Re: [Repeater-Builder] Asntenna Painting
Mike Morris WA6ILQ wrote: As to painting, the two major things to remember are: 1) color pigments are usually metallic. Avoid them. 2) the coating is fiberglass, and you get one chance, so don't screw up. If necessary, buy a quart of cheap fiberglass and coat a piece of 2 PVC pipe just for the practice and self-training. Along those lines, I recently had an issue of coverage reduction from one of our paging sites on a TV station tower. It swept fine with an FDR, but I could see reduced signal strengths on the SpecAn. I had a tower crew go up and replace it, and when it came down, it was tower orange on one side! (The antenna was a 900MHz DB-589 fiberglass 9dB gain.) The station had a crew paint the tower over the summer, and managed to get paint on our antenna. Replaced the antenna with a DB-809, and all is well again. Anybody got any ideas for removing tower paint from a fiberglass stick without killing the fiberglass?? ;c} Jim
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Asntenna Painting
We just use common household bleach mixture to clean antennas that have been up there for ages, works a treat! Regards Gareth Bennett (Technical Services) Signals NZ Ltd 8 Manor Place P.O. Box 1439 Dunedin 9015 New Zealand Phone : 03 425-0895(64 3 425-0895) Fax : 03 474-5251(64 3 474-5251) Mobile : 027 458-8377 (64 27 458-8377) Email : gare...@signals.net.nz Web: www.signals.net.nz Note: This message is for the named person's use only. It may contain confidential, proprietary or legally privileged information. No confidentiality or privilege is waived or lost by any mistransmission. If you receive this message in error, please immediately delete it and any copies of it from your system, and notify the sender. You must not, directly or indirectly, use, disclose, distribute, print, or copy any part of this message if you are not the intended recipient. LFT Group Ltd reserves the right to monitor ALL e-mail communications through its networks. Any views expressed in this message are those of the individual sender, except where the message states otherwise and the sender is authorised - Original Message - From: Ralph Mowery To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Tuesday, March 24, 2009 3:36 PM Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Asntenna Painting --- On Mon, 3/23/09, chris Inos chris_i...@yahoo.com wrote: From: chris Inos chris_i...@yahoo.com Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Asntenna Painting To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Date: Monday, March 23, 2009, 7:59 PM I am seeking advise ...but if I can be pointed to the right direction, I will be most appreciative. This summer, I plan to take down my Cellwave Station Master (repeater antenna) for service, maintenance or painting. Over the years, moss and algae set in and the bright white fiberglass finish is beginning to disappear. I seek advise on the following: 1. What cleaning agent would be best to take down foreign objects in the antenna 2. What paint if any...or preparation therof before application is neglegible in the optimum performance of this antenna. This antenna has served us well over the years. 3. Other recommendation. thanks chris Here is a file I picked up several years ago. Antenna Painting Instructions The following is courtesy Celwave This is what I received when I asked them for a recommendation of what to use in refinishing my 18 year old PD455 Celwave receives requests for advice about refinishing weathered antenna radomes or changing the radome color for aesthetic reasons. We do not take a position on any manufacturer's paint. However, Sherwin-Williams seems to make a product, which should be compatible with radomes and not interfere with the antenna's electrical performance. The following suggestions are not a substitute for detailed instructions and mix ratios provided by the paint manufacturer. RADOME MATERIAL (Standard Color) CELWAVE PRODUCT LINE 1. Spun Epoxy Fiberglass (Blue) Penetrator Antennas (AxR, BxR Series) 2. Polyester Impregnated Fiberglass (White) Stationmaster Antennas (PDxx Omni Series.) 3. Polyester Impregnated Fiberglass (Grey) FR CELlite Panel Antennas (AP18, 19 Series) 4. ASA (Grey) FR CELlite Panel Antennas (AP90 Series) 5. AES/ABS (White or Grey) US Panel Antennas (Other APxx Models) 6. Gel Coated Fiberglass Tubing (White) Marine Antennas (Cel-1, 3 etc.) Notes: FOR RADOME MATERIAL USE THIS FINISH #1, #2, #3 Primer and Top Coat #4, #5 Primer may be required (Top Coat retention may be tested with adhesive tape after paint dries) #6 Requires Pre-Treat (Acid Etch) to remove gloss, then Primer and Top Coat SHERWIN-WILLIAMS PRODUCTS: Etch P60G2 Wash Primer Primer
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Asntenna Painting
At 04:59 PM 03/23/09, you wrote: I am seeking advise ...but if I can be pointed to the right direction, I will be most appreciative. This summer, I plan to take down my Cellwave Station Master (repeater antenna) for service, maintenance or painting. Over the years, moss and algae set in and the bright white fiberglass finish is beginning to disappear. I seek advise on the following: 1. What cleaning agent would be best to take down foreign objects in the antenna 2. What paint if any...or preparation therof before application is neglegible in the optimum performance of this antenna. This antenna has served us well over the years. 3. Other recommendation. thanks chris As to cleaning moss and algae, I'd start with common bleach. If it isn't strong enough, use some swimming pool chlorine diluted. If my memory is holding up, pool chlorine is about 20 to 25 times stronger than bleach. As to painting, the two major things to remember are: 1) color pigments are usually metallic. Avoid them. 2) the coating is fiberglass, and you get one chance, so don't screw up. If necessary, buy a quart of cheap fiberglass and coat a piece of 2 PVC pipe just for the practice and self-training. These two may be of interest: Fiberglass Antenna Painting Procedure by Celwave Corp. http://www.repeater-builder.com/antenna/antenna-painting.pdf Some notes on fiberglass antenna painting http://www.repeater-builder.com/antenna/antenna-painting-notes.html When you put the antenna back up, if it's side mounted you may want to consider adding a sidearm. http://www.repeater-builder.com/antenna/cracking.html Mike WA6ILQ
RE: [Repeater-Builder] Asntenna Painting
Chris, This question comes up quite often, but I will repeat the standard response. Go here: www.rfsworld.com/index.php?p=276l=1listName=applicationnotesindexVal=1 If you have any other questions about Celwave Stationmaster antennas, contact the Tech Support folks for more information. 73, Eric Lemmon WB6FLY -Original Message- From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com [mailto:repeater-buil...@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of chris Inos Sent: Monday, March 23, 2009 5:00 PM To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Asntenna Painting I am seeking advice ...but if I can be pointed to the right direction, I will be most appreciative. This summer, I plan to take down my Celwave StationMaster (repeater antenna) for service, maintenance or painting. Over the years, moss and algae set in and the bright white fiberglass finish is beginning to disappear. I seek advice on the following: 1. What cleaning agent would be best to take down foreign objects in the antenna 2. What paint if any...or preparation thereof before application is neglegible in the optimum performance of this antenna. This antenna has served us well over the years. 3. Other recommendation. thanks chris
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Asntenna Painting
from memory 1 good boat fiber glass cleaner ( where gloves !! the glass splinters HURT !) 2 a good gel coat ( type of paint sotra again boat supply store) Make sure there is no metal in the paint ( or Gel Coat ) 3 after the gel coat a good sealer to the gel coat I dont think I would say a wax .. but I could be wrong I have seen gel coat used .. ( I cant find the web site any more) if you go that route take a lot of pic's and provide info for other users .. I hope this helps Rick On Mon, Mar 23, 2009 at 7:59 PM, chris Inos chris_i...@yahoo.com wrote: I am seeking advise ...but if I can be pointed to the right direction, I will be most appreciative. This summer, I plan to take down my Cellwave Station Master (repeater antenna) for service, maintenance or painting. Over the years, moss and algae set in and the bright white fiberglass finish is beginning to disappear. I seek advise on the following: 1. What cleaning agent would be best to take down foreign objects in the antenna 2. What paint if any...or preparation therof before application is neglegible in the optimum performance of this antenna. This antenna has served us well over the years. 3. Other recommendation. thanks chris
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Asntenna Painting
--- On Mon, 3/23/09, chris Inos chris_i...@yahoo.com wrote: From: chris Inos chris_i...@yahoo.com Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Asntenna Painting To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Date: Monday, March 23, 2009, 7:59 PM I am seeking advise ...but if I can be pointed to the right direction, I will be most appreciative. This summer, I plan to take down my Cellwave Station Master (repeater antenna) for service, maintenance or painting. Over the years, moss and algae set in and the bright white fiberglass finish is beginning to disappear. I seek advise on the following: 1. What cleaning agent would be best to take down foreign objects in the antenna 2. What paint if any...or preparation therof before application is neglegible in the optimum performance of this antenna. This antenna has served us well over the years. 3. Other recommendation. thanks chris Here is a file I picked up several years ago. Antenna Painting Instructions The following is courtesy Celwave This is what I received when I asked them for a recommendation of what to use in refinishing my 18 year old PD455 Celwave receives requests for advice about refinishing weathered antenna radomes or changing the radome color for aesthetic reasons. We do not take a position on any manufacturer's paint. However, Sherwin-Williams seems to make a product, which should be compatible with radomes and not interfere with the antenna's electrical performance. The following suggestions are not a substitute for detailed instructions and mix ratios provided by the paint manufacturer. RADOME MATERIAL (Standard Color) CELWAVE PRODUCT LINE 1. Spun Epoxy Fiberglass (Blue) Penetrator Antennas (AxR, BxR Series) 2. Polyester Impregnated Fiberglass (White) Stationmaster Antennas (PDxx Omni Series.) 3. Polyester Impregnated Fiberglass (Grey) FR CELlite Panel Antennas (AP18, 19 Series) 4. ASA (Grey) FR CELlite Panel Antennas (AP90 Series) 5. AES/ABS (White or Grey) US Panel Antennas (Other APxx Models) 6. Gel Coated Fiberglass Tubing (White) Marine Antennas (Cel-1, 3 etc.) Notes: FOR RADOME MATERIAL USE THIS FINISH #1, #2, #3 Primer and Top Coat #4, #5 Primer may be required (Top Coat retention may be tested with adhesive tape after paint dries) #6 Requires Pre-Treat (Acid Etch) to remove gloss, then Primer and Top Coat SHERWIN-WILLIAMS PRODUCTS: Etch P60G2 Wash Primer Primer D61H75 Polane 2.8 Plus Spray Fil Top Coat Polane Type HS 2.8 Plus Polyurethane SURFACE PREPARATION: Removal of surface contamination is normally accomplished by using an alcohol solvent, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, or butanol. A ten percent solution of methyl ethyl ketone in water can also be used whenever stubborn oil or grease is encountered. APPLICATION PROCEDURES: Painting to be done indoors, as the uncured product is sensitive to moisture. Apply one coat of Polane 2.8 Plus Spray Fil D61H75 Primer. It is designed to fill and/or hide profile and surface imperfections on metal castings, structural foam, plastic and wood. Apply one coat of Polane HS 2.8 Plus Polyurethane Enamel Monochromatic Intermix Color System F63 Series. FOR FURTHER S-W PRODUCT INFORMATION CONTACT: Ralph Stadalman - Product Finishing Representative The Sherwin-Williams Company Chemical Coating Facility 3165 Tucker Road Bensalem, PA 19020 Voice = (215) 638-0104 Fax = (215) 638-1008 Rev: #5 10/05/98 DLS File: PAINT.doc End
