One caveat about galvanizing--I spray-painted my mast with rustoleum only to
find that it would not pass through my precision thrust bearing at the top.
I actually had to have the bearing turned out a few hundredths for the mast
to fit. I assume most amateur thrust bearings are not such a precision
fit!! 73 saul K2XA
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Idelson" <k1ir@designet.com>
To: "TowerTalk Post" <towertalk@contesting.com>
Sent: Sunday, March 21, 2004 8:50 AM
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Can Chrome-moly be galvanized? Should it?
> Pete,
>
> I originally put up my chromoly mast in its raw condition. That was in
1998. It
> quickly rusted, but it did not make a mess. The rust did not drip and
stain the
> tower. However, when I upgraded the tower from 25G to 45G in the summer of
> 2003, I had the mast galvanized at that time. The only major issue was
> transporting the 24 foot mast from the burbs into the city where the hot
dip
> plant is located. A minor issue was that the galvanizer called and told me
that
> they were having some trouble during the stripping stage - the rust was
not
> easy to get off. They had to go through that stage a couple of times.
>
> I was very pleased that I did get the mast galvanized. It is much cleaner
> installation and I don't get rust on my hands when I do work up there;
tape to
> hold feedlines in place sticks better. I definitely recommend you do it,
and do
> it before there is a chance for rust to build up. The quality of the
> galvanizing - inside and out will be better.
>
> One other thing - the galvanizer will need to hang the mast with hooks or
> wires. My galvanizer asked me to make some small holes in both ends of the
mast
> for this purpose. Get out your hardest drill bit for this operation.
Drilling
> the chromoly is tough. Also, be sure you tell them to do a good job of
letting
> the excess galv drip out of the mast. You don't want pooling at the lower
end.
> If it's on the outside, it can be a problem.
>
> 73,
>
> Jim K1IR
>
> >I'm embarked on this summer's antenna project, which will involve
substituting
> a 16-20 foot 2" chrome-moly mast for my present 10-foot Rohn galvanized
steel
> one.
>
> I have been warned that bare chrome-moly will rust and make a mess. Would
it
> make sense either to have it galvanized or paint it with a POR-15-type
product
> before it goes up? The tower has a Rohn 25 pointy-top, so some degree of
wear
> and tear on any coating seems inevitable, and maybe this is overkill. What
do
> you think?
>
> 73, Pete N4ZR
> 2671 calls now in the
> World HF Contest Station Database
> at www.pvrc.org/wcsd/wcsdsearch.htm
>
>
>
>
> Jim Idelson K1IR
> email k1ir at designet.com
> web http://www.designet.com/k1ir
> _______________________________________________
>
> See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless
Weather Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any
questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
>
> _______________________________________________
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> TowerTalk@contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
_______________________________________________
See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless Weather
Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any questions
and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
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