On 7/15/12 7:34 AM, n8de@thepoint.net wrote:
> Yes, those broken tips are caused by the vibration fatigue failure
> which occurs when the elements "HUM" in the wind. Damping them
> internally (rope is sometimes used) and capping the ends (or using
> silicone seal with a tiny drain hole) usually stops that problem
> before it occurs.
> 73
> Don
> N8DE
>
Another very effective way to prevent the vibration is to wrap a wire or
something similar. spiraling around the outside: like the car antennas.
It doesn't take a very big wire, and you want the turn length to be
about 8-12". Epoxy, silicone, or cyanoacrylate would probably work.
The advantage of this (opposed to something like weights or ropes
inside) is that it doesn't add much weight (You could use something like
string trimmer line) and it's easy to to do.
What's also interesting is that this technique has only recently (last
20 years or so) been popular, partly because the physics weren't well
understood.
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