[CQ-Contest] 1/4 inch tubing

[john at kk9a.com]

Ø1/4" 6061-T6 with a 17ga (.058) wall is listed in my old Central Steel &
Wire catalog but only .035 and .049 walls are shown in my newer Ryerson
catalog.   The latter two are pretty easy to purchase at many metal
suppliers and they should provide adequate strength for that small of
aluminum tubing. That said, it is probably less expensive and better to just
go with the next size larger tubing and use DXE's standard stock. I have
never even imagined using Ø1/4 aluminum tubing on HF.  My homebrew Yagis use
Ø1/2" tips per the ARRL Antenna book's 100++MPH element taper schedule and I
never had an issue with them breaking or vibrating.

John KK9A

 

Stan Stockton K5GO wrote
<snip>

Neither DXE, Texas Towers or any other primary supplier of aluminum tubing
for hams has ever offered 1/4” x .058” wall tubing to the best of my
knowledge.  There is certainly no problem in making a 40m vertical that will
survive 100 MPH or more without using materials that are not readily
available and without using anything smaller than 3/8” which is readily
available.

If someone wanted to make a dipole using #15 wire my reaction would be the
same.  Why make it using a size that’s not readily available when a more
standard size is easier and less expensive to purchase.

Stan