[TowerTalk] Copperweld

[Steve Jones]

Tom,
I used Copperweld on my 5-band cubicle quad for 25 years, as well as on an 80M dipole.  In initial assembly attempts I had put tight bends in the wire at a some connections.  That created cracks in the copper which exposed the steel and led to rust and a broken wire.  But I found if I avoided sharp bends, and carefully cleaned the copper surface with fine steel wool just before soldering, there were no spots of exposed steel.  And I always sprayed a bit of Krylon on the solder joint once it had cooled.  No more problems with exposed steel and breaks.  And these wire antennas went through our El Nino storms with 100mph wind gusts!
73,
Steve
N6SJ


-----Original Message-----
From: TowerTalk <towertalk-bounces at contesting.com> On Behalf Of Tim Duffy
Sent: Saturday, March 13, 2021 8:26 PM
To: 'Tom Osborne Sr.' <w7why1 at gmail.com>; towertalk at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] THHN

Hello Tom:

If you use vapor wrap on top of all soldered connections - there is no rusting problem. Copperweld is a superior solution for wire antennas. It does not break when installed with vapor wrap.

73
Tim K3LR

-----Original Message-----
From: TowerTalk [mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Tom Osborne Sr.
Sent: Saturday, March 13, 2021 12:47 PM
To: towertalk at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] THHN

Problem with copperweld is rust.  When you scratch the copper away it makes a rusty mess.  I had terrible problems with copperweld twin lead rusting where it connected to the antenna.  73 Tom W7WHY

On Fri, Mar 12, 2021, 7:44 PM Mickey Baker <fishflorida at gmail.com> wrote:

> Copperweld (copper on steel wire)  is CHEAP, TOUGH and lasts for decades.
> You can get 1,000 feet of #14 from DavisRF for $140. Lots of antennas.
>
> Mickey Baker, N4MB
> Palm Beach Gardens, FL
> *“The servant-leader is servant first… It begins with the natural 
> feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first. Then conscious choice 
> brings one to aspire to lead." Robert K. Greenleaf*
>
>
> On Fri, Mar 12, 2021 at 2:19 PM Dick NY1E <dick at ny1e.com> wrote:
>
> > Long rant  that but THHN THWN-2 is  IMO the go to wire ( the only 
> > issue
> is
> > when frist put up after a few years and exposure to UV the velar 
> > plastic coating sheeds  and look UGLY hanging off in lengths ) I use 
> > XHHW. same as THHN but without the clear plastic that isn't UV 
> > resistant. Not in stock at Home Depot stores  but available 
> > online.de Dick NY1E _______________________________________________
> >
> >
> >
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