Bolt cutters are a possibility, but have other problems. Its usually hard
to nip a u-bolt at the center because you have to get it on the very tip and
the cutters stick straight out which makes them hard to hold a close? so you
usually end up cutting in the gap which means everything gets cut twice
because of that hook effect after cutting the first side. The ground crew
also has to be on their toes as cut pieces go flying more than with grinders
or saws.
Nut splitters are another option also. I had one old telrex where I had to
cut the nuts because of those big straps they used around the boom and mast.
Actually my favorite with rusted or galled u-bolts is a long wrench to just
torque it till it breaks? that is much quicker for ¼? or 5/16?, a bit harder
on 3/8? though.
David Robbins K1TTT
e-mail: mailto:k1ttt@arrl.net
web: http://wiki.k1ttt.net <http://wiki.k1ttt.net/>
AR-Cluster node: 145.69MHz or telnet://k1ttt.net <telnet://k1ttt.net/>
From: mikflathead@aol.com [mailto:mikflathead@aol.com]
Sent: Sunday, August 30, 2015 17:34
To: k1ttt@arrl.net; towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Help with saw blade selection
Another option if they fit would be a pair of bolt cutters. No sparks.
-----Original Message-----
From: David Robbins <k1ttt@arrl.net>
To: 'reflector -tower' <towertalk@contesting.com>
Sent: Sun, Aug 30, 2015 1:28 pm
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Help with saw blade selection
p.s.... wear a good hat, gloves, heavy shirt, and goggles or face mask
no
matter what you use. Getting burned by the grinder plume ain't nice
when
you can't get away from it.
David Robbins K1TTT
e-mail:
mailto:k1ttt@arrl.net <mailto:k1ttt@arrl.net?>
web: http://wiki.k1ttt.net
AR-Cluster node: 145.69MHz or
telnet://k1ttt.net
-----Original Message-----
From: TowerTalk
[mailto:towertalk-bounces@contesting.com
<mailto:towertalk-bounces@contesting.com?> ] On Behalf Of David
Robbins
Sent:
Sunday, August 30, 2015 17:10
To: reflector -tower
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk]
Help with saw blade selection
I've used a skilsaw on top of a tower to cut
u-bolts... not easy to position
because of the guards and hard to avoid the
plume of sparks. I much prefer
the hand grinder. Much smaller and easier to
get in around stuff.
One warning if you have to cut u-bolts... it looks
obvious to cut them from
the side where the straight section is away from the
mast, avoid that
temptation. The normal result of that is the one side parts
and leaves the
long, now hook shaped piece, hanging on to the antenna but now
with no way
to get it off except to cut the other side... but now with an
antenna that
isn't firmly fastened down. The best way I have found is to do
all the
rigging so the weight is off the bolts and then cut them at the middle
of
the U so they separate cleanly and let go of the mast or boom all at
once.
That is usually the safer place to stand also as you aren't under the
boom
or elements.
David Robbins K1TTT
e-mail: mailto:k1ttt@arrl.net <mailto:k1ttt@arrl.net?>
web:
http://wiki.k1ttt.net
AR-Cluster node: 145.69MHz or
telnet://k1ttt.net
-----Original Message-----
From: TowerTalk
[mailto:towertalk-bounces@contesting.com
<mailto:towertalk-bounces@contesting.com?> ] On Behalf Of
K7LXC--- via
TowerTalk
Sent: Sunday, August 30, 2015 16:51
To: towertalk@contesting.com;
ersmar@verizon.net
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Help with saw blade selection
>
In addition, I believe I may have
> to use this tool to saw off the SS
U-bolts that attach the mounting
bracket
> of my Bencher Skyhawk to the mast
above the bushing. I'll need to
release
> all these items from the boom so I
can lower the boom through the
> tower
to
> add the small Yagis before I
install the replacement rotator.
>
> My question: What specific blade
should I purchase for this
> cutting work?
You're looking for a metal
cutting aggregate blade for your Skilsaw.
They're cheap (less than $5) and
will zip thru any metal quickly. The
problem is that the Skilsaw is heavy and
awkward at altitude but it'll work
FB.
My favorite tool for this is a
4.5" hand-grinder. They're not very
expensive. Get the smallest cutting blades
for it (I think they're 1/8").
And they're lighter and easier to use.
Cheers,
Steve K7LXC
TOWER
TECH
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