Baron wrote:
Hi Rich,

I don't trust aluminum at all to make a reliable electical contact

Nothing wrong with aluminum ! But I do agree that where you have to
make electrically sound connections to it, it can be difficult to
prevent corrosion due to the dissimilar metals. This is one reason you
see a lot of stainless steel hardware used. At one time I used to buy
stainless steel 4BA threaded terminal posts for use on antenna
connections.

And I don't know where I'd get brass wire, or what I'd have to spend
on it.

Brass wire is not good stuff to use. Most of it is too brittle without
heat treatment and even then can suddenly go hard when machining it.

Why not just slide crimp eyelets onto the rods, bend to shape and
crimp !

Hmm. That's definitely an idea worth consideration! See, I'm teachable. :-)

It simply never occurred to me, but it would make the construction of
the whole contraption a breeze - next time I'm out and feeling like going
to HD or the auto parts, I'll look into it. Lessee - I'd need four at
each junction of two ends of an element and two pieces of transmission
line, so that's four per junction times eight junctions plus connecting
to the balun - I'll look for a box of 50.

Thanks! You've just made my task considerably easier!!

Cheers!
Rich