[TowerTalk] 80M 4 Square Array Material options

[Patrick Greenlee]

How about welding the lower non adjusting pieces?

Has anyone ever heard a credible story about a 4 square made of 
irrigation pipe that failed?  You could always insert a structure inside 
the irrigation pipe to stiffen it. A design in wood should be 
inexpensive.  Some of the spray foams might be just the ticket.

Patrick        NJ5G

On 1/29/2016 9:22 AM, Stan Stockton wrote:
> I know aluminum irrigation tubing has been used by many with success.
> Personally, I don't like it beacuse the wall thickness is so thin.
>
> This is just my suggestion:
>
> Buy two 24 foot lengths of 3.5 inch schedule 40 6061-T6 from your local
> metals supplier.  Also buy two 24 foot lengths of 3 inch x .125 wall.  Cut
> those 4 pieces into 12 foot lengths so you have four of each size.  Use 3/8
> inch stainless steel SOCKET HEAD CAP SCREWS and the Optibeam style of
> element fastening (larger hole on one side to allow head to clear one wall
> of larger OD tubing) to join those together for each element with 3 bolts
> for each.  With a 12 inch telescope you will have 23 feet ending with 3
> inch x .125 wall.  Then for each element buy 6 foot lengths of every size
> DXE has of .120 wall tubing starting at 2.75 inch OD.  You will need four
> of each size except the 1.5 inch OD where you would just have 3 feet of
> that size for each vertical - so you need two six foot lengths of the 1.5
> OD.  Use the same fastening method and telescope everything through the
> 1.50 inch OD by six inches with two bolts for each joint.  Then for the
> rest, starting with 1.25 inch telescope them by four inches and use bolt
> sizes shown below.  The 1.25 through 1 inch is just regular .058 wall also
> available from DXE.  The total length of this vertical will be about 70
> feet.
>
> So the taper schedule for what I described is:
>
> OD      WALL     EXPOSED Length      Socket Head Cap Screw Size
>
> 3.5       .216        144
> 3.00     .125        132                           3/8 x 4 inch
> 2.75     .120          66                           3.8 x 3.5 inch
> 2.50     .120          66                           3/8 x 3.5 inch
> 2.25     .120          66                           3/8 x 3 inch
> 2.00     .120          66                           3/8 x 3 inch
> 1.75     .120          66                           3/8 x 2.5 inch
> 1.50     .120          32                           1/4 x 2.5 inch
> 1.25     .058          68                           #10 x 2 inch
> 1.125   .058          68                            #8  x 1.75 inch
> 1.00     .058          68                            #8 x 1.50 inch
>
> Although it would free stand with probably a 40 MPH wind, I would guy it
> one time, maybe from the top of the 2 inch section.
>
> I am just guessing the total cost will be well less than $1,500 for four
> verticals.  You will have to use a drill press and a V block to drill a
> bunch of holes and engineer the method to walk it up and have it insulated
> from ground.
>
> 73...Stan, K5GO
>
>
>
>
> On Wed, Jan 27, 2016 at 9:05 AM, Daniel Hileman <n9wx at hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Hi All,
>>
>> I am looking for advice on material to use for an 80m 4 square. Looking
>> for the cheapest way to build an 80m vertical.  I have looked at
>> towers,used utility poles etc. (Utility poles look like the best option so
>> far.) Curious what you guys use. I know that it may not be cheap, but I
>> would like to do the verticals as cheaply as possible and looking for your
>> input. I do not have 70' trees to hang a wire from (hihi) as I know this
>> would be SUPER cheap. ;-) Like I said, I do not expect it to be free, but
>> $1,800 for an 80m vertical from "Zero-five" antennas is crazy, and really
>> dont want to spend $3,000++ on a 4 square! Looking at options! lol. I know
>> it's alot of aluminum,etc.
>>
>>
>> 73,
>> Dan N9WX
>>
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