On Thu, 23 Jun 2005 18:56:25 -0000, (Dave Platt)
wrote:

I'm building a few yagis for 432 and two meters and need a source for
stainless steel push on retainer rings, sometimes called push nuts
(incorrectly) to fit element diameter of 3/16" aluminum rod. I know they are
made but cannot find a source searching with Google. Any help here would be
appreciated. I have the spring steel variety but they rust after 2 or 3
years so the antennas have to be taken down and the retainers replaced.

Don't know of a source for stainless steel in that size, unfortunately.

www.smallparts.com has retaining rings in stainless, but not for
anything smaller than 1/4" diameter. Their RE series is zinc-plated
spring steel, with the exception of the RE-02 and RE-03 (the latter is
for 3/16" shafts) which are beryllium copper. Perhaps this latter
would do, if you coated the aluminum rod with a copper-to-aluminum
compatibility compound to reduce electrolytic interaction?

Would it be at all useful to look for some stainless springs
of the correct ID so that they could be "screwed" onto the elements,
kind of like those internal thread repair kits have, only exernal? I'm
not sure how or where youi'd use them, but they could be combined with
washers if they're too flat when in place.