A tip for missing HL lightning rods

Over in The Latest Model thread Rich posted a thought which brought back a conversation I had with Bill at an event somewhere in the ancient past.

"HLs could include the flexible rod to install or not install (collector's choice like the flag on the ELL)."

I had purchased an older HL which had the hole for a rod, but was missing the rod itself. I asked Bill if they had any rods left in the warehouse and he told me to go home and clip a bristle from my hairbrush and stick it in the hole. It worked like a charm, was flexible and could be trimmed to length. Looks like the real thing too.

You can also use a bristle from a synthectic broom or a bristle from a artifical Christmas tree. It all depends on the diameter of the bristle you need. Just add a VERY SMALL drop of super glue in the hole of on the bristle itself and insert. Make sure it is straight before you let go. Paint to match and you are done.

Do you wonder if anyone has tried to use a dremel tool to make a hole for a rod???

Wouldn't a drill press be better? Maybe we could test out a few broken HL's to see.

I've been thinking about the drill press idea for a while now. I bought a small Dremel Drill Press from Sears last weekend for my Dremel Tool but haven't had a chance to try it out. If you want the biggest chance of being sucessful you will have to use a drill press or at least have hands that are steady as a rock otherwise the ball will crumble when pressure is applied to it on the sides.

I have a commercial sized drill press. I should give it a try. When ever I finally go out and buy my green water version WP maybe I will touch it off with a lightning rod.

Most HLs these days have a metal rod that goes down the tower. The "Ventilator Ball" is actually the end of the rod.

Drilling down into the ventilator ball will be a bit tough if it is a metal rod.

Does that mean it should end the old problem of ventilator balls being knocked off? I wonder what percentage of HL's have been damaged by mishandling which lead to the removal of the VB?

Bob

That plus it makes the tower itself stronger - like rebar in cement. Oh, and it's a perfect 'ball' no longer hand shaped and imperfect.