[TowerTalk] center insulator material

[john at kk9a.com]

Have you considered a commercial product? When I was looking for a dipole
canter for an expedition to WP2AA I really did not like most of the
commercial ones that I saw so I inquired on Towertalk. The Budwig was
suggested and I purchased a couple of them. It is a simple device but it
worked well for me, I have no idea how it holds up over long term UV/salt
spray but I would expect it to last at least as long as your coax.

John KK9A 

From: charlie carroll k1xx
Sat Feb 8 11:57:24 EST 2020

I need some help selecting some type of material to build some custom 
center insulators.  I have what approaches zero experience in this area.

The insulators will be used to support near vertical dipoles for 
160-meters.  The antennas will be installed in the Caribbean and will 
need high resistance to UV and salt water.  I also want to install an 
SO-239 and home made common-mode choke on the insulator.  It would be 
preferable that I be able to fabricate the final shape with common home 
workshop tools and not have to rely on a machine shop.  The insulators 
won't be under a lot of tension because of their orientation, but low 
weight material would be preferred.  The insulators may be subject to 
some winds containing sand particles.

I'm looking for some help selecting some appropriate material (UHMW, 
Ultem, UV augmented HDPE, ...) that I can investigate further.

thanks

73 charlie, k1xx