Holes in aluminium mast

lumphammer

lumphammer

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Having taken off the defunct radar scanner I am left with four 12mm holes ( 2 each side) where the bolts went through the mast.

Will these holes weaken the mast?

What should I do about the holes?
 
I have just recently converted a stepped mast to a tabanacle mounting, and all holes ,and new tubes through the mast have been t.i.g. welded ,even 12mm holes can be welded with t.i.g. with or without blanks to fill the holes regards Ian ,the only thing all areas to be welded must be very clean ,free from paint and contaminates regards Iann
 
The hole would want to be very big in relation to the mast to weaken it. In which case it would have been a problem the minute it was drilled for your radar mount. There is less load with the radar removed. Filling will only be aesthetic. You could put plastic blanking plugs in the holes if you are worried about water getting inside. Electrical stores will sell them. Id avoid bolts and washers unless you are sure of the material used, best to avoid creating a galvanic situation.
Holes are often drilled in structural sections to arrest the growth of cracks.
 
Vic
I was trying to imagine the size of the gun necessary to "pop" 12mm rivets /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

I think Metropolitan Vickers used to make a 120 ton press brake that might just have enough energy given a run up?

Peter.
 
True the weakness was introduced when the holes were drilled. TIG welding may improve strength but at the risk of loss of temper of the Al from the heating. Patches of Al could be rivetted over and would improve the strength but only by drilling more holes.
A masts points of susceptbility to failure are midway between the areas supported by the stay wires. I imagine your holes are near the middle which is supported by the intermediate stays. Even if it were in between the intermediate and cap shrouds it is unlikely you will have a mast failure from the holes alone. Masts more often fail from wire or connector failure or streader failure. so don't worry use plastic plugs...... olewill
 
[ QUOTE ]
Having taken off the defunct radar scanner I am left with four 12mm holes ( 2 each side) where the bolts went through the mast.

Will these holes weaken the mast?

What should I do about the holes?

[/ QUOTE ]

Leaving the bolts out wont weaken the mast by much compared to having the bolts in - the difference will be the strength of the radar dome mounting.

You could plate and rivet over them. Or just leave them.
 
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Thanks for the comments everyone, I think I will just blank off the holes with suitable plastic caps.

[/ QUOTE ]I'd just put back the bolts! Would be slightly stronger than plastic caps.
 
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