[TowerTalk] Aluminum Boom Lubricant: Yes or Nope?

[Michael Tope]

Over 25 years ago, I was helping to re-assemble a KLM 4 element 40 meter 
yagi. I think I started out using Noalox between sections of tubing, but 
then I decided that silicon high vacuum grease might be better after I 
read that W8JI and N7CL were using it on coax connectors. We took that 
antenna down after an element center insulator failed and never 
re-installed it, but the element halves are still in a storage pile. I 
should go pull those apart to see how the two methods compare after all 
these years. Granted this is in Southern California well away from the 
ocean, so it's a pretty benign environment.

I am curious if anyone else has tried silicone high-vacuum grease for 
this purpose?

73, Mike W4EF.............

On 8/16/2025 7:34 AM, Steve Harrison wrote:
> What is the collective Wisdom concerning the use of an 
> aluminum-to-aluminum lubricant (such as Penetrox) between boom pieces, 
> one of which is swaged? I am reassembling several older monobanders 
> but using OWA dimensions here in the desert (no salt water corrosion). 
> We have nearly-continuous mild-to-heavy winds, 10 - 15 to 45 - 60 mph, 
> nearly year round, so the boom pieces must be solidly bolted together; 
> yet, I'd like the option of being able to take them apart again at 
> some time in the future.
>
> TNX,
>
> Steve K0XP
>
>
> _______________________________________________
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> TowerTalk mailing list
> TowerTalk at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk