[TowerTalk] Galling and seizing of SS nuts to SS threaded studs and bolts.

[Jim Thomson]

Date: Sun, 2 Jul 2017 09:29:36 -0400
From: "Roger (K8RI) on TT" <K8RI-on-TowerTalk at tm.net>
To: towertalk at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Galling and seizing of SS nuts to SS threaded
studs and bolts.

<Easier than that. Just use Never seize
<SS to SS under tension, or just tight fitting will have the nut bonding 
<to the bolt.
<With no preventative You have to twist the bolt off.  That can be a real 
<knuckle buster with 3/8ths or 1/2". Been there, done that.

<73, Roger (K8RI)

##  agreed.  I use the never seize  made by Loctite corp.   Looks like
silver goop.   The deluxe version is called  marine grade never seize, also
made by Loctite corp. 

##  Where I had real bad issues with galling was when using .25-20  SS  bolts
and mating SS  NYLOCKS.    The slightest nick or ding on either the SS threads
of either the bolt threads ..or  SS Nut threads and they would seize up asap.  The nylock
would bind and gall...and thats b4 the nut was even all the way down.  IE:  tiny air gap. 
Then I had to cut the bolt off.... behind the SS nylock... on the inboard side, where the gap
lay...with a 1 inch cut off wheel on a dremel.    SS  bolts + regular  SS nuts....  IE : non nylocks
have given me zero issues.

##  My fix for SS these days..is to..chase the threads with a die  1st..on the bolt. And 
ditto with a tap into the SS nylock threads.    Once both threads are cleaned up, then apply
the never seize goop.... onto both bolt threads and Nylock nut threads.   End of problem. 

##  absolute bitch  to try and run a die on a SS  U bolt though.   The ..T handle of the die gets in the
way, since the U bolt is parallel  threads !   Best I can come up with is to ditch the T handle..and
just screw the die onto the SS  bolt on both legs of the SS U bolts. 

##  When buying or storing SS  hardware, keep them separated,  dont allow the SS threads  to get
bashed about.   If down at your local hard ware store, examine the SS  hardware that u pull  out of the
bins.... b4 you buy anything.   Avoid dinged up threads like the plague, or any minor, visible  imperfections. 

##  You really should not have to be mucking about  with  SS  hardware up a tower in a lot of cases.    The
SS  hardware, like .25-20,  for boom splices.... and  say 10-24 or  10-32  or  8-32  SS  hardware + SS 
nylocks..like if used for ele joint splices.... is all done on the ground..in advance. 

##  If using the double plate scheme... aka.. easy on mount, like  F12  uses  to mount a boom to the mast, I would use
galvanized  G-5  hardware to mate the 2 x al plates, which requires a total of 5 x bolts + 5 nuts. 

##  I use the DXE jumbo super mast clamps to hold the Vert plate to the mast...and those use armor plated  G8
bolts and nuts  etc.  Even on the galvanized hardware, I use either never seize.... or penetrox  on the threads. 

Jim  VE7RF