But as an alternative to EMT, it should work out fine. Presumably if you are
using EMT you aren't putting up 40 meter monobanders and H frames of 2 meter
beams. For a couple of VHF/UHF beams you can probably get away with it.
On Thu, Feb 26, 2009 at 10:28 AM, Julio Peralta <jperalta4@verizon.net>wrote:
> I can tell you a horror story about using fence rail for mast material. Of
> course if your only going to put one antenna just above the top of the
> tower
> almost anything will work, however if you're going to stack antennas, fence
> rail material will not hold up. If you're going to stack antennas use the
> mast calculating software available from Champion Radio Products buy what
> is
> recommended and sleep well at night. It may cost a little more in the short
> term but it will pay you back in the long term.
>
> http://www.championradio.com/
>
> Julio, W4HY
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: David McKenzie [mailto:kb1fsy@vhfwiki.com]
> Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2009 9:33 AM
> To: w8zn@comcast.net
> Cc: TowerTalk@contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Mast material
>
> A friend of mine uses the fence rail from home depot, he says it's thicker
> wall than EMT and feels lighter. It comes in 10' sections and the ends are
> tapered so that they fit together better than you could "join" EMT conduit
> with the HD clamps. It's also just as cheap as conduit. I think HD sells it
> in 1.5 OD and 2.25OD or so.
>
> On Thu, Feb 26, 2009 at 8:16 AM, <w8zn@comcast.net> wrote:
>
> >
> >
> > Don't overlook 6061T6 aluminum - 2" OD with .25 or .375 wall thickness.
> > Lightweight (relatively), no, you can't put a monoband 40m beam 10 feet
> > above a thrust bearing but within the specs, it works very well. No rust,
> > clamps well to prevent slipping, exactly 2" OD so it fits well. Great for
> > VHF and smaller HF antennas. I had a pair of 36 foot long 6m antennas on
> one
> > for many years in Ohio, one was 22 feet out the top of the tower, it
> > survived 60+ mph winds, it bent in the wind but sprung back. Last I know
> > these were less than $200 for a 24 foot long section. No comparason to
> the
> > chrome molly masts for strength but probably 1/4 to 1/3 the weight.
> >
> >
> >
> > Terry
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "jimlux" <jimlux@earthlink.net>
> > To: "k2vi" <k2vi@cox.net>
> > Cc: TowerTalk@contesting.com
> > Sent: Wednesday, February 25, 2009 11:53:18 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada
> Eastern
> > Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Mast material
> >
> > k2vi wrote:
> > > Hey guys, can someone please advise me on the mast to use, I was
> > > looking at 2" EMT pipe I saw in the electrical dept at home depot.
> > > Keep in mind this pipe will be supporting a hy-gain 203BA which has a
> > > 16' boom and weighs 32# also it will be pushed up from the thrust
> > > bearing about 6'. Im sure it will be fine here in va beach. Right now
> > > im using a galvinized 2" shedule 40 pipe that weighs a ton.
> > >
> > EMT is pretty thin wall, and structurally not all that hot. After all,
> > it's really only designed to protect wires from abrasion. For instance,
> > you can't use it to support an electrical box holding a duplex
> > receptacle sticking out of the ground.
> >
> > I've built structures from EMT (like a big geodesic ball), and it tends
> > to split along the weld, for instance.
> > _______________________________________________
> >
> >
> >
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> >
> >
> >
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> >
> _______________________________________________
>
>
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