[Antennas] Cleaning aluminum

[Christopher Boone]

Chris
you made a good point about cleaning the oxide off; it is better to 
leave the oxide on where it does not need to come off because of the 
protection....only the connections need to be cleaned and then wx 
proofed! (I got carried away with my DB420 because I wanted it to look 
new....and it still does...in the evening sun, looking from the west 
toward the tower, it sure shines! but at 180 ft high, WHO else is 
looking at it besides me???!! ;)

Chris
WB5ITT

Chris BONDE wrote:

> Find out how to check the archives.  There is a whole section on cleaning 
> aluminium.
> 
> I think the summary would be, only clean the joints or electrical contacts, use the 
> special contact compound.  Cleaning the oxide off the al reduces the wall thickness, 
> may reduce the strength and causes more oxidation.  The oxides of aluminum form 
> a skin that protects the al and may even give it more strength.
> 
> Check the archives as I am not that versed as I have no Al that I want cleaned.  The 
> dark stuff is harder to see than the shinny stuff.
> 
> Chris opr VE7HCB
> 

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