Disaster!!

[PaulR]

Im wondering If I should cap the bottom with a welded plate

VS

Can I persuade NOT to cap the bottom in any way at all. Water is bound to find its way in even if it's only as a damp atmosphere.

In fact, I would go further and drill a drainage hole through the concrete at the bottom of the pipe hole so that any liquid can drain away.

 

[Vipersan]

You make good sense Paul ..
I was only thinking that the fact that water made its way in on the origional post ...accumilated and remained ..
causing the damage..from below ground ..
I supect a tiny drainage hole would be a good idea ..but I still think filling the pipe with oil would squeeze out any water by applying downward pressure ...and have the bonus of coating the inside of the pipe whilst slowly pushing the water out ...
what do you think ?
rgds
VS

 

[PaulR]

I like the idea of coating the inside with Waxoyl. This sticks to the surface after it dries but remains waxy and flexible.

 

[nelson_b]

hey -- thats a brilliant result -- regarding the pole ---
i,d go for tipping oil down the inside every now and again --
and a stabilising bracket to the wall as high as you can fit one -

the dish face will not be too heavy just awkward when you remove it -
- the large circular mounting ring seperates from the rest of the mount on mine ---- -different setup as its a fixed dish mount ----- and me and my nephew had no trouble carrying the dish face with ring attached -- and we have both had back problems so wer,e not that strong --
just dont try moving it if there is any wind at all --

cheers -- nelson.b.

 

[Vipersan]

Well ...I'm not gonna get too excited until I actually have the pole in my possession ..but it does look promising m8..
As to the dish itself ..
I'm going to try and remove the mount including the back ring in one lump ..
That way I don't have to adjust polar offset again ..
When refitting the dish to the ring Im going to remove the side elevation bolts and tip the mount backwards until it points straight up ..
That way the dish can be centralised and locked into place with new U bolts ...assuming I can get hold of some ,,,
They are well and truly rusted up ..and I suspect I may have to cut them loose with an angle grinder..
Im also going for a full realignment of the dish petals ..in view of the fact I suspect at least one has been bent a bit out of shape ..
I've cleared enough space to rebuild it in the room next to the kitchen ..
a Nice flat laminate floor to work on ..
I'd like to replace all the nuts and bolts holding the petals together as these are also rusted ..
Now I need to find a good old fashioned Ironmonger ;)
cheers Nelson..
Its a big job ..and its going to take a while ...but hopefully I'll be up and running later this year ..
rgds
VS

 

[Lazarus]

Now I need to find a good old fashioned Ironmonger ;)

VS

I have a brown coat somewhere, if it would help.

Oh yes ................. and four candles.

 

[Vipersan]

I have a brown coat somewhere, if it would help.

Oh yes ................. and four candles.

Ahhh...but have you got any O's ...
;)

 

[Vipersan]

Hi friends ..

Its raining costantly here at the moment and the clouds are thick and grey ..
but there is now a bit of sunshine in my heart
10am this morning my mate who I haven't seen or heard from since before I got ill last year ...pulled up in a van with a 9ft pole.
It turns out its not the exact same stuff he sold me 20 years ago ..

ITS BETTER ;)

Granted it aint powder coated black on the outside ..so I will have to paint and treat it myself...
but its still 3.5 inch external diameter ...and 1cm thick wall
He said its something called Shed3 pipe intended for presurised gas systems..
one end is screw threaded and has a cap ...but I cant use this end inside the sleeve fitting of the polar mount as it effectively increases the diameter of the pipe.
so..
I envisaged the screw cap end in the ground ...and an expanding foam plug in top end ...
What do you think guys ?

hes also brought me 3 mammoth U bolts to go around the pipe ..
So I can use 2 of them above ground to mount support struts to the walls ...and one below ground to mount an anti twist bar inside the concrete foundation..

rgds
VS
;)

 

[Lazarus]

"Back of the net ........... !"

 

[Analoguesat]

Blimey major engineering works going on at your place - photos are required one the construction starts!

 

[Vipersan]

No probs with photos AS ..
I shall enjoy taking them as the job progresses ..
But it will be a slower process than jobs in the past ...due mainly to my fatigue/lack of dexterity/slower workrate ..
..and of course its all weather dependant..
rgds
VS

 

[Vipersan]

A couple of quick snaps of the new pole ...
quickly taken as its constantly raining..
rgds
VS

 

[Lazarus]

That is a serious bit of pipe.

Lifetime guarantee, methinks.

 

[Vipersan]

Indeed it is Gordon ...
I had a job lifting it on my own ...its so heavy..
...should see me out anyway..
I calculate the origional took 20 years to rust through ..
I was 30 when it was planted ...Im 53 now ...
Origional was approx 3.5 mm ...this is 10mm ...
So ..I'll probably be floating up amongst the satellites I love so much by the time this one rusts through ..
;)
rgds
VS

 

[Llew]

Great that you've had a bit of good fortune there VS. Will check on how the work progresses; don't overdue it, take it easy, health comes first.

 

[Channel Hopper]

A couple of quick snaps of the new pole ...
quickly taken as its constantly raining..
rgds
VS

That is a proper piece of - what we call down here - steam pipe

With a cap as well.

 

[nelson_b]

brilliant -
yes you can forget about rusting through problems with that pipe -- once it is set in a decent block of concrete and clamped to the wall it will be bombproof --
you should be able to gain on the height of your dish now too-

i,m sure you will enjoy rebuilding your dish - even though it is time consuming -- i certainly found it satisfying building my
" kit form " Alcoa last winter -- and realised what a qualty / heavy duty piece of kit i had purchased . and i know i,m not currently using mine to it full potential as a fixed k/u/ dish

regards nelson.b.

 

[Vipersan]

Cheers guys ..

BTW Nelson ...
If you want to come down and take a few measurements and photos off the polar mount whist its at ground level ..
Hopefully dismantled within the week ..
...you are very welcome m8...
I can also photocopy the polar mount manual for you ...but of course ..you will need measurements if you want to build one ..
rgds
VS

 

[nelson_b]

Cheers guys ..

BTW Nelson ...
If you want to come down and take a few measurements and photos off the polar mount whist its at ground level ..
Hopefully dismantled within the week ..
...you are very welcome m8...
I can also photocopy the polar mount manual for you ...but of course ..you will need measurements if you want to build one ..
rgds
VS

thanks -- i will call sometime during my visit to friends in south manchester - not quite sure when that will be at this moment in time - i have some work commitments to fit in also this month - but sooner rather than later i hope .
i will take some photos and measurements as i would like to motorise my Alcoa one day -- and the polar mount on yours looks simple strong and efficiant --
the dish mounting ring on mine has a raised crossbar on it -- that would need to go i think for a permanent conversion - otherwise i assume the mounting ring to be the same size as yours

cheers nelson.b
p.s that is a 5 and 1/2 inch pipe on that grounstand l.o.l.

 

[Vipersan]

No probs Nelson ..
The mounting ring certainly looks the same ...but as you say ..
You would have to weld 2 pieces of steel accross the diameter to mount in the same way as on my assembly ..

A chap with your talent for improvising should be able to adapt part of the existing mount to make it steerable..
rgds
VS