I thought this was interesting.

[W1RKW]

I was out in the back yard today looking around and the sun hit at the right angle and I noticed a spider web from one of the dipole legs which is up about 35 or so feet stretching all the way down to my garden.  The strand was about 60 or so feet long angled at about 40 degrees up to the wire.  I took a picture of it but it didn't show up in the image otherwise I would have posted it.  I thought it was interesting that a spider could stretch such a long strand.  Now if I could utilize this little guy to string more wire.....

[w8khk]

I was watching the Discovery channel a few months ago and they did a segment on some of the worlds strongest materials.  Turns out the spider web flax is stronger per size and weight than is carbon fiber.  Lots of research is being done to see if it can be synthesized.  If you could get that spider to support your dipole, it would probably stay up through the ice storms!

[N8LGU]

I was told many years ago that they used spider web strands as the crosshairs in the Wild T-2 theodolite (classic high-end survey instrument). The reason was that under magnification induced by the eyepiece the spiderweb was perfectly smooth and appeared black. They are stronger than steel for their size.

[kb3ouk]

Isn't that what they make bulletproof vests out of because of it's strength?
Shelby KB3OUK

[WA1GFZ]

Maybe the spider saw a nice juicy bug it wanted for lunch and decided to eat out.

[KB2WIG]

 "make bulletproof vests'
 


It's normally Kevlar.......  the bullet proof part isn't rally a good word, they are really bullet resistant....   The stuff the local PO wears are designed primarily to stop a hand gun round. The longer stuff will go through mast vests, i.e. a  30'-06 round will probably penatrate most common vests. This technology is evolving,, so what I say now may not be true in a few years...........  

fyi

http://www.galls.com/baintro.html


klc

[KB2WIG]

"make bulletproof vests'
 


It's normally Kevlar.......  the bullet proof part isn't really a good description, they are really bullet resistant....   The stuff the local PO wears are designed primarily to stop a hand gun round. The longer stuff will go through mast vests, i.e. a  30'-06 round will probably penatrate most common vests. This technology is evolving,, so what I say now may not be true in a few years...........  

fyi

http://www.galls.com/baintro.html


klc