[TowerTalk] Needed: M2 Aluminum Tubing

[Pete Smith N4ZR]

Another good new option is an outfit called Metal Supermarkets, which 
has locations in many major cities (but unfortunately, the closest one 
to Rich is in Oklahoma City).  Their Baltimore location cut me 6 feet of 
.125 wall aluminum tubing  in a day for about 2/3 of DXE's price, not 
including what DXE charges for shipping - I went and picked it up 20 
minutes away.

73, Pete N4ZR

On 6/18/2023 8:41 AM, Richard Thorne wrote:
> Tom,
>
> I have considered this idea as a backup plan.
>
> Ordering directly from M2 is an option, albeit the most expensive 
> option.  This is why I'm looking for pre-weathered aluminum vs new.
>
> If I have to go new I'll order from DXEngineering and step it down at 
> the joints.
>
> Rich - N5ZC
>
> On 6/17/2023 8:24 PM, Tom Hellem wrote:
>> An alternate solution-
>> Every time I have seen or worked with swedged tubing on a beam, the 
>> swedged  portion has reduced the diameter by 2 sizes, for example 1” 
>> down to 3/4” o.d.
>> You can accomplish the same result by using a short sleeve of the 
>> intermediate sized tubing at the joint, in the above example, 7/8” 
>> o.d. (Assuming all the tubing sections are .058 wall).  I am just 
>> guessing here, but this could save you some $ based upon  price 
>> quotes I have seen from M2.
>>
>> Tom K0SN
>>
>>> On Jun 17, 2023, at 5:50 PM, Larry <lknain at nc.rr.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> Several years ago M2 would supply it. I needed some pieces for a 
>>> KT36XA that were bent in a tornado and they did it. Perhaps they 
>>> have changed but I doubt it.
>>>
>>> 73, Larry W6NWS
>>>
>>>> On 6/17/2023 3:45 PM, Lux, Jim wrote:
>>>>> On 6/17/23 12:29 PM, Richard Thorne wrote:
>>>>> I'm looking for the following if your willing to ship or within 
>>>>> driving distance of Amarillo, TX
>>>>>
>>>>> 1 each: 1 1/4" x .058 x  60" swagged at one end
>>>>>
>>>>> 2 each: 3/4" x .049 x 60" sagged at one end
>>>>>
>>>>> Thanks
>>>>>
>>>>> Rich - N5ZC
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> I would think M2 would be happy to supply it - their entire factory 
>>>> is full of machines that make batches of cut and swaged tubing in a 
>>>> bewildering variety of sizes. Especially if it's a replacement part 
>>>> for one of their antennas. Shipping UPS for something 5 ft long is 
>>>> no problem - they put it in a tube/box and it's on its way to you.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Now, if you wanted 20 foot long sticks, that's a bit more of a 
>>>> challenge.
>>>>
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