Solar Metals

I'm further inland and downwind of Vermont, western Mass and northern New York which have little remaining heavy industry. A 6061 aluminum plate that's been on the side of my HF solar collector for perhaps 3 years shows no more weathering at the stainless screws and galvanized conduit bird perch than away from them. The only rapid corrosion here besides the hose faucet handle is under oak leaves on my galvanized roof panels where I neglected to spray LPS-3 first.

--jsw

Egad, that's a lot. Condolences.

Interesting. I've never left slack, but I've never lived in a high-wind area, either. I've only lost one mast, and that was due to not having replaced the 20 y/o rusted guy wires.

Yeah, those long uppers have too much play and move all over the place with the slightest wind. I always try to do my antenna work in the early morning, when it's very still. It's a helluva lot safer and most indubitably easier.

Cool.

Ah...

I lower the rotator down the track on the lower end of the mast support post if winds over about 40 MPH are predicted, usually when a Canadian cold front passes through as a line squall. Some of the guy lines are anchored to trees that could drop branches on them. Lowering the antenna the rest of the way to the roof requires removing mast tube sections from the bottom (rotator) end but running up or down the track isn't much bother.

--jsw

You want smell? Haven't you ever smelled Chiwanese rubber? One whiff leaves a nasty odor in your nostrils for days. I leave it outside for

I think a $15 can of LPS-3 will baste the parts well enough to prevent much, if any, corrosion. One baggie, 24 z-plates, 24 fender washers (strength), 48 stainless bolts, 24 stainless nuts, 24 Unistrut nuts,

I might have time next week. Gotta find a helper first, though.

I'm about 50 miles inland from the Pacific. The Coastal Range catches almost all of the salt. There are no industries between me and the coast, so my rain is pretty clean and neutral.

Hmm, is that afternoon rain puddle still out there? Nope. My saliva is 5.75 tonight, though. Why waste a strip? ;)

I'm curious to check it the next time it rains, though.