The concept of using stainless steel hardware because 'it won't
oxidize' may be captivating, even if more expensive than using
zinc-plated hardware that will NOT SEIZE.
Using the zinc-plated stuff works quite well IF YOU FIRST apply some
good RTV silicone seal to the threads BEFORE assembling and tightening
the hardware.
THEN, put more of the RTV over the exposed threads and nuts and seal
them from the elements.
Doing this in the past, I have found 4 and 5-year old hardware in
quite good shape when I wanted to remove it. No rust ... just needed
to remove the RTV first .. and then unscrew!
Good luck
Don
N8DE
Quoting Jim Thomson <jim.thom@telus.net>:
> This stuff comes in 8 oz containers [and also larger] The stuff
> available from my local
> fastener place is made by locktite. It's used on SS threads so
> they don't gall, etc.
>
> It comes in two grades.. standard 'silver'.. and 'marine grade'. I
> see DX eng also sells
> this goop... and also in both grades. The only diff i can see
> between the 2 x types
> [besides price] is the marine grade stuff is rated for a higher
> temp. [1800 deg f vs 1600 deg f]
>
> The guy tells me the marine grade stuff has a higher temp rating cuz
> it's used on engine parts
> in marine applications. [ I can't see any engine getting this hot,
> even a turbo].
> No mention of the marine grade being better suited for wet environments.
>
> I'm going to use it for outside ant stuff... like dx eng SS U
> clamps, etc, etc. So other than being
> in the rain, the temp is not an issue.
>
> I bought the regular grade. Did I buy the wrong stuff ? On a
> similar note, today, 3 of us took down
> my trylon tower [to be replaced with a crank up] ... and I had
> replaced 4 of the leg splice bolts with
> longer 1/2" diam SS bolts... and had not used any anti seize on em.
> I required longer bolts since I had
> mounted small al plates on one tower face.. to side mount a 15m
> yagi.. fixed due east.
>
> Of course one of the 4 x SS bolts gauled.. and flat out would not
> come out! Fortunately, we had mounted the
> nuts on the outside of the tower legs. We had to use the sawzall
> to come the damn thing off !
>
> I have made up 8 x new boom to mast plates from 3/8" thick al
> plate.... F-12 style.. with one vert plate
> on the mast.. and one horz plate on the boom.[ 4 x ants in total]
> 5 x 1/2" diam SS bolts mate the 2 x plates together.
> I can just envision just 1 of 20 x SS bolts gauling.. and a gong
> show ensuing, trying to cut em off.
> How reliable is this anti-seize /never seize stuff.. esp after
> several yrs ?? I think if I was to ever remove any of the
> SS nuts, i would slop some more anti seize goop on the exposed,
> excess threads.. just prior to removal.
>
> I only had gauling problems just once b4.. and that was when using
> SS nylock nuts on SS bolts. In that case, the
> SS nylock was being tightened for the 1st time.. and the nut seized
> up.. with a 1/8" left to go ! Would not loosen
> and would not tighten. I cranked on it with a breaker bar.. and
> sheared off the SS bolt. [these were 3/8" bolts]
> I had that happen 3 x times.... and the gauling problem was only
> when SS nylocks were being used..... until
> today's incident [ no nylocks, just SS flatwashers and SS split ring
> lock washers]
>
> Of course, I had not put any goop on the 3/8" bolts nor SS nylocks
> either. I just discovered the goop a few months back.
>
> Funny thing is.. I use SS machine screws all the time on HB amps...
> [ like 10-32 1/4-20, 8-32 6-32 etc] and have never had a
> gauling problem with em in the last 20 yrs. The gauling problem
> only seems to happen with 3/8" and bigger.. and esp when
> SS nylocks are employed. BTW... just bought a ton of dx eng SS
> saddle clamps [ SS u bolts with solid AL saddles] to use on the
> el to plate connections for each el on the yagis. All my F-12 ones
> had rusted. In some cases, it was just the nuts.. some times jut
> one thread
> on one side of a U bolt..some times both. I was getting fed up with
> rusted hardware... and have not found a source for galvanized
> u bolts..yet.
>
> I hope this anti seize/never seize goop actually works. Trying to
> cut rusted /gauled hardware..up a tower is no fun.
>
> Later..... Jim VE7RF
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