Hi:
I just noticed a mild scratch close to the base of my vertical aluminum pole
that serves as a vertical antenna and support for an inverted-V. This has
developed during the last year as a result of a friction against a steel
bolt close to the aluminum pole surface. It appears to be tolerable, as
long as it does not develop further - I have relocated that steel bolt and
the pole is guyed so bending/fatigue movements should be minimal at this
point.
Years back I had an aluminum vertical that initially had a relatively
"innocent" scratch at the base, which developed into a crack as the vertical
swayed with the wind, and the unit finally broke. A friend of mine advised
me afterwards that I could have prevented this fatigue development of the
scratch/crack by sanding and polishing it down so that there would be no
crack to propagate through the aluminum cross section. Now, I am thinking
about doing this, but would like to hear if any of you have a comment on
this. Sanding down the crack sure makes it disappear, but at the same time
I would be thinning the wall of the tube a little in this place. Any
comments?
73 de Kris, TF3KX
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