[TowerTalk] Aluminum antenna wire

[Jim Thomson]

Date: Fri, 18 Sep 2015 11:49:04 -0400
From: "w1eqo at shaysnet.com" <w1eqo at shaysnet.com>
To: towertalk at contesting.com
Subject: [TowerTalk] Aluminum antenna wire
Message-ID: <380-22015951815494801 at M2W111.mail2web.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

I have used many types of Copperweld in my consulting business. A couple of
times I have called their engineering staff about products.

One time I asked about the aluminum on steel product, which I believe was
called "aluminumweld." (Not to be confused with aluminum arc-welding wire)

I was told if the wire was used on ground or buried I would have dust in a
year or two. 


Jim, W1EQO 

## The stuff F12 used yrs ago for LL  was called  alumoweld.  Works superb, but
in that case, its way up in the air and used for LL.   The 12 ga stuff is rated at 1100 lbs
breaking strength.   The 10 ga version is good for   aprx  1450-1500 lbs.  Its extremely strong
stuff, and works good.  But you have to be careful how you terminate it, etc, as it has a mind of its
own, and difficult to work with...just like copper clad steel.  Don’t let any of the alumoweld get near the ground
or laying on the ground etc.   But if u plan on using alumoweld, u may as well use copperclad steel,  same strength,
but at least you can solder to it etc.   F12 use alumoweld, since it interfaced with the AL  standoffs that were bolted to the
al tubing. 

##  These days I would not mess with LL, just use high Q coils, or T bar capacity hats, etc. 

Jim  VE7RF