"Jimmie D" wrote in message
...

"Ken Bessler" wrote in message
news:jXDhg.37830$4H.24271@dukeread03...
My Quad is all built and I'm waiting or FedEx to deliver
my rotor. I built the quad out of wood, with a 1-1/4" dia
pine boom and 4' mast plus 1/4"x48" spruce dowels for
spreaders. I used insulated 16g stranded wire for the
elements. All the wood is either painted or treated with
sealer.

Problem is I just broke a spreader moving the antenna and
I'm worried about how fragile the whole design is. Would
the performance change much if I used 1/4" aluminum rods
instead? Maybe I should just get some fiberglass resin and
paint the spreaders with several coats? How about wrapping
them in re-enforced boxers tape (the good stuff with fibers
in the tape)?

Thanks for the help, guys....

--
73's de Ken KG0WX - Kadiddlehopper #11808,
Flying Pigs #-1055, Grid EM17io, FT-857D, AL-84,
Elecraft XG2, 4SQRP Tenna Dipper, Heath GD-1B



I found 1/4 inch fiberglass a little flimsy for a 6 meter quad but
workable, 3/8ths was much better. next time I build one it will probably
be 1/2 inch fiberglass.

Be careful when working with fiberglass - after a while it tends to flake
and you could get the fiberglass in your hands, etc. - wear gloves.
73's
Howard W3CQH