[amsat-bb] Re: PVC

[Edward R. Cole]

Up here ten foot of gray electrical 1-1/2-inch PVC runs about $9.95 
and ten foot of 1-1/4 ID schedule-40 aluminum about $15.  When I am 
going to mount several hundreds of dollars of antennas on a mast am I 
going to risk losing them by saving $5?

My nearly $3K 2m eme array (four antennas+H-frame+144-foot of coax+ 
elevation bracket) are supported by 3-1/2 feet of 2-inch sched-80 
steel pipe!  The 16 sq-foot wind area array has withstood >65mph 
winds sustained over a 30-hour period that stripped the ring gear on 
the Ham-III rotator (azimuth drive).  I now use Ham-IV with steel 
ring gears.  That array and mast have been up 11-years.  You would 
not do that with PVC.

The H-frame has combined aluminum and fiberglass on the vertical 
masts which support the 21-foot long 2m x-yagis.  PVC would not be 
suitable even with wood.  The fiberglass has wooden dowels inserted 
in the ends to prevent crushing the fiberglass with antenna clamps. I 
added short split lengthwise aluminum tubing to sheath the fiberglass 
at the clamp locations.

You probably are not looking at a project this big but steel and 
aluminum are not that expensive.  So is there another reason to want PVC?

Ed

At 11:32 AM 2/24/2011, Matt Patterson wrote:
>Hmmm...  how about not being cheap and buy a steel or aluminum mast?
>That's my solution....
>
>
>Matt
>W5LL
>
>
>
>On 2/24/2011 1:31 PM, Dave Webb KB1PVH wrote:
> > It would be great if all the Negative Nancys would offer a 
> positive solution
> > instead of just shooting it down that way we can all benefit.
> >
> > Dave - KB1PVH
> >
> > Sent from my Verizon Wireless DROID X
> > On Feb 24, 2011 2:22 PM, "Matt Patterson"<mattpatt at 1starnet.com>  wrote:
> >
> >> I can't even believe that some people recommend doing this!
> >>
> >>
> >> Matt
> >> W5LL
> >>
> >>
> >> On 2/24/2011 11:21 AM, Ng, Peter wrote:
> >>
> >>> I'm looking to put up a mast and am curious, why PVC? Is it better than
> >>>
> > steel?
> >
> >>> 73's Peter VE7NGP
> >>>
> >>> -----Original Message-----
> >>> From: amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org] On
> >>>
> > Behalf Of Bruce Semple
> >
> >>> Sent: Thursday, February 24, 2011 6:41 AM
> >>> To: AMSAT-BB at amsat.org
> >>> Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: PVC
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> And I forgot to mention --
> >>> I spray paint it all a flat black --- to help it blend in a little
> >>>
> > better!
> >
> >>> At 09:34 AM 2/24/2011, Bruce Semple wrote:
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>> Hello Mike -
> >>>> I use schedule 40 PVC with an OAK closet pole down the center for
> >>>> added stiffness
> >>>> for a horizontal boom.
> >>>> For vertical mast I use two PVC schedule 40 - one inside the other -
> >>>> along with a wood pole.
> >>>> I use PVC end caps on the ends to keep water/ moisture out.
> >>>>
> >>>> 73,
> >>>> Bruce
> >>>> WA3SWJ
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> At 07:59 AM 2/24/2011, Mike1234 wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> Has anyone ever experimented with PVC pipe to use for a mast in place
> >>>>>
> > of
> >
> >>>>> steel ? I have used it for vertical antennas and stands up excellent to
> >>>>>
> > the
> >
> >>>>> winds and weather here in Toledo, Ohio .
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Mike N8GBU
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>> _______________________________________________
> >>>>> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the
> >>>>>
> > author.
> >
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> >>>>>
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> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
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>
>_______________________________________________
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73, Ed - KL7UW, WD2XSH/45
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