Denno wrote:
Hi. I have spool of #12 industrial grade tin coated copper strand
wire that I had planned on building a 40 meter vertical loop with.
While scouring the web, I came across a white paper on wire, tubing
and RF compatibility, and it said that tin-coated copper was "somewhat
inferior", but silver coated or pure copper strand were fine for
antenna use. Contrary to this, I have read in this Newsgroup that tin
or silver coating is a must-have for good RF radiation.

Any views on tin coated copper strand?

Also, where do you all find Copperweld? It sounds ideal, but I
haven't been able to find it anywhere.

Thanks!

The guy on the other end of the QSO will never be able to tell the
difference between your signals coming from your bare copper wire
antenna and those coming from your tinned copper wire antenna. Tinned
copper wire is much more corrosion-resistant than any form of bare
copper wire and tinned stranded wire is mechanically much more durable
than any form of solid wire when used as antennas.

http://www.boatus.com/boattech/casey/05.htm

A 40M loop made from your #12 tinned stranded wire should serve you
well for a long time so go for it.

My favorite source for all sorts of "ham wires":

http://thewireman.com/index.shtml

The ultimate antenna wire in my view is his #13 'Toughcoated' tinned
stranded 'Copperweld' P/N 531

w3rv

..