Disaster!!

[Vipersan]

@Nelson ..
Is Keighly W-yorkshire anywhere near you ?
rgds
VS

 

[nelson_b]

hi -
yes not too far about 20 miles -- maybe a little more --easy place to get to from here -- ?
how can i help ?

 

[Vipersan]

..
Hi Nelson ..
I spotted someone on ebay based there selling this :-

90mm Diameter Galvanized Water pipe, Heavy wall,Threaded either end,inc 1 socket,3.05mtr (10ft) Long

Sold lots for cattle grids, also makes a solid water main.

£30.00 each (£25.00+VAT) buyer to collect approx 60 instock

tel 01535 605511

Bridge Supply Co, Progress Works, Parkwood Street, Keighley, West Yorks, BD214NX

...
so at this stage just curious about the company...
but then theres getting one here as they only allow collection ..
rgds
VS

 

[Chris76]

Sorry to here about your troubles VS. I have no doubt you will be up and running again soon enough,but it certainly seems expensive for the pole needed but on the bright side you can get a little more elevation for the western satellites. It looks like a lot of work involved indeed but if the last install gave you 20 years service then that's another plus. i have a 1m dish on t and k's in a exposed position so im worried atm as well,fingers crossed it doesn't move anywhere. Just out of interest what are you viewing on the western arc?

Regards Chris

 

[Vipersan]

Hi Chris ...
Its all c band stuff on the western arc ..
I was viewing many channels ..
check out my added elevation contol thread in this forum to see what I had logged so far ..
rgds
VS

 

[nelson_b]

hi - i dont know the company -- but it sounds ideal for your needs -

the place i had in mind is more local but i doubt they would have galvanised -- the one you have seen would - i think be better ,

if you think it will do for you i could bring you one - when i visit my friends in - greater manchester - which i,m hoping will be in the near future . the roof rack on the volvo 240 will handle it ok --

the storm has continued through the night here and is still blowing strong -
no damage though -"yet"- the old channel master is the most exposed and is hopping around a bit - as its only held in position on its polar mount by its horizontal and vertical actutors --

regards nelson.b

 

[Vipersan]

Hi Nelson ...
I may well take you up on that offer ...
I would of course pay you in full for transport costs etc ..
I'm going to visit a scrap yard this afternoon ..
If theres nothing there suitable then I'll be straight back to you on the Keighly pipe ..
again thanks buddy..
What a great board ..
and what Great friends
;)
VS

...Oh and forgot to wish you luck on your dishes Nelson ..
My fingers are crossed for you ..as best they can be ...
t'aint easy as you know ..
rgds

 

[Lazarus]

This is great stuff, chaps.

True hobbyist self-help and oodles of altruism thrown in.

Keep it up!

 

[SST12]

Hi VS.

Google BSS,there should be a branch near you they stock plain or galvanized heavy gauge pipe in 3" 4" 6" the wall thickness is about 5mm

 

[pgh13]

If you can find a scrappy that deals with the chemical plants you may get some stainless steel

 

[Vipersan]

Hi friends ..
No luck so far locally ..
I have one more person to try tomorrow ...re the pipe..
In the meantime I've busied myself loosening the bolts which fasten the U bolt brackets to the dish face ..
all are now removed and the dish is currently still attached to the mount ...but now with industrial strength cable ties ..
I can easily cut these and remove the dish sometime over the weekend ...
I'll first need some helpful friends and neighbours ..
at least 3 peeps including me ..to carry the dish off whilst a forth cuts the cable ties..
I've already removed the actuators and the tripod ..
Once the dish is removed I can get to work dismantling the polar mount ..
Again ...at least a 3 man job to lift and carry it..
Nelson ...I suspect I may well need that pipe ..but will contact you for definate one way or t'other after the weekend.
Cheers friends ..
off for a well earned soak in the bath now ..
My hands neck and back are in bitz following todays dismantling excercise.
rgds 2 all
VS

 

[Vipersan]

Well ...
A turn up for the books as it where ..
Word had got round through my friends ..concerning my predicament..
..and I've just had a phone call from the guy who supplied the origional piece of pipe 20 years ago ..
He still has a 9 foot length in his lockup ..and has offered it for free..
Well ..sort of ..
We used to go metal detecting together years ago when I was fit ...and we bought an expensive detecter which we shared ..
He currently has possession but of course ..my illness prevents me from ever taking up the hobby again ...so we agreed that he should keep it ...and he's offered the pipe ..including delivery in exchange.
Now ..its not galvanized or protected except a powder black coating on the outside ..
So ...it will be a straight swap for the existing pole assuming its long enough ..
If I do this then I need to learn by my mistakes and somehow protect it agains internal rusting ..
I wondered if it perhaps could be fitted with a bottom cap ...sealed and filled with motor oil ? then capped again at the top .
would this be sufficient ?
And how would I protect the outer pole sunk into the concrete base ?
about 3 foot below ground ..
Suggestions are welcome..
remember the origional lasted some 20+ years ..so if I can protect the replacement ..
It should last me till I'm an old'un..
Thoughts ...suggestions welcomed..
rgds
VS

 

[Analoguesat]

Cor blimey thats a bit of luck mate

You used to be able to get "waxoyl" type stuff that car enthusiasts used to spray into box members in their chassis to keep rust out. Maybe something like that srayed around the internal pipe surfaces would help.

Also when you concrete it in make sure the concrete surface slopes away from the pipe all the way round so water doesnt sit up against the pipe.

Cap the top of the pipe to keep rain out - but maybe a small access hole to spray inside yearly?? (covered in tape of course)..

 

[Lazarus]

Well that is a big chunk of good luck!

The oil idea is what sprang to mind for me too, but I rather think it'll find a way to escape.

So why not accept that and just dribble a few cc in every now and again via a removable cap, working around the entire inner circumference.

Not ideal, but 20yr life without protection suggests "total protection" isn't necessary.




Drat and double drat: AS wins ................... again!

(One eye on the Rugby, here)

 

[Vipersan]

Good suggestion Analog..
I did slope the concrete away from the pole on the outside round the base of the pole ...when I set the origional ..
But of course I didn't treat the inside nor I guess effectively seal it ..
I'm guessing a tiny hole allowed water in ..which over time accumilated and ..well ..you know the rest..
I think I read somehere that popping a large bar of Zinc inside the tube ...the bit below ground is supposed to slow the rusting process ..but not sure if this genuine ..or hocum..
Keep the suggestions coming please m8's
I'm feeling a bit more positive now ;)
rgds
VS

 

[Analoguesat]

Lol you need to type faster Tivu

 

[Vipersan]

Thanks Gordon ..
Sorry you where pipped at the Ahemm ...scuse the pun ....Post...
rgds
VS

 

[Vipersan]

How effective is Pitch ?
Im wondering If I should cap the bottom with a welded plate ...asuming I can find someone to do it ...
Then paint with killrust and finally paint with pitch before setting in concrete..
The methods of treating it internally by topping up once a year with motor oil still applies ..
rgds
VS

 

[Analoguesat]

The other thing I did think of earlier was this - looking at the first picture you posted you have walls on 2 sides of the dish. Some sort of steel bar bracketing looped round the pole and bolted into the walls would give you additional strengthening and help stop the pole moving in another severe gale

 

[Vipersan]

The other thing I did think of earlier was this - looking at the first picture you posted you have walls on 2 sides of the dish. Some sort of steel bar bracketing looped round the pole and bolted into the walls would give you additional strengthening and help stop the pole moving in another severe gale

Good idea m8 ..
I had considered this ...but of course the bracing would have to be low enough that the actuator didn't foul on its its travels..
rgds
VS