.  A hedge 
> against UV deterioration is to oversize the Dacron line, going 
> significantly larger in diameter than required to meet your minimum 
> strength requirements.  There is nothing "magic" about Dacron as 
> opposed to Nylon, each has characteristics that are a fit for various 
> requirements.
>
> For example (assuming sufficient UV resistance) Nylon might make a 
> better choice when using a flexible tree or other moveable support as 
> its stretchiness will allow significant motion without breakage and 
> will return to its original length when the wind stops blowing. Dacron 
> has little stretch/shock absorber action and can be more easily broken 
> in a situation like this. ...or it can pass significant tension (shock 
> loads) to other parts of the antenna structure which may be induced to 
> catastrophically fail. (Think slide hammer.)
>
> For anchoring the ends of a dipole (and similar situations) I prefer 
> to use somewhat over-sized Black UV stabilized Dacron run through a 
> pulley and then connected to a weight.  This accommodates motion while 
> keeping the same tension on the antenna components that you designed 
> for. It does not self destruct if a big wind moves the tree or other 
> components of the system around.
>
> Patrick        NJ5G
>
>
>
> On 12/29/2015 10:45 PM, Roger (K8RI) on TT wrote:
>> Except duct tape ages fast and the adhesive become hard and brittle.  
>> I use a lot, but not for exterior weather sealing of things like 
>> matching networks. Don't purchase a lot as it ages while still in a 
>> roll. At least what I have, has.   Paracord comes in many colors, but 
>> are any of them UV resistant?  What is paracord material?  Nylon?  I 
>> don't think it's poly, but could be?  Anyone know?
>>
>> 73
>>
>> Roger
>>
>>
>> On 12/29/2015 Tuesday 10:29 PM, Patrick Greenlee wrote:
>>> Paracord is sold in many colors, from plain white (original) to OD 
>>> (Olive Drab), camo, black, etc. As duct tape is now recommended for 
>>> just about everything EXCEPT sealing ducts, paracord is used for 
>>> oodles of applications not related to parachutes.  Things such as 
>>> lanyards to prevent tool loss overboard, boot laces, knife handle 
>>> wrap, snares, braided bracelets, braided keychains, and various fobs 
>>> plus a plethora of additional uses including DIY antenna 
>>> construction where black is favored for UV resistance.
>>>
>>> Patrick        NJ5G
>>>
>>> On 12/29/2015 9:20 PM, Richard (Rick) Karlquist wrote:
>>>> It spends most of its life packed up in 
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> TowerTalk mailing list
>>> TowerTalk at contesting.com
>>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
>>
>>
>
> _______________________________________________
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> TowerTalk mailing list
> TowerTalk at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk


-- 

73

Roger (K8RI)


---
This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
https://www.avast.com/antivirus