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Old May 5th 04, 08:59 PM
Gary V. Deutschmann, Sr.
 
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Hi Bill

I was using the Pony Clamp as an example only.
It is a woodworking tool used to hold boards together for gluing or
whatever.
The way the Pony Clamp device grips the pipe on the floating end is
roughly similar to the way the twin grips grip the mast for more
secure lifting than using a pair of gloves and brute strength.

A fellow ham used a similar technique, He made a small platform at the
top of the lowest mast that supported a simple hydraulic jack.
The piston of the jack was used to elevate the upper masts about 6 to
8 inches at a time, also using a holding device on the upper mast
being raised similar to the Pony Clamp holding device.

However, to make them removable, instead of being a few pieces of
steel plate with a hole in them. They are more like a pair of "F"
shaped plates that lock on top of each other.

The idea is to be able to hold the mast being lifted securely so it
doesn't slide back down.

An alternative of course is to THREAD each section of the mast and
install external pulleys and internal glides and make it a crank up
tower.

TTUL
Gary