[R-390] Copper clad/copperweld ant. wire

[David C. Hallam]

There are three methods to make copper clad steel wire.  One method is to
cast molten copper around a steel ingot and then roll the ingot to rod and
draw to wire.  To my knowledge, this method is no longer used due to
expense.  The second is to cold roll to pressure bond copper strip to the
steel rod and draw.  The third method is to electroplate copper on a steel
wire and draw.  Which is best?  They all have to pass corrosion tests, or
are supposed to.  Wire that is the registered trademark Copperweld is strip
bonded.

David
KC2JD

> -----Original Message-----
> From: r-390-bounces at mailman.qth.net
> [mailto:r-390-bounces at mailman.qth.net]On Behalf Of Dan Merz
> Sent: Sunday, November 19, 2006 12:25 PM
> To: r-390 at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: [R-390] Copper clad/copperweld ant. wire
>
>
> Hi,  I'm homing in on using #18 copper clad steel wire for my new 390 wire
> antenna to achieve a long span with small sag low on the roof.
> Does anyone
> know if the genuine "copperweld" wire is worth the extra cost,  seemingly
> about 4 times as much,   as some other 30% (conductivity?) copper-clad
> varieties available as antenna wire for less money.  The two sources I've
> identified are Wireman and Davis RF.  It seems that the proprietary
> copperweld has been around forever but cladding steel wire with copper
> should not be rocket science.  It would be nice to know if the
> cheaper stuff
> would hold up for a while though.  It may not take much of a coating to
> achieve 30% conductivity and I'm wondering whether anyone has had the
> cheaper stuff up for a while and knows whether it's worth putting up.  Our
> climate is very dry here in eastern WA so corrosion won't be
> rampant.   Dan.
>
>
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