[TowerTalk] Low Cost 20 Foot Mast

[Kelly Taylor]

There’s a really interesting blog post out there that is probably only a quick Google session away. It basically made the case that PVC is a total nightmare EVEN for just wire antennas, let alone anything requiring an az-el rotator. 

In short order, the guy’s mast resembled cooked spaghetti, and then fractured shortly after. 

73, kelly, ve4xt 

Sent from my iPhone

> On Oct 24, 2020, at 17:00, David Gilbert <ab7echo at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> 
> PVC is a really, really bad idea.  PVC can "cold flow" over time and there is very little chance it will hold much weight very long no matter what you do to support it.
> 
> I agree with Jim Lux ... 4 inch irrigation tubing is lightweight and pretty strong, and Rain-for-Rent is a national chain that often has used stuff for sale.   The biggest issue would be how to securely mount your rotators to it since the wall is pretty thin.
> 
> Best bet, though, is probably a couple of narrow tower sections ... like six inch or eight inch cross section.  Ask around and I'd bet somebody has some they'd be willing to part with.  Or even look for somebody who had a similar tower for a TV antenna but no longer uses it.
> 
> 73,
> Dave  AB7E
> 
> 
> 
>> On 10/24/2020 1:06 PM, Tony wrote:
>> All:
>> 
>> I'm looking for a low-cost 20 foot mast that can handle a modest 2 meter EME setup. The mast will be cemented in place and attached to the side of a 9 foot tall shed for support. I can't anchor guy wires to the ground, but I can run a couple to the shed.
>> 
>> The challenge is home brewing something that can handle the weight of the azimuth and elevation rotors mounted at the top so the mast.
>> 
>> I thought of threaded galvanized pipe sections, but they are a bit pricey. Also thought of 2 inch schedule 40 PVC with some kind of internal support to make it more rigid.
>> 
>> Any suggestions?
>> 
>> Tony
>> 
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