Irrigation tubing

[N2RJ]

I need a cheap source for some irrigation tubing, 4" and 3" diameter.

I'm preparing to gather materials for my 80m four square that I want to put up this spring in preparation for contest season in 2008.

I've tried metalsdirect, but their prices are still a bit high.

I was thinking maybe an agricultural supply company?

Anyone got any ideas?

I have looked and found nothing in the aluminum variety. Seems everyone I have contacted goes with a plastic form of tubing.

I wish I could find something like that. Books talk about getting it, but I cannot find it.

I am all ears.

[N2RJ]

I think I'll go to the local tractor supply co and ask them.

I could also ask some local farmers.

[N8YX]

Does Texas Towers have suitable material?

How about your local scrap dealer?

We used to be able to find tons of the stuff at a local place called "Summit Equipment and Salvage". Shipping
to NJ would probably be a b!tch but you could try calling them up and see...

[kc7jty]

ask some metal recyclers if they know where.

[N3ATS]

Not sure what you're talking about Ryan. Is it just 3-4" dia. aluminum pipe with thin walls?

[N2RJ]

Not sure what you're talking about Ryan. Is it just 3-4" dia. aluminum pipe with thin walls?

Yep.
Heh, I even found some on Craigslist (http://eugene.craigslist.org/grd/530256144.html).

Have a nice trip to Oregon. Be safe.

[kc7jty]

I was thinking Washington state. Isn't 10 foot length the cut off point for shippable by most carriers (not to mention the big jump in rates for those who ship over 10')? I see the kids moving that tubing around on the fields where I live in Idaho all summer. It looks like it's at least 20 foot lengths. Very lightweight alum tube about 4" dia.

[N2RJ]

Well, I can get longer lengths shipped by truck carrier.

[kc7jty]

Well, I can get longer lengths shipped by truck carrier.
yes...but it's gonna cost ya.

Every scenario I see, I would be better off putting in a pair of HyTowers rather than getting the irrigation tubing.

http://www.americanswhotellthetruth.org/images/portraits/jim_hightower.jpg http://www.americanswhotellthetruth.org/images/portraits/jim_hightower.jpg

This would be cheaper.

[N2RJ]

Every scenario I see, I would be better off putting in a pair of HyTowers rather than getting the irrigation tubing.
This would be cheaper.

Hytowers? Interesting.

[KF5ER]

You should start by checking farmers in your area. Several years ago 4" alum
piping was the way to irrigate. Now most farmers use the cheaper and easier to
set out plastic roll piping. They probably still have the alum piping stacked up
somewhere on the farm and will let you have it for free of very cheap.

[kf0rt]

Every scenario I see, I would be better off putting in a pair of HyTowers rather than getting the irrigation tubing.
This would be cheaper.

Hytowers? Interesting.

I was thinking the same thing. You could go with one and see how it does before getting into a mini-broadcast array with 'em. :)

[N2RJ]

You should start by checking farmers in your area. Several years ago 4" alum
piping was the way to irrigate. Now most farmers use the cheaper and easier to
set out plastic roll piping. They probably still have the alum piping stacked up
somewhere on the farm and will let you have it for free of very cheap.

Not a bad idea. I do live in farm country. I'll talk to some of the local guys and see what they have to say...

[K1OU]

MFJ/HyGain makes sixty-five foot masts that would fit the bill perfectly...

[N2RJ]

Aluminum?

Well I kinda figured out what i may try.

I bougt some old screen tent poles (mil surplus) that have guying on multiple levels.

I think I'll try those.

[W6WBJ]

Ryan, don't overlook the 2-1/4" to 2-1/2" stuff, either. It really is pretty strong, and may be more available than the larger stuff. It usually comes in 20-foot sections. It would work fine for a vertical, since you are going to guy it anyway. I inherited a bunch of the 2-1/2" stuff from my father, who was a Christmas tree farmer. He got it from the local agricultural cooperative. If you don't have an ag co-op in your area, I agree with the station who said you should check out the farm supply places. You can join sections of this pipe easily by using the correct size of PVC or ABS pipe that fits over it, drilling it and installing linchpins or the equivalent in the holes. If you are patient and determined, by joining sections you can also run this stuff up a tree and weave it between the branches until you get a little bit above the top of the tree. It is easier to cut it into 5 or 10' sections to do this.

[kk7ue]

Ive seen guys out here use the thickwall (sked 80 or 120), uv resistant gray plastic tubing found at electrical supply houses or big box stores. Glue up two sticks per mast for around 20' using 2" or 2 1/2" diameter pipe. Im sure they used a stiffener at the joint for safety. Being guyed off worked fine for an 80 loop and isnt nearly as conductive as aluminum pipe would be.

I need to use something similar this summer for my loop. Trees and a phone pole are slated for the other 3 supports. Have fun man, be safe

[ac0h]

Probably isn't a lot of irrigating going on in NJ.
You need to look for suppliers out west. Texas Towers may not carry it but I'd bet they know who does.

[N2RJ]

Probably isn't a lot of irrigating going on in NJ.
You need to look for suppliers out west. Texas Towers may not carry it but I'd bet they know who does.

Not in NJ, but upstate NY has a lot of farms.

[N9FE]

Ryan: The only guys i know that use that type of pipe is sod farmers, Pretty sure there switching over to plastic now ??? worth a check

[kc7jty]

I know where there are over 20 ft sticks of 4 in. diameter alum tube that hasn't been used for years (overgrown with grass & weeds) less than 2 miles from here. They'd probably be glad to get rid of it for a few bucks. The acreage was probably purchased by developers.

[kf0rt]

I know where there are over 20 ft sticks of 4 in. diameter alum tube that hasn't been used for years (overgrown with grass & weeds) less than 2 miles from here. They'd probably be glad to get rid of it for a few bucks. The acreage was probably purchased by developers.

Aluminum? That'd be worth a fortune as scrap.

[El Cantankero]

I have available (in Greenpoint /East Williamsburg) 3" HDPE "smooth walled "Innerduct" in 10 to 20 foot pieces.... took down 9500 feet of it off the Crossbay bridge earlier last week... it has a slight curvature to it, but is still usable... It may be going out in the dumpster real soon, so E-mail me directly if you can use any of it and I'll put some pieces aside...

Rich
N2PPN
"El Cantankero"

[N2RJ]

Hi Rich,

Thanks for your offer but I need metal, not HDPE. :)

[Vinnie]

for both the 40 and 80 4sqs I use 4 inch and 3 inch irrigation pipe. Lots of it around here, BUT.
Quickly discovered that the thin wall stuff, well, bends into Vees much to easily. So special ordered thick wall and then used split thick wall as reinforcing shims at the point where the element is attached by a big clamp to the 6 by 6 post. Also two sets of nylon rope guys. So far they have survived 50MPH plus winds that way. It's 'great fun' pushing the *&^% things vertical too. Put a bolt at the bottom into the 6 by 6 and get a couple of guys to pull up on the guys while I lift. From 45 degrees and on you better move fast cause it's a tough lift! Oh, and don't let it flip over.....very bad move!

[N2RJ]

I think I'll just buy DXE's 64 foot vertical.

[WØTKX]

This place rocks http://alreco.biz/

ThomasNet (http://www.thomasnet.com/nsearch.html?cov=UN&what=New+York+New+Jersey+aluminum+pipe+recycling&heading=4379&loc=NY) for your area? I dunno. The metal aluminum irrigation tubes went bye bye a while ago... except for scrap stuff.

Good luck in your quest!

Antennas are more fun than Tinkertoys or Erector Sets. :mrgreen:

[Vinnie]

Got hundreds of miles of the stuff out here in Oregon.

How much ya want and where ya want it shipped?

Ah, prepaid, of course......

[kb2vxa]

And slightly used.

[Vinnie]

One other thing.

If you use irrigation pipe sometimes people complain about ur signal being, well, watery sounding.....

[ki4itv]

One other thing.

If you use irrigation pipe sometimes people complain about ur signal being, well, watery sounding.....
Well, it's a whole lot better than what they say when you use sewer pipe.
:mrgreen:

One other thing.

If you use irrigation pipe sometimes people complain about ur signal being, well, watery sounding.....
Well, it's a whole lot better than what they say when you use sewer pipe.
:mrgreen:
Sewer pipe would be so great. If you super-cool the ceramics, you would have a superconductor and with such low losses, your signal would be improved by several dB fer sure.

Make sure no one touches the antenna even if you are not transmitting.

So cool.