[TowerTalk] Mast clamp friction

[Stan Stockton]



Yes, I have been using this stuff for many years for mast and element plate clamps.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07X7MJJXD?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

In fact I have element plates holding 20, 15 and 10 meter elements mounted to the boom with only one Stauff Clamp at ZF9CW with one wrap of this around the boom.  I have never had one move yet.

73… Stan, K5GO/ZF9CW

> On Nov 10, 2022, at 12:06 PM, jim.thom jim.thom at telus.net <jim.thom at telus.net> wrote:
> <Date: Wed, 9 Nov 2022 18:38:05 +0000 (UTC)
> 
> <I use a light duty adhesive sprayed on the 'bore' part of the saddle.?
> Women's hair spray works fine.
> 
> <While wet, sprinkle silicon carbide particles on the adhesive. This size
> <is about like ground pepper from a pepper mill.
> 
> <Assemble and tighten down.? The silicon carbide presses into both the
> <aluminum saddles and into the zinc on the galvanized mast. It will not
> <slip!?? Be careful in handling the mast/saddles; the silicon carbide can
> <be hard on the hands.
> 
> <73 de Steve, NR4M
> 
> ##  Here is an easier way of increasing friction, esp if using a 1.875" or
> 1.900" OD mast with a 2.00" ID clamping setup...instead of any type of
> shim.
> 
> ## Down at the local store, they sell  this sticky backed tape, that has an
> HD abrasive on one side (sticky on the other, with sticky back covered
> with  peel off  paper).  Back side is marked off like a grid.  It came in
> rolls, and sold by the foot.  It comes  in 1"-2"-3" wide rolls. I believe
> it was originally intended as a non slip, non skid material to be applied
> to wood or concrete steps.
> 
> ##  For say a  1.900" OD mast, you require 1.900" X 3.14 = 5.97" length of
> either the 2" wide, or preferably the 3" wide stuff.  With a clean mast,
> the mast is then wrapped with the adhesive back tape.  There is no way in
> hell the mast is gonna slip, after U bolts / clamp assy, etc, torqued down
> properly.  It won't budge. Depending on type of mast clamp assy, you may
> require several wraps up / down the mast, where the actual clamps are
> bearing down.
> 
> ## On my Tic-rings, they used the exact same stuff, but 1" wide, and 2 x
> strips of it, on both sides of the.. 'trough', that the boom sits into.
> Same idea, won't budge, period.
> 
> ##  I also used the 2" wide stuff on my HB aluminum mast steps...for the 2"
> OD x 3/8" thick  4130 heat treated chromoly, galvanized mast. Each mast
> step consists of a 14" long piece of 2" x 2"  x 1/4"  thick 6061-T6 angle
> aluminum. The 2" wide stuff is applied to both the (outside)  horizontal
> and vertical side of each mast step. Then each mast step is clamped to the
> mast with a single DXE.. 'super 2" mast clamp".   I used a single  SS
> 1/4-20 bolt at each end of each mast step, pointed upwards a bit, and
> mating SS nylock nut. The purpose of the 1/4-20 SS bolts sticking up 1.5" -
> 1.75" is so when standing on the mast step, I know, and can easily feel
> with my boots, where the protruding 1/4-20 SS bolts are, and no way to
> accidently..put my boot 1/2 off  either end of the mast step.
> 
> ## The abrasive backed material  (on both vert + horz surfaces),ensures
> when standing on the steps, boots don't slip..ever, esp when wet.  With the
> abrasive material on the vert surface, it provides for a better grip when
> climbing the steps. IE: palm of hand on the horizontal step, with fingers
> wrapped around the vert portion.
> 
> Jim  VE7RF
> _______________________________________________
> 
> 
> 
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