Re: Topband: Outdoor rope suggestions
In about 7 years that Dacron stuff starts to dry out and comes apart slowly, Rots it in water like rain gutters. I have seen some guys use this Space Walk gray tethering cord for fling big kites 120 square feet of sail and bigger. Not sure of the composition and how UV resistant it is. Has a very high Tensile strength for how small it is. Not sure what they call it. -- Jim K9TF _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Outdoor rope suggestions
I have noticed a wide range of experience that people are reporting on the life of the black braided Dacron polyester rope. I have had extremely good life and strength use on a wide range of antennas and other uses, such as holding a cover on a 24 ft. diameter above ground pool. The pool was put in in 1982 and removed 2 years ago. The rope is still fine after all that time. It was in and under pool water for 7 to 8 months each year. I have a TH3mkIII Hygain beam that has been up on a mast at 45 ft since 1983 using 3/8" Dacron rope. I have a 73 vertical that has been up since 1990 using 5/16" black rope. These antennas have stood many strong storms, 2 of which had winds over 80 mph. It seems to me there must be a wide range of quality people are buying Unfortunately, I don't have a good answer, but I will no longer just say that Black Dacron polyester is the world-beater I thought it was. The source I have always bought from is The Radio Works. 73 es DX Pat H. Armstrong KF5YZ Jim GM wrote: > In about 7 years that Dacron stuff starts to dry out and comes apart > slowly, Rots it in water like rain gutters. > > I have seen some guys use this Space Walk gray tethering cord for fling big > kites 120 square feet of sail and bigger. Not sure of the composition and > how UV resistant it is. Has a very high Tensile strength for how small it > is. Not sure what they call it. > > -- > Jim K9TF > _ > Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Outdoor rope suggestions
I used the same rope, but purchased it from Davis RF. Used it for guying 100 foot Rohn-25 towers in a 80/160 meter 4 square in 1991 After 15 years, could not find any problems, but replaced it on general principles. Expect I will have it replaced again in about another 10 years. There is rope and there is great rope. 75 Bruce-K1FZ www.qsl.net/k1fz/beveragenotes.html I have a TH3mkIII Hygain beam that has been up on a mast at 45 ft since 1983 using 3/8" Dacron rope. I have a 73 vertical that has been up since 1990 using 5/16" black rope. These antennas have stood many strong storms, 2 of which had winds over 80 mph. The source I have always bought from is The Radio Works. 73 es DX Pat H. Armstrong KF5YZ _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Outdoor rope suggestions
In about 7 years that Dacron stuff starts to dry out and comes apart slowly, Rots it in water like rain gutters. Perhaps you are confusing it with something else, or you bought some fake Chinese forgery? Dacron rope (a trade name for a polyester rope derivative with less stretch than nylon) is rated everywhere as being excellent for UV resistance with good or excellent chemical resistance, mildew resistant, and good abrasion resistance. It is commonly used as a marine rope. I have some that has been up for 15 years in Georgia sunshine, and it was used when I installed it! There are some inferior ropes out there. I bought some Wal-Mart Nylon rope that had no UV resistance at all. It lasted less than a year, while other Nylons last many years. The Wal-Mart made in China Nylon rope was more like polypropylene. _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: [Bulk] Re: Outdoor rope suggestions
I've had real Synthetic Textiles lines up 10 years and more. Some in CA sun, without significant degradation. OTOH, some "dacron" bought on ebay is likely a dacron-polypro blend and lasted only a few years. Grant KZ1W On 9/17/2014 2:37 PM, Tom W8JI wrote: In about 7 years that Dacron stuff starts to dry out and comes apart slowly, Rots it in water like rain gutters. Perhaps you are confusing it with something else, or you bought some fake Chinese forgery? Dacron rope (a trade name for a polyester rope derivative with less stretch than nylon) is rated everywhere as being excellent for UV resistance with good or excellent chemical resistance, mildew resistant, and good abrasion resistance. It is commonly used as a marine rope. I have some that has been up for 15 years in Georgia sunshine, and it was used when I installed it! There are some inferior ropes out there. I bought some Wal-Mart Nylon rope that had no UV resistance at all. It lasted less than a year, while other Nylons last many years. The Wal-Mart made in China Nylon rope was more like polypropylene. _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Outdoor rope suggestions
Back in 1986, I bought two 500' spools of 5/16" black Dacron rope from Synthetic Textiles along with two 1000' spools of 3/16" rope and two of their hot knives. I have used and abused and re- used it on all manner of antennas over the years in three different locations since 1986 with no signs of wear or rot, regardless of sun and weather - and it DOESN'T stretch!! (It's worth it to use the hot knife to cut it so the ends don't fray.) The Synthetic Textiles Dacron rope is the REAL STUFF! We all would do well to check with our favorite supplier to determine from whom they source their "Dacron" rope! My experience has been more like Tom's and Pat's. I won't use anything else on my antennas! Back in the 1980s Synthetic Textiles was running ads in QST and I bought mine directly from the mfr. I can't wear it out! 73, Charlie, K4OTV -Original Message- From: Topband [mailto:topband-boun...@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Tom W8JI Sent: Wednesday, September 17, 2014 5:37 PM To: Jim GM; topband Subject: Re: Topband: Outdoor rope suggestions > In about 7 years that Dacron stuff starts to dry out and comes apart > slowly, Rots it in water like rain gutters. > Perhaps you are confusing it with something else, or you bought some fake Chinese forgery? Dacron rope (a trade name for a polyester rope derivative with less stretch than nylon) is rated everywhere as being excellent for UV resistance with good or excellent chemical resistance, mildew resistant, and good abrasion resistance. It is commonly used as a marine rope. I have some that has been up for 15 years in Georgia sunshine, and it was used when I installed it! There are some inferior ropes out there. I bought some Wal-Mart Nylon rope that had no UV resistance at all. It lasted less than a year, while other Nylons last many years. The Wal-Mart made in China Nylon rope was more like polypropylene. _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.com _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Outdoor rope suggestions
Good evening all, I too have used the STI brand of outdoor rope for many, many years with absolutely no problems. I climb 120' towers that are guyed with the 5/16" variety. I am in the midst of a low band vertical array project. I have nearly used up the 10,000 feet of 5/16" line that is being used for the guying lines on all the vertical elements. I have in the past, and did so for this project, purchased directly from STI. They sell in single spool quantities or multiple 500 foot and 1,000 foot spool quantities. No, you cannot buy 50’, 100’, or similar small lengths. For those interested, the web page for STI is http://www.synthetictextilesinc.com/supportham.html I have no interest in the company other than their superb product for use in my personal antenna projects. Mis dos centavos. de Milt, N5IA -Original Message- From: Charlie Sent: Wednesday, September 17, 2014 3:12 PM To: 'Tom W8JI' ; 'Jim GM' ; 'topband' Subject: Re: Topband: Outdoor rope suggestions Back in 1986, I bought two 500' spools of 5/16" black Dacron rope from Synthetic Textiles along with two 1000' spools of 3/16" rope and two of their hot knives. I have used and abused and re- used it on all manner of antennas over the years in three different locations since 1986 with no signs of wear or rot, regardless of sun and weather - and it DOESN'T stretch!! (It's worth it to use the hot knife to cut it so the ends don't fray.) The Synthetic Textiles Dacron rope is the REAL STUFF! We all would do well to check with our favorite supplier to determine from whom they source their "Dacron" rope! My experience has been more like Tom's and Pat's. I won't use anything else on my antennas! Back in the 1980s Synthetic Textiles was running ads in QST and I bought mine directly from the mfr. I can't wear it out! 73, Charlie, K4OTV - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2014.0.4765 / Virus Database: 4015/8229 - Release Date: 09/17/14 _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: [Bulk] Re: Outdoor rope suggestions
As I stated when I started this thread about 2 weeks ago Ive had STI line in use since 1983 for all sorts of outdoor projects including boom supports. I was looking for alternatives and went with Davis Dacron because they carried 1000' spools; being in the same state cut down on shipping and gave next day service. The two brands look identical. The longest runs these days is to support seperate 160, 80, and 75M inverted v's with a common coax feed at 180' with the ends out to 300' or so from the tower base. Several pieces are knotted together and takes all that Mother Nature can toss at if from ice storms to hurricanes, microbursts, N'oreasters, etc. Carl KM1H - Original Message - From: "Grant Saviers" To: "topband" Sent: Wednesday, September 17, 2014 5:54 PM Subject: Re: Topband: [Bulk] Re: Outdoor rope suggestions I've had real Synthetic Textiles lines up 10 years and more. Some in CA sun, without significant degradation. OTOH, some "dacron" bought on ebay is likely a dacron-polypro blend and lasted only a few years. Grant KZ1W On 9/17/2014 2:37 PM, Tom W8JI wrote: In about 7 years that Dacron stuff starts to dry out and comes apart slowly, Rots it in water like rain gutters. Perhaps you are confusing it with something else, or you bought some fake Chinese forgery? Dacron rope (a trade name for a polyester rope derivative with less stretch than nylon) is rated everywhere as being excellent for UV resistance with good or excellent chemical resistance, mildew resistant, and good abrasion resistance. It is commonly used as a marine rope. I have some that has been up for 15 years in Georgia sunshine, and it was used when I installed it! There are some inferior ropes out there. I bought some Wal-Mart Nylon rope that had no UV resistance at all. It lasted less than a year, while other Nylons last many years. The Wal-Mart made in China Nylon rope was more like polypropylene. _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2014.0.4765 / Virus Database: 4015/8230 - Release Date: 09/17/14 _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Outdoor rope suggestions
On Wed,9/17/2014 3:54 PM, Milt -- N5IA wrote: I too have used the STI brand of outdoor rope for many, many years with absolutely no problems. I too standardized on the 5/16-in STI rope for my high wire antennas. They stand up quite well to everything but abrasion. Once the outer jacket is worn and breaks, you'd better replace it right away! Used with good pulleys it has been holding up quite well for me. 73, Jim K9YC _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
