14-06-2016, 06:08 PM
I don't know where to put this but as it's in no way 'Vintage' this seems like a good spot.
As I've noted elsewhere I'm a Stoke City Supporter and they often transmit the Match on their fm Channel - a whole 6kW from Ojers Bonk, so I'm on the ragged edge of the Service Area. Anyway, I bought an Aerial to test the Waters - http://www.satelliteandaerialsupplies.co...-5-element
Sorry it's a Link but I can't find a sensible Picture. In essence it's a straightforward 5 Element Band II jobby.
I hung it up in the Garage Roof pointing in approximately the right direction and it gave every impression of giving good results with my EKCO U354, C/O tedzed. However, the Garage Steelwork clearly wasn't helping, so the next step was to get it higher up.
I cast about for something suitable, and almost bought a 20' Scaffold Pole although transporting it would be a problem, when a Mate of mine turned up with one, FOC. Now you might ask why a 20' Aluminium Scaffold Pole would be FOC and Legal. The answer is it was bent and hence scrap. Unfortunately I didn't take a Picture of it in its original state. I came up with several outlandish methods of straightening it out but none were really plausible. A mate of mine who had a similar problem with his Trailer Axle got the JCB Man up the road to squash it with his Back-hoe, but again transport was a problem.
In the end I decided on a direct approach. First I straightened it using some Box-section and U-Bolts.
Next I fished out an old Drill Rod I've had kicking about for some time doing nothing. This was just the right Diameter to fit the ID so all I needed to do was to cut around 80" off it to get past the bend. No big deal, stick it in the old Donkey Saw and go for a Cuppa. When I came back, expecting to see it finished, I discovered there was a faint scratch on the Surface. Errrrr. Anyway, it was an old Blade so I fitted a new one, which made not one iota of difference. I don't know what Grade of Steel it is but it's good stuff. However, it couldn't resist my Angle Grinder.
The next step was to lay it on the Lawn against the Conservatory and bash it in:-
It wasn't until it was half way in that it dawned in me that some Oil might cheer the process up - Doh.
Anyway, it looked much straighter, and a bit of extra weight at the bottom would be no disadvantage.
Things were on the downbank now. First a Bracket for the Bottom - 4 bits of Angle and a bit of Pipe welded up - and one for the top to space it off from the front of the Garage.
To be continued
Lawrence, maintain a low profile for a few Minutes
Alan
As I've noted elsewhere I'm a Stoke City Supporter and they often transmit the Match on their fm Channel - a whole 6kW from Ojers Bonk, so I'm on the ragged edge of the Service Area. Anyway, I bought an Aerial to test the Waters - http://www.satelliteandaerialsupplies.co...-5-element
Sorry it's a Link but I can't find a sensible Picture. In essence it's a straightforward 5 Element Band II jobby.
I hung it up in the Garage Roof pointing in approximately the right direction and it gave every impression of giving good results with my EKCO U354, C/O tedzed. However, the Garage Steelwork clearly wasn't helping, so the next step was to get it higher up.
I cast about for something suitable, and almost bought a 20' Scaffold Pole although transporting it would be a problem, when a Mate of mine turned up with one, FOC. Now you might ask why a 20' Aluminium Scaffold Pole would be FOC and Legal. The answer is it was bent and hence scrap. Unfortunately I didn't take a Picture of it in its original state. I came up with several outlandish methods of straightening it out but none were really plausible. A mate of mine who had a similar problem with his Trailer Axle got the JCB Man up the road to squash it with his Back-hoe, but again transport was a problem.
In the end I decided on a direct approach. First I straightened it using some Box-section and U-Bolts.
Next I fished out an old Drill Rod I've had kicking about for some time doing nothing. This was just the right Diameter to fit the ID so all I needed to do was to cut around 80" off it to get past the bend. No big deal, stick it in the old Donkey Saw and go for a Cuppa. When I came back, expecting to see it finished, I discovered there was a faint scratch on the Surface. Errrrr. Anyway, it was an old Blade so I fitted a new one, which made not one iota of difference. I don't know what Grade of Steel it is but it's good stuff. However, it couldn't resist my Angle Grinder.
The next step was to lay it on the Lawn against the Conservatory and bash it in:-
It wasn't until it was half way in that it dawned in me that some Oil might cheer the process up - Doh.
Anyway, it looked much straighter, and a bit of extra weight at the bottom would be no disadvantage.
Things were on the downbank now. First a Bracket for the Bottom - 4 bits of Angle and a bit of Pipe welded up - and one for the top to space it off from the front of the Garage.
To be continued
Lawrence, maintain a low profile for a few Minutes
Alan
