Topband: Thoughts on making low resistance joints between aluminium tubing sections?

[George Stewart, VK5ALS]

Hi Topbanders,

I am very much aware that any joins between sections of a short vertical
radiator need particular care to produce as low a resistance as is possible
so as not to degrade the overall efficiency any further.

How do people tackle this problem (and it would include Yagi constructors)
of making low loss contacts at each section where an aluminium tube is
fitted into the previous section.

Are there better ways than say using sandpaper and lots of elbow grease to
make bright clean joins which are then covered in good conductive grease?

Would welding small terminal blocks and using strapping help or is there too
much danger of weakening the smaller section tubing?

Are there chemical means of cleaning the aluminium?

My problem is exacerbated because I am not using new material but rather
stuff that has been pre-loved.

73

George, VK5ALS

ggstewart at adam.com.au