How did I miss this for so long??
Yes, it looks like it would hold up a lot of antenna. Unfortunately, it wouldn't work for what I'd like to do. It's mounting positioning looks limited to a flat surface with the antenna going straight up from there. No 'ball-joint' to work with.
The two areas of typical ball-joints that cause problems are the mounting base, and the 'split-ball' tightening methods. Neither being strong enough with particular brands. The 'newer' ball-mounts all seem to have a sort of flimsy plastic mounting plate. The plate's mounting screws hold it just fine, but the 'ball' breaks out of the center. Already had that happen twice, don't want to try for a third time.
The 'teeth' that stop that 'split' ball from moving, once it's been adjusted correctly, also seem to be sort of 'variable' in quality, sort of. I've had that happen once. Over tightening the bolt holding those ball 'halves' together only works once, then the threads are stripped out.
The older ball-mounts were made using different metals and insulating materials. May not have been 'pretty', or very light weight, but they did work better than the 'new' ones do. I'm still looking, but not as hard as before, things change. Oh well...
- 'Doc
Oh! It isn't the spring that's important at all. Probably won't use one. If I have to, I have a spring that Kenwood made for their mobile antenna. I've never seen a stronger one, takes a crow-bar to bend the @#$ thing.
