Howard wrote:
On 19 Jun 2004 17:38:23 GMT, (PDRUNEN) wrote:
Hi Group,
Where can I get some good grade material for a 6 meter beam elements?
Does a hardware store such as Lowes carry anything that would work for the
elements?
Beam size is 4 to 6 elements.
de KJ4UO
From what I've seen at Lowe's you'll do okay if you intend to make it
from copper pipe - but that would get pretty heavy.
It's not really. Maybe compared to aluminum...I built a 6m 3 el totally
from copper, including the boom, and it's really not that heavy at all.
Might be twice?? aluminum, but a 3 el aluminum beam would be super
light.
4-6 elements from copper could be handled ok. Must use hard drawn copper
though. If you used 6 elements, I'd use a real thick boom, if also
copper...For 3 el, I used 1/2 inch for the elements, and 1 inch for the
boom. With the usual 10 ft lengths they sell for copper tube, it's
easier to make just a 3 el, than larger...But I guess for larger, you
could use 2 inch tube for a boom, and use a coupler between pieces to
add more length..I'd use the larger 2 inch with more elements, as the
boom could sag from the weight..Myself, I'd stick with 3 elements if you
used copper...I brazed all the elements direct to the boom. Uses a gamma
match made from 3/8 copper tube, and coax innerds "center
conductor/dialectric" for a cap..Rg-8 size fits perfect inside the 3/8
copper. There is not much else at Lowes/home depot, etc that will
work...I looked when I made mine...The aluminum, and other tubing, angle
pieces, etc, they sell are unsuitable. Proper aluminum tube for antennas
you would have to find somewhere else. MK
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