[Antennas] Cleaning Aluminum ....question

2002年10月30日 23:49:30 -0500

Mike Lye is common in most grocery stores next to the Liquid Plumber. Use
gloves and safety goggles though.
Dave
WA4EMR
At 08:57 PM 10/30/02 -0600, Mike J Maloney wrote:
>Hi Kees,
>Still enjoying that blueracer deluxe! I restored an old Wilson SY33
>late last year. The parts were heavy alum, but plated (rusted) steel
>clamps and fasteners. The traps were Mosley clones. I replaced all
>the fasteners and clamps with all-stainless hardware, and bought a new
>boom to mast camp from Hygain. Money well spent I think.
>>I have cleaned up aluminum parts using the old ARRL handbook formula with
>caustic soda or common lye. Aluminum comes out looking like brand new! 
> Hardest part was finding the lye, but a search on ebay should find some.
> Also Scothbrite pads are good for cleaning mating joints before applying
>Burndy Penetrox A or equiv. joint compound. Traps cleaned up with a
>good stiff brush, Scotchbrite, stainless screws (if orig rusted), and lye
>treatment of cylinder cover if desired. A joint of 3 or 4" PVC can be
>split with a skillsaw and capped at each end to make a trough for the lye
>bath. Be very cautious with the stuff, do with adequate ventalation,
>use rubber gloves, goggles, etc.
>>Doing this to restore an aluminum antenna will make it look like new
>again and by the time it is tarnished again, we will be SK's or too old
>to give a rip.
>>73, Mike
>>On 2002年10月30日 20:34:44 -0600 Sandy and Kees Talen
><[email protected]> writes:
>> What's the best way to clean up aluminum elements, refurbish traps,
>> and fastner coating to prevent corrosion. I assume going to 
>> stainless 
>> hardware is a good idea since most manufacturers offer that. Does 
>> anyone coat the aluminum to retard future corrosion ?
>>>> Some manufacturers like Mosley and Wilson sure construct their
>> antennas from better materials than others (larger traps, thicker 
>> end
>> caps which don't deteriorate as fast, stronger aluminum elements, 
>> etc).
>>>> 73 Kees K5BCQ
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