[TowerTalk] Source for #6 Copperweld

[Steve Jones]

I've had my copperweld 80M dipole up between two Douglas fir trees for
around 30 years.  I did find that you need to be very careful not to kink it
as you're working with it, or the steel inside cracks, leading to breaks.
But once I learned that, the copperweld is truly hell-for-stout!
73,
Steve
N6SJ



-----Original Message-----
From: TowerTalk <towertalk-bounces at contesting.com> On Behalf Of Jim Brown
Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2024 12:23 AM
To: towertalk at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Source for #6 Copperweld

On 8/26/2024 8:35 PM, john at kk9a.com wrote:
> I'm just wondering if you have worked with 6 awg copperweld.  I have 
> not but I would be concerned with its stiffness and springiness. I 
> have used smaller copperweld for temporary antennas in the Caribbean 
> and I had disappointing results.  The copperweld kept breaking.

W6GJB had the same experience.

The #8 we have stretched to #9 is pretty strong, stronger than THHN, which
stretches when it's under tension for a while. The 80M dipoles I built with
#10 THHN had to be lowered and circumcised every few years to keep them
within tuning range of my 87As.  I've not had that problem with the
stretched #8, which is very close to being hard drawn.

73, Jim K9YC



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