Richard Clark wrote:
Wire brush mating connections and assemble quickly - forget the rest.

Interesting.

I understand the reason for quick assembly but I'm curious about the clean-up of
the oxidised aluminum elements. What kind of wire brush? Steel? Brass?
Why not some sort of abrasive paper? Or a Scotch Brite pad?

I'm also curious why you seem to dismiss the use of conductive anti-sieze
compounds - Penetrox, for example.

BTW, I'm not trying to be argumentative, I'm truly curious about your thinking
on the matter. Last fall, I put up an aluminum tubing vertical and I'm looking
forward to taking it down this spring to see how it fared over the winter.
Prior to reassembly I planned on cleaning up the mating connections with
aluminum oxide paper and using a light coating (wipe on, wipe off, thin film
left behind) of Penetrox.

73,
--
HZ