[TowerTalk] Frozen aluminum

[Bill Coleman AA4LR]

On 6/13/00 4:10 PM, Jerry Heron at jerry@rchco.com wrote:

>
>I've had a ten year old 204BA in storage outside for about 15 years...
>The elements are "frozen" together at the telescoping connections.Deox
>was not common back when they were put together... none was used.
>Tried everything... can't get them apart!

My solution to a frozen A3S boom in this condition was to use plenty of 
WD-40 and heat. OK, I'll be the first to admit that WD-40 is not a 
lubricant. (Although the new cans say that it is, the old cans don't have 
the word "lubricant" anywhere) WD-40 is cheap, it penetrates well, and it 
has lubricating properties for a few hours, at least.

Use a small propane torch for heat. BE CAREFUL! Don't let the heat source 
linger in any one spot, keep it moving around. You can melt aluminum with 
it. Worse, you could merely anneal it. Get -T6 alloys hot enough, when 
they cool they will become -T0 alloys, and lost much of their strength. 
So, it would look the same, but not be strong any more.

After applying heat, use a non-marring tool to twist and pull. I used 
some Quik-Grip clamps and an old belt. Be careful not to crush the 
aluminum tube, or scratch the surface. It may only move a fraction of an 
inch, but each bit is progress. Apply WD-40 and heat again.

My boom took me a couple of hours to separate, but I eventually got it 
done.

>Would elements in this condition still have good RF continuity and be
>used as is?

Do you really want to put up an antenna that has an active point of 
corrosion in the elements?


Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASEL        Mail: aa4lr@radio.org
Quote: "Boot, you transistorized tormentor! Boot!"
            -- Archibald Asparagus, VeggieTales


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