[UK-CONTEST] Fibreglass Mast

[David Gould]

I have read this thread with interest..  I have always used tape and 
never had a failure yet..  But have had the mast coating come off 
when the tape is removed.

I have also had a Cobwebb antenna with the fibreglass spreader tube 
sections joined together with self-tapping screws, and all 8 joints 
have cracked round the screws, I am currently home-brewing a more 
structurally sound version.

However...  I recently happened to watch a TV program about building 
a kit helicopter.. and the fibreglass sections were held together 
with a device that required three holes to be drilled quite close 
together in the fibreglass,  the outer two holes were for rivets 
which held the fixing in place, and the centre part of the fixing was 
a threaded nut which went through the centre hole and into which a 
threaded screw could be used to hold a second panel onto the one to 
which the fixing was attached.    If I remember rightly there were 
over 200 of these in the helicopter..  Presumably there must be a 
reason why cracking is not a risk in this usage, I can't imagine it 
being allowed if it were a risk??

73,
Dave, G3UEG






At 14:35 02/05/2011, Paul_group wrote:
>On 02/05/2011 09:03, Dave Lawley wrote:
>
> > sections? I'm not too bothered about being able to telescope the
> > sections again so I could glue it, what type do you recommend or
> > alternatively would it work to use rivets to fix the joints? Any other
> > suggestions gratefully received.
>
>Bond - NEVER screw or rivet structural fiberglass.