On Thu, 31 May 2007 21:57:31 -0700, KEYCLOWN AUCTION RATOUT CENTRAL
wrote:

if the base is big enough in thickness, how about making a small hole
thru and thru the bottom of the whip and the base then pinning it with
a piece of wire run through both? If you were to sand off the plating
at the bottom of the whip, you will most likely find it is brass or
some other alloy. A thin piece of brass or copper wire, or a thin
brass screw would then take to solder along with the whip where the
plating is ground away. This would hold the bottom and the whip fairly
well together.

Right you are!

Previous attempts to heat the base and flow in solder failed, so I
assumed it was steel.

Turns out to be nickel-plated brass:
http://www.mouser.com/catalog/specsheets/114269.pdf

So, I should be able to drill a small hole and solder in a small
copper or brass pin. Or grind a small crater and let some solder flow
in.

Ken KC2JDY