I just got done installing radials for a new antenna, and was distressed
at the amount of time it was taking.

I was looking at some power tools that might speed up the trenching
process. Power edgers looked promising, but were 90 - 100 dollars for
electrical models, and more for the gas powered ones.

Finally I hit on something. I bought an inexpensive electric chainsaw.
I'm sure the neighbors thought I was a lunatic, but trenching for the
radials took surprisingly little time. So I laid all my radials in one
afternoon. It would have taken even less time if there had been an extra
person around to help.

Caveats:

This is of course *dangerous* - don't ever do it!!! Chainsaws are sharp
and nasty.

It wore out the Chainsaw chain. That really isn't a big deal. I'm just
going to save it for the next time I need to trench radials.

The chainsaw needs washed and lubed after trenching.

But it was quick. The radials are in, the post for the vertical is in
and concrete setting as I write.

Just thought I'd share this with the group. I never saw anyone else
saying they did anything similar, so I either stumbled on something, or
I'm completely whacked! ;^)

- Mike KB3EIA -

Mike Coslo wrote:

I just got done installing radials for a new antenna, and was distressed
at the amount of time it was taking.

I was looking at some power tools that might speed up the trenching
process. Power edgers looked promising, but were 90 - 100 dollars for
electrical models, and more for the gas powered ones.

Finally I hit on something. I bought an inexpensive electric chainsaw.
I'm sure the neighbors thought I was a lunatic, but trenching for the
radials took surprisingly little time. So I laid all my radials in one
afternoon. It would have taken even less time if there had been an extra
person around to help.

Caveats:

This is of course *dangerous* - don't ever do it!!! Chainsaws are sharp
and nasty.

It wore out the Chainsaw chain. That really isn't a big deal. I'm just
going to save it for the next time I need to trench radials.

The chainsaw needs washed and lubed after trenching.

But it was quick. The radials are in, the post for the vertical is in
and concrete setting as I write.

Just thought I'd share this with the group. I never saw anyone else
saying they did anything similar, so I either stumbled on something, or
I'm completely whacked! ;^)

- Mike KB3EIA -

I used a pizza cutter! Still use it for pizza too but have to
press harder!

Irv VE6BP
--
--------------------------------------
Diagnosed Type II Diabetes March 5 2001
Beating it with diet and exercise!
297/215/210 (to be revised lower)
58"/43"(!)/44" (already lower too!)
--------------------------------------
Visit my HomePage at http://members.shaw.ca/finkirv/index.html
Visit my Baby Sofia website at http://members.shaw.ca/finkirv4/index.htm
Visit my OLDTIMERS website at http://members.shaw.ca/finkirv5/index.htm
--------------------
Irv Finkleman,
Grampa/Ex-Navy/Old Fart/Ham Radio VE6BP
Calgary, Alberta, Canada

On Sun, 03 Oct 2004 18:19:13 -0400, Mike Coslo
wrote:

[Radial installing method snipped]
|
| Just thought I'd share this with the group. I never saw anyone else
|saying they did anything similar, so I either stumbled on something, or
|I'm completely whacked! ;^)

I don't think that will work in my situation:

http://www.qsl.net/n7ws/N7WS_Vert_1.jpg

Eveything in the picture has thorns, spines, stickers or a rattlesnake
coiled up under it.

And yes, there are radials running under all of that stuff and I'm
standing over radials where I took the picture.


Quiz: How did I do it?

"Mike Coslo" wrote in message
...
I just got done installing radials for a new antenna, and was distressed
at the amount of time it was taking.

I was looking at some power tools that might speed up the trenching
process. Power edgers looked promising, but were 90 - 100 dollars for
electrical models, and more for the gas powered ones.

Finally I hit on something. I bought an inexpensive electric chainsaw.
I'm sure the neighbors thought I was a lunatic, but trenching for the
radials took surprisingly little time. So I laid all my radials in one
afternoon. It would have taken even less time if there had been an extra
person around to help.

Caveats:

This is of course *dangerous* - don't ever do it!!! Chainsaws are sharp
and nasty.

It wore out the Chainsaw chain. That really isn't a big deal. I'm just
going to save it for the next time I need to trench radials.

The chainsaw needs washed and lubed after trenching.

But it was quick. The radials are in, the post for the vertical is in
and concrete setting as I write.

Just thought I'd share this with the group. I never saw anyone else
saying they did anything similar, so I either stumbled on something, or
I'm completely whacked! ;^)

- Mike KB3EIA -


Bravo! Thanks for the new addition for our bag of tricks.
The cost of a new chain is nothing compared to the labor savings.
How's the back from bending over that long?




---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.770 / Virus Database: 517 - Release Date: 9/27/2004

Wes Stewart wrote:

On Sun, 03 Oct 2004 18:19:13 -0400, Mike Coslo
wrote:

[Radial installing method snipped]
|
| Just thought I'd share this with the group. I never saw anyone else
|saying they did anything similar, so I either stumbled on something, or
|I'm completely whacked! ;^)

I don't think that will work in my situation:

http://www.qsl.net/n7ws/N7WS_Vert_1.jpg

Eveything in the picture has thorns, spines, stickers or a rattlesnake
coiled up under it.

And yes, there are radials running under all of that stuff and I'm
standing over radials where I took the picture.


Quiz: How did I do it?

I'm stumped. Beautiful location, though. I bet you don't have to worry
about RFI'ing the neighbors! 8^)

- mike KB3EIA -

Hal Rosser wrote:

"Mike Coslo" wrote in message
...

I just got done installing radials for a new antenna, and was distressed
at the amount of time it was taking.

I was looking at some power tools that might speed up the trenching
process. Power edgers looked promising, but were 90 - 100 dollars for
electrical models, and more for the gas powered ones.

Finally I hit on something. I bought an inexpensive electric chainsaw.
I'm sure the neighbors thought I was a lunatic, but trenching for the
radials took surprisingly little time. So I laid all my radials in one
afternoon. It would have taken even less time if there had been an extra
person around to help.

Caveats:

This is of course *dangerous* - don't ever do it!!! Chainsaws are sharp
and nasty.

It wore out the Chainsaw chain. That really isn't a big deal. I'm just
going to save it for the next time I need to trench radials.

The chainsaw needs washed and lubed after trenching.

But it was quick. The radials are in, the post for the vertical is in
and concrete setting as I write.

Just thought I'd share this with the group. I never saw anyone else
saying they did anything similar, so I either stumbled on something, or
I'm completely whacked! ;^)

- Mike KB3EIA -



Bravo! Thanks for the new addition for our bag of tricks.
The cost of a new chain is nothing compared to the labor savings.
How's the back from bending over that long?

The back is getting a bit sore as the evening wears on. I can only
guess that it would have been worse with the other methods form the time
I would have had to be bending.


One unexpected sore part is the fingers of my left hand got their nails
worn down and the skin is tender now - kind of like when a person first
plays the guitar. Probably from pushing and guiding the radial wires on
the ground as I pushed them under. Gloves for me the next time!

- Mike KB3EIA -

"Mike Coslo" wrote in message
...


Hal Rosser wrote:

"Mike Coslo" wrote in message
...

I just got done installing radials for a new antenna, and was distressed
at the amount of time it was taking.

I was looking at some power tools that might speed up the trenching
process. Power edgers looked promising, but were 90 - 100 dollars for
electrical models, and more for the gas powered ones.

Finally I hit on something. I bought an inexpensive electric chainsaw.
I'm sure the neighbors thought I was a lunatic, but trenching for the
radials took surprisingly little time. So I laid all my radials in one
afternoon. It would have taken even less time if there had been an extra
person around to help.

Caveats:

This is of course *dangerous* - don't ever do it!!! Chainsaws are sharp
and nasty.

It wore out the Chainsaw chain. That really isn't a big deal. I'm just
going to save it for the next time I need to trench radials.

The chainsaw needs washed and lubed after trenching.

But it was quick. The radials are in, the post for the vertical is in
and concrete setting as I write.

Just thought I'd share this with the group. I never saw anyone else
saying they did anything similar, so I either stumbled on something, or
I'm completely whacked! ;^)

- Mike KB3EIA -



Bravo! Thanks for the new addition for our bag of tricks.
The cost of a new chain is nothing compared to the labor savings.
How's the back from bending over that long?

The back is getting a bit sore as the evening wears on. I can only
guess that it would have been worse with the other methods form the time
I would have had to be bending.


One unexpected sore part is the fingers of my left hand got their nails
worn down and the skin is tender now - kind of like when a person first
plays the guitar. Probably from pushing and guiding the radial wires on
the ground as I pushed them under. Gloves for me the next time!

- Mike KB3EIA -

Hi Mike:

Are we going to see any pictures of this on the club web site? I would have
never thought of a chain saw.


--
John Passaneau, W3JXP
Penn State University

Hi Mike

I just used a LARGE Butchers Knife (with addition) and a rubber
mallet.
The addition to the butchers knife was a U shaped steel tube welded to
the side to plant the radials at the same time the slot was cut.
No dirt to fill back in, and little to no visible damage to the lawn.
The rate of burying radials in this fashion was faster than 500 ft per
hour.

TTUL
Gary



Mike Coslo verbositized:

I just got done installing radials for a new antenna, and was distressed
at the amount of time it was taking.

I was looking at some power tools that might speed up the trenching
process. Power edgers looked promising, but were 90 - 100 dollars for
electrical models, and more for the gas powered ones.

Finally I hit on something. I bought an inexpensive electric chainsaw.
I'm sure the neighbors thought I was a lunatic, but trenching for the
radials took surprisingly little time. So I laid all my radials in one
afternoon. It would have taken even less time if there had been an extra
person around to help.

Caveats:

This is of course *dangerous* - don't ever do it!!! Chainsaws are sharp
and nasty.

It wore out the Chainsaw chain. That really isn't a big deal. I'm just
going to save it for the next time I need to trench radials.

The chainsaw needs washed and lubed after trenching.

But it was quick. The radials are in, the post for the vertical is in
and concrete setting as I write.

Just thought I'd share this with the group. I never saw anyone else
saying they did anything similar, so I either stumbled on something, or
I'm completely whacked! ;^)

- Mike KB3EIA -

On Sun, 03 Oct 2004 22:19:50 -0400, Mike Coslo
wrote:

|Wes Stewart wrote:
|
| On Sun, 03 Oct 2004 18:19:13 -0400, Mike Coslo
| wrote:
|
| [Radial installing method snipped]
| |
| | Just thought I'd share this with the group. I never saw anyone else
| |saying they did anything similar, so I either stumbled on something, or
| |I'm completely whacked! ;^)
|
| I don't think that will work in my situation:
|
| http://www.qsl.net/n7ws/N7WS_Vert_1.jpg
|
| Eveything in the picture has thorns, spines, stickers or a rattlesnake
| coiled up under it.
|
| And yes, there are radials running under all of that stuff and I'm
| standing over radials where I took the picture.
|
|
| Quiz: How did I do it?
|
| I'm stumped. Beautiful location, though. I bet you don't have to worry
|about RFI'ing the neighbors! 8^)

Yes we love it here, but I'm a desert rat and grew up in the area. I
did have one case of RFI when I was running max smoke on 2-meters and
getting into everything in a neighbors house. I copied the FCC's TVI
handbook for dummies and stuffed it in his mailbox. Never heard
another word. I think he must have found a "diode" junction in his
electric fence because he didn't complain anymore and I didn't hear
his fence anymore.

The secret to installing ground radials through (under) cactus, Palos
Verde and ironwood trees without getting stuck is to use a "needle and
thread" method.

The needle in this case is a 20' length of 3/8" rebar and the thread
is the wire. A hose clamp attaches the wire to the rebar. The rebar
is limber enough to deflect around small obstacles (roots) yet stiff
enough to penetrate loose earth. Needless to say, the wire isn't
buried much, if at all, but there's not much foot traffic through
these areas.[g]

Wes

John Passaneau wrote:
"Mike Coslo" wrote in message
...


Hal Rosser wrote:


"Mike Coslo" wrote in message
...


I just got done installing radials for a new antenna, and was distressed
at the amount of time it was taking.

I was looking at some power tools that might speed up the trenching
process. Power edgers looked promising, but were 90 - 100 dollars for
electrical models, and more for the gas powered ones.

Finally I hit on something. I bought an inexpensive electric chainsaw.
I'm sure the neighbors thought I was a lunatic, but trenching for the
radials took surprisingly little time. So I laid all my radials in one
afternoon. It would have taken even less time if there had been an extra
person around to help.

Caveats:

This is of course *dangerous* - don't ever do it!!! Chainsaws are sharp
and nasty.

It wore out the Chainsaw chain. That really isn't a big deal. I'm just
going to save it for the next time I need to trench radials.

The chainsaw needs washed and lubed after trenching.

But it was quick. The radials are in, the post for the vertical is in
and concrete setting as I write.

Just thought I'd share this with the group. I never saw anyone else
saying they did anything similar, so I either stumbled on something, or
I'm completely whacked! ;^)

- Mike KB3EIA -



Bravo! Thanks for the new addition for our bag of tricks.
The cost of a new chain is nothing compared to the labor savings.
How's the back from bending over that long?

The back is getting a bit sore as the evening wears on. I can only
guess that it would have been worse with the other methods form the time
I would have had to be bending.


One unexpected sore part is the fingers of my left hand got their nails
worn down and the skin is tender now - kind of like when a person first
plays the guitar. Probably from pushing and guiding the radial wires on
the ground as I pushed them under. Gloves for me the next time!

- Mike KB3EIA -


Hi Mike:

Are we going to see any pictures of this on the club web site? I would have
never thought of a chain saw.


Sure, why not? I have a bit more trenching to do, so I can get pix.
Maybe even an mpeg - that would be a laugh or two!

- Mike KB3EIA -