Plastic Dipole centerpiece
 

I want to make a VHF receiving dipole with say 1/4" tubing. Can you buy
plastic dipole centerpeices? TIA.

"Richard" wrote in message
...
I want to make a VHF receiving dipole with say 1/4" tubing. Can you buy
plastic dipole centerpeices? TIA.


I mean a plastic center which has socket holes, which you push the tube
into.

Richard,
I haven't seen anything like that sold commercially,
but I don't see why you couldn't make one. Ought to be
able to find a source of plastics on the internet or
locally, maybe. Drill the holes you need and half way
there.
'Doc

Why do that? You can use a single piece of pipe 1/2 wavelength and simply
gamma match it. No need for all the insulation worries.



"Richard" wrote in message
...

"Richard" wrote in message
...
I want to make a VHF receiving dipole with say 1/4" tubing. Can you buy
plastic dipole centerpeices? TIA.


I mean a plastic center which has socket holes, which you push the tube
into.

"'Doc" wrote in message ...


Richard,
I haven't seen anything like that sold commercially,
but I don't see why you couldn't make one. Ought to be
able to find a source of plastics on the internet or
locally, maybe. Drill the holes you need and half way
there.
'Doc

What material do you think?

Absolutely. Van Gornden, Budwig, and many others. Check the Ham Radio
on-line retail catalogs...

73,
Mike KI6PR
El Rancho R.F. CA

"Richard" wrote
I want to make a VHF receiving dipole with say 1/4" tubing. Can you buy
plastic dipole centerpeices? TIA.

Richard,
I would think that would depend on what you can find
available,
PVC, plexiglas, 'Delrin', who knows what else. I've used a
multi-
layer thingy of plexiglas glued together before, seemed to work
okay. So the question is 'what can you find?'.
'Doc

On Fri, 23 Jan 2004 22:07:12 -0000, "Richard"
wrote:


"Richard" wrote in message
...
I want to make a VHF receiving dipole with say 1/4" tubing. Can you buy
plastic dipole centerpeices? TIA.


I mean a plastic center which has socket holes, which you push the tube
into.

For 2 meters I'd use 1/2 inch copper pipe for the dipole and then a
plastic "T" would work for the center insulator. Just glue the pipe
in place.

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com

"
Richard,
I haven't seen anything like that sold commercially,
but I don't see why you couldn't make one. Ought to be
able to find a source of plastics on the internet or
locally, maybe. Drill the holes you need and half way
there.
'Doc

What material do you think?


As the center of a dipole is low impedance almost any insulator will work.
If mounted outside pick something that will withstand the sun.

Richard,
I would think that would depend on what you can find
available,
PVC, plexiglas, 'Delrin', who knows what else. I've used a
multi-
layer thingy of plexiglas glued together before, seemed to work
okay. So the question is 'what can you find?'.
'Doc

I use the plastic from kitchen cutting boards for such parts. Strong and
easily available.

Torsten
N4OGW

R. Torsten Clay wrote
"I use the plastic from kitchen cutting boards for such parts."

Sounds like a good suggestion. Haven`t read all the postings, but many
plastics are deteriorated by sunlight. It might be well to use something
resistant to sunlight and whatever chemicals may be in the air at your
site.

Best regards, Richard Harrison, KB5WZI

On 26 Jan 2004 09:11:06 -0600, (R. Torsten
Clay) wrote:



Richard,
I would think that would depend on what you can find
available,
PVC, plexiglas, 'Delrin', who knows what else. I've used a
multi-
layer thingy of plexiglas glued together before, seemed to work
okay. So the question is 'what can you find?'.
'Doc

I use the plastic from kitchen cutting boards for such parts. Strong and
easily available.

I've been using 1/4 inch thick Plexiglass and Lexan scraps from the
local hard ware store. Generally they will give away the Plexiglass
pieces that are big enough to use for center supports and insulators.
(3 X 6 inches) YMMV With the price of Lexan the pieces are pretty
small before they give those away. I bought a piece about 3 feet long
and a foot wide with the protective paper on both sides. That stuff
is expensive, but very handy and it doesn't age like Plexiglass out in
the sun.

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com


Torsten
N4OGW