Antenna wire.....again!

[ClydeBuilt]

I know, I know...its been done to death, but give me a min!

I was reading an article about 'skin effect' etc and how copper coated steel is about the best for aerials.
Not so easy to find just laying around and not exactly cheap is it.

I remembered a large roll of welding wire in the shed and that had a copper coat on it?
Now my stuffs rather thin, but I reckoned a I could lay out two lengths and twist them up with the drill.
Or am I missing an obvious no-no here or what?

[alexthegasman]

i've done it that way, mainly for small uhf verticals and once for a wire di-pole. Loop it round the door handle and put the loose end's into a drill. Also, while it's been under tension i've soldered it for extra strength. Not sure if you have a local "tat" yard near you, but the one i used to use to weigh in at (ex gas fitter) would let me buy the old cable out of the skip at cost, 50p per kg for coated wire and he always had tons lol.