"Crazy George" wrote in message ...
Brian:

You should mention to telescope the sections, rather than using threaded
reducing fittings, which are not strong enough for this kind of application.
Out of curiosity, how much overlap do you use?

I've done it both ways depending on a lot of variables. I noramally do
use threaded pipe reducers. As long as they're either steel or wrought
iron that is. The cheap hardware store cast grey iron reducers are
non-no's. I retap the reducers to get more thread engagement length.
It's been demonstrated that Schedule 40 pipe will fail in bending
before decent reducers fail. But in situations where the loads get
dicey and/or parts of the mast are tubing vs. pipe I use at least six
inch overlaps and have the joints welded.


--
Crazy George

w3rv