[Antennas] Cleaning aluminum antenna parts

Mon Oct 4 18:05:12 EDT 2004

Using Scotchbrite pads seems to be the easiest and least destructive 
method. To clean the interior of the tubing, a strip of a pad can be 
cut and wrapped around a much smaller diameter rod [wooden, aluminum, 
whatever] and pushed inside the tubing and rotated.
I would NOT use PENETROX .. it has a tendency to harden .. that would 
make future work nearly impossible. A better product is Noalox 
[available at Lowe's or Home Depot] .. but make sure you get the correct 
version .. aluminum/aluminum mix only.
There was an excellent conductive material available years ago .. called 
CualAid ... [Cu=copper, Al=aluminum] and it worked with either/both metals.
Good luck
Don
N8DE
Alan C. Zack wrote:
> I am looking for suggestions for cleaning aluminum tubing used in yagi 
> beams. I have a beam that I disassembled when I moved that has been 
> exposed to the elements for about a year. I want to clean the ends of 
> the telescoping surfaces that come together to insure a good electrical 
> contact between the various pieces of tubing. When the contacting 
> surfaces are cleaned I will reassemble the yagi using Penetrox so need a 
> cleaning material that is compatible with Penetrox.
> TIA & 73