I was visiting my old buddies, Harbor Frieight, a couple weeks ago ... they
had on special an aluminum welding rod that advertised you only needed a
propane torch to make a super aluminum connection ... like, beams, towers,
hardware? I suppose this was what is meant by "buttering". I did not buy,
don't need any just this moment, but wonder if anyone else has tried this
product ..
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=44810
Could certainly be handy if it does an anywhere near good job...Mark
AA6DX@ARRL.NET
----- Original Message -----
From: "David H Craig" <n3db@radix.net>
To: <HansLG@aol.com>; <towertalk@contesting.com>
Sent: Friday, August 15, 2008 11:15 AM
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Fwd: Heights Towers Aluminum??
> I have no first-hand knowledge of these towers, but I am currently
> working with an experienced aluminum welder (military aircraft) on a tower
> project. Presuming arguendo this is not a "buttering" problem (cold weld
> with no penetration) it sounds as if the completed units are not
> heat-treated to bring them back to the original tensile strength.
> An example- I asked my welder friend about the practicability of
> welding
> a center-sleeve of 1 1/2" OD 1/4" wall aluminim tube into a 2" OD 1/4"
> wall
> tube so I could have a travel mast with two 8 foot sections that would
> silde
> together & bolt on just one side. He told me the tube stength would be
> compromised unless the welded portion was "baked" at the appropriate temp
> for 24-36 hours, and that in his shop (a gov't facility with top of the
> line
> gear) the "oven" can only fit 3ft long objects. To wit: "In some
> applications it is better to just use hardware and this is one of them".
>
> Why do I get the impression that the critical welded areas of these
> towers are not re-heat-treated?
>
> N3DB
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <HansLG@aol.com>
> To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
> Sent: Friday, August 15, 2008 1:33 PM
> Subject: [TowerTalk] Fwd: Heights Towers Aluminum??
>
>
>>I am glad to get this information. The Height tower I have in my yard just
>> now is old. I noticed that some of the weld or the Z have opened and was
>> going
>> to fix that before I put the tower up. Now I may get all the welds
>> inspected
>> before I put it up. I looked at the welds before and wondered if they
>> were
>> OK, but as I am not an expert I thought they were OK. The welds that
>> brook were
>> under high tention after the Z itself bent at these places.
>>
>> Hans N2JFS
>>
>>
>>
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
TowerTalk mailing list
TowerTalk@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
|