OT: Handling Copperweld wire

[Ken G Kopp]

Use caution when working with any kind of copper-plated steel wire.  In the
process of bending or forming the wire be careful not to "nick" or
otherwise damage the usually very thin outer cladding of copper.  Don't
drag it over the rough edge of a roof or across the ground.  Any break in
the plating will allow moisture to rust the steel core and cause failure of
the wire.

Been there, done that ... 😁

73

Ken - K0PP
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[k5wmg]

And watch your eyes as it's springy and could injure quite easily.

Mike, k5wmg
Bella-Green Bed & Breakfast and Tiny Houses
www.bella-green.com



On Wed, Feb 1, 2017 at 7:28 PM, Ken G Kopp <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Use caution when working with any kind of copper-plated steel wire.  In the
> process of bending or forming the wire be careful not to "nick" or
> otherwise damage the usually very thin outer cladding of copper.  Don't
> drag it over the rough edge of a roof or across the ground.  Any break in
> the plating will allow moisture to rust the steel core and cause failure of
> the wire.
>
> Been there, done that ... 😁
>
> 73
>
> Ken - K0PP
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]

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[Don Wilhelm]

That is one reason why I prefer hard-drawn copper over copperclad.  But
then the centers of my antenna are supported rather than trying to
support the weight of the coax by putting tension on the wire.

Also be careful not to put a kink in the copperclad wire, it will break
through the copper clad surface and cause the steel wire underneath to
corrode - it will eventually break at that point.

In other words, I have learned to hate copperclad steel wire.
It was a good inexpensive antenna wire when one could buy a 1/4 mile of
copperclad electric fence wire at a very good price, but those days are
no more.

Yes, the stuff is springy and wants to keep its coiled shape unless it
is held under tension, and will kink easily if it is not held under
tension.  Hard-drawn copper is much more forgiving IMHO.

73,
Don W3FPR


On 2/1/2017 8:39 PM, Michael Goins wrote:
> And watch your eyes as it's springy and could injure quite easily.
>
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[Barry]

I presume you're talking of the stranded stuff.  Some of that is poorly made.  Years ago, I had a number of wire antennas fail because the strands rubbed each other in the wind, scraping off the thin coating coating, then rusting.  After that, I went with solid or insulated, stranded copperweld.

Barry W2UP