PaoloC wrote:
I am left with the inner conductor and what was the dielectric, now
performing as an insulator around my wire.

What is the resulting velocity factor?
* 83%, as the original cable
* 100%, copper's
* something else?

Something else. EZNEC will even model it for you.
The user can set the dielectric constant and
thickness of the dielectric in the "wires" menu.
For instance, 0.1" of polyethylene insulation
on #14 copper wire lowers the resonant frequency
of an 80m dipole by about 5%.
--
73, Cecil http://www.w5dxp.com