Since you're wanting to make it black to match other accouterments on
your vehicle, consider that most, if not all, black-dyed anodization
will fade in the sunlight, and it doesn't take all that long. In
addition, depending on the aluminum alloy, the "black" may not be all
that black to begin with. Why not instead give the antenna a coat of
automotive enamel or lacquer? You can either mask off areas that need
to have electrical contact, or scrape them after painting. Perhaps you
can paint after the antenna is assembled. That way, you can get a
color that really matches other items.

Cheers,
Tom

Thanks Tom (& everybody else). The problem is that I'm planing on
having an 8' two section whip on the top that will power extend &
retract through the loading coil into the bottom mast.

Why?

Call it a combination of lazyness & a prepondarence towards low
ceilings in parking garages. Also (bonus), with the coil retracted
I'll be able to vary the height of the whip for the upper bands.

So what I was really looking (hoping) for is a black coating that
maintains electrical contact between the inner & outer whip sections
as one slides in & out of the other.

Don't look like I'm gonna get it .

Maybe it would be easier just to build a test range insted .

H.

On 11 Apr 2005 12:01:05 -0700, "K7ITM" wrote:

Since you're wanting to make it black to match other accouterments on
your vehicle, consider that most, if not all, black-dyed anodization
will fade in the sunlight, and it doesn't take all that long. In
addition, depending on the aluminum alloy, the "black" may not be all
that black to begin with. Why not instead give the antenna a coat of
automotive enamel or lacquer? You can either mask off areas that need
to have electrical contact, or scrape them after painting. Perhaps you
can paint after the antenna is assembled. That way, you can get a
color that really matches other items.

Cheers,
Tom