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John,
Assuming you're talking about cleaning up that TH6DXX that you have=
instructions coming for....
Don't try to use chemicals to do cleaning on it. The only spots that need=
cleaning are where one piece of tubing joins to another. The best thing=
for those areas is a wire brush. I get a rotary wire brush that I can=
chuck up in a rotary drill, and use it to thoroughly clean the outside of=
the tubing. I then get a couple of wire brushes that plumbers use to clean=
copper water pipe and use them to clean the inside of the tubing. Get at=
least two sizes... here in the states the common sizes are 3/4 inch and=
1/2 inch. Start with the larger size tubing in the antenna and work your=
way down to the smaller sizes. The brushes will wear down, and allow you=
to get the smaller sizes of tubing clean also.
Go to an electrical supply house and get a bottle of aluminum no-oxide=
grease. It comes in a variety of trade names, but any good electrical=
supply house should carry it. It's messy stuff, so have a good supply of=
paper towels or rags on hand. Aluminum will oxide very quickly, and the=
grease will stop the process and provide lubrication for the joints so=
they do not freeze up or seeze (sp?). As soon as you have finished=
cleaning up a piece of aluminum on the antenna, apply a coating of the=
grease. Not five minutes later, but as soon as you have finished cleaning=
it. There are lots of ways to apply the grease, but I have yet to find=
anything better than a finger. Rub the grease onto and into the aluminum,=
so it is covered with a light but solid coat. Be careful then where you=
put the pieces down, as they will love to collect dirt if you let them.
Now, when you go to assemble the antenna, you will find that the joints=
will slip together easily, and you will never have a problem with noisy=
joints, intermittant connections, or being able to take it apart again ten=
years down the road. It definitely is a bit of work, but worth every=
minute of it for an antenna that will work perfectly for many years to=
come.
Hope this helps.
73,
Army - AE5P
Nacogdoches, the oldest town in Texas
acurtis@andersoft.com
*********** REPLY SEPARATOR ***********
On 7/30/01 at 7:43 PM John wrote:
Here's another tricky question for y'all...... Does anyone have a good=
formula or not-so-secret mixture of chemicals for cleaning aluminium <---=
english spelling and aussie pronunciation....
John - vk4wpx
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<DIV>John,</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Assuming you're talking about cleaning up that TH6DXX that you have
instructions coming for....</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Don't try to use chemicals to do cleaning on it. The only spots that need
cleaning are where one piece of tubing joins to another. The best thing for
those areas is a wire brush. I get a rotary wire brush that I can chuck up in a
rotary drill, and use it to thoroughly clean the outside of the tubing. I then
get a couple of wire brushes that plumbers use to clean copper water pipe and
use them to clean the inside of the tubing. Get at least two sizes... here in
the states the common sizes are 3/4 inch and 1/2 inch. Start with the larger
size tubing in the antenna and work your way down to the smaller sizes. The
brushes will wear down, and allow you to get the smaller sizes of tubing clean
also.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Go to an electrical supply house and get a bottle of aluminum no-oxide
grease. It comes in a variety of trade names, but any good electrical supply
house should carry it. It's messy stuff, so have a good supply of paper towels
or rags on hand. Aluminum will oxide very quickly, and the grease will stop the
process and provide lubrication for the joints so they do not freeze up or
seeze
(sp?). As soon as you have finished cleaning up a piece of aluminum on the
antenna, apply a coating of the grease. Not five minutes later, but as soon as
you have finished cleaning it. There are lots of ways to apply the grease, but
I
have yet to find anything better than a finger. Rub the grease onto
and into the aluminum, so it is covered with a light but solid coat. Be
careful then where you put the pieces down, as they will love to collect dirt
if
you let them.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Now, when you go to assemble the antenna, you will find that the joints
will slip together easily, and you will never have a problem with noisy joints,
intermittant connections, or being able to take it apart again ten years down
the road. It definitely is a bit of work, but worth every minute of it for an
antenna that will work perfectly for many years to come.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Hope this helps.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>73,</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Army - AE5P<BR>Nacogdoches, the oldest town in Texas<BR><A
href="mailto:acurtis@andersoft.com";>acurtis@andersoft.com</A><BR><BR><FONT
face=Arial size=2>*********** REPLY SEPARATOR ***********<BR><BR>On 7/30/01 at
7:43 PM John wrote:</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Here's another tricky question for
y'all...... Does anyone have a good formula or not-so-secret
mixture of chemicals for cleaning aluminium <--- english spelling and
aussie pronunciation.... </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>John - vk4wpx</FONT></DIV><FONT size=2
Arial></BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></BODY></HTML>
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