For an antenna, 5 years is nothing.

[Naysayer]

While wrapping butyl tape on the terminals of my OCF atop a ladder yesterday, I noticed the 20m aluminum dipole (attached same mast) a few feet below. The green, polypropylene block clamps holding the 1" elements had a white film. After some wiping & scraping, it was apparent it goes deeper. I’m getting tired of carrying the ladder up to the roof.

I really thought my 20m dipole was a forever antenna. Used a 1/4" aluminum boom plate w/ stainless hardware. UV resistant line to hold-up each element to ‘stop the droop’.

Seems I did not realize the polypropylene pipe clamps holding the 1" OD elements were made for indoor use. I can likely replace them without taking antenna down but only to do it again in 5-6 years? Make new ones by drilling a 1" hole in a nylon block and cut my own pipe clamps? Do-able I suppose.

What are people’s experience with the liquid solutions sold for UV protection? Is that a waste? I can surely get another Winter out of these clamps but I thought I was set for far longer.

 

[sp5it]

Me, and many antenna makers are using those:

Oldest are 19 years old holding 30m Yagi elements, still in place.
Mike

 

[VMC]

IME with any "solution" from Home Depot anyway, you can have UV protection or you can have defence against the weather, but you can't have both.
I'd like to hear solutions for both as well!

 

[SuperLid]

While wrapping butyl tape on the terminals of my OCF atop a ladder yesterday, I noticed the 20m aluminum dipole (attached same mast) a few feet below. The green, polypropylene block clamps holding the 1" elements had a white film. After some wiping & scraping, it was apparent it goes deeper. I’m getting tired of carrying the ladder up to the roof.

I really thought my 20m dipole was a forever antenna. Used a 1/4" aluminum boom plate w/ stainless hardware. UV resistant line to hold-up each element to ‘stop the droop’.

Seems I did not realize the polypropylene pipe clamps holding the 1" OD elements were made for indoor use. I can likely replace them without taking antenna down but only to do it again in 5-6 years? Make new ones by drilling a 1" hole in a nylon block and cut my own pipe clamps? Do-able I suppose.

What are people’s experience with the liquid solutions sold for UV protection? Is that a waste? I can surely get another Winter out of these clamps but I thought I was set for far longer.

DX Engineering makes/sells these, specifically for this application. I have purchased many of them, in many sizes. They are called resin support blocks.

73,

SL

 

[brandon7861]

Kapton tape, the stuff people use to protect parts from hot air during soldering, that stuff blocks UV very well. Maybe you could cover your plastic parts with it.

I cut a 700MHz slot in my sheds metal siding so I had a place to set my phone and get signal and I used kapton tape to cover the slot on the outside and the tape looks like the day I put it there (2 years ago). Stuff sticks to just about anything too (if you clean the surface well).

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

Try painting it with a flat black paint. Spray can will do. It is pretty UV resistant. Lasts for YEARS.

 

[Naysayer]

Thanks for the replies. I went through my files and still have receipt.
Those green block pipe clamps (posted by SP5IT above) look like the clamps that came with the boom plate I ordered five years ago. This was the first time I’d been up close since I put up the dipole. I will contact the builder (specializes in antenna hardware) and see what he says about longevity/UV. I’ll post result in time.