Date: Sat, 16 Aug 2025 07:34:02 -0700
From: Steve Harrison <k0xp@k0xp.com>
To: towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: [TowerTalk] Aluminum Boom Lubricant: Yes or Nope?
<What is the collective Wisdom concerning the use of an
<aluminum-to-aluminum lubricant (such as Penetrox) between boom pieces,
<one of which is swaged? I am reassembling several older monobanders but
<using OWA dimensions here in the desert (no salt water corrosion). We
<have nearly-continuous mild-to-heavy winds, 10 - 15 to 45 - 60 mph,
<nearly year round, so the boom pieces must be solidly bolted together;
<yet, I'd like the option of being able to take them apart again at some
<time in the future.
<TNX,
<Steve K0XP
The problem with noalox / penetrox is..... it dries out eventually....after
just a few years.
W8JI uses dielectric grease where ele sections join together...and also
boom splices.
He said the only reason to use penetrox / noalox is because they are much
less expensive.
Dunno how long Dielectric grease, like the Penetrox brand, would last.
On a similar note, DXE at one time sold a 48' long boom kit. It
consisted of 2 x 24' long, 3" diam sections, with a 24' long, smaller
diameter section used to splice em. I thought they woulda used .120" wall
material, since then it all slid nicely together. IE: 3" OD with a
.120" wall = 2.76" ID..... then the splice section being 2.75" OD, also
with a .120" wall.
But they didn't. They have a LOT more gap in there between the inner
section, and 2 x outer sections. My guess is, with a massive 24' inner
splice.....and say penetrox / noalox used..... and typ hams cranking
everything down too tight, that getting it apart would be next to
impossible.
I have that same problem on my used F12 340N boom. Previous owner had
cranked the U bolts down too tight, and now the center splice is out of
round. F12 used a real short inner splice......and alas, had it
positioned so it was not centered, but shifted to one side. What happens
then is, one of the outer U bolts on left side is bearing down on a single
wall, instead of a double wall ! Now I'm having a helluva time getting
it apart.
Jim VE7RF
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