Q Daryl, W4DAI, asks, “I have just acquired a used aluminum HF-vertical antenna. What is the best way to clean it up for operation?”
A You didn’t say if your antenna has traps. If so, they should be cleaned with a mild detergent solution. Any stubborn insect residue can be cleaned with common alcohol. Of course, be careful not to get anything inside the traps themselves.
The aluminum portions can be made to look like new with a product called NevrDull. It is available at hardware and home improvement stores, and one can will last many, many years. It’s probably the best stuff I’ve found for polishing metal of any kind. (No, the Doctor doesn’t own stock in NevrDull and the company is not a QST advertiser!)
From QST December 1999
