From: liz@poppyrecords.invalid.invalid   
      
   I was given a portable receiver with a damaged telescopic aerial, the   
   set had been dropped and one section of the aerial had become slightly   
   buckled. and wouldn't telescope inwards.  I first thought it would have   
   to be either left protruding or written off and replaced with the   
   nearest substitute I could find, but later examinatuion suggested it   
   might be repairable.   
      
   The first step was to remove the finial; this had been screwed on   
   tightly and locked with some sort of compound.  By gripping the finial   
   in a collet chuck on a lathe and the top section of the rod with a   
   strong pair of water pump pliers, I was able to revolve the chuck by   
   hand and unscrew the finial.   
      
   The next step was to find a collet that was a reasonable fit over the   
   damaged section.  By screwing up and unscrewing the chuck ring I was   
   able to make the collet gently pinch the damaged area down onto the next   
   rod inside it - gradually working my way along and back until all the   
   creases had been removed.   
      
   Although the result didn't look perfect, it slid in and out easily   
   enough.  It just remained to screw the finial back on, with a dab of   
   varnish in its threads.   
      
   Job done - cost nil.   
      
   --   
   ~ Liz Tuddenham ~   
   (Remove the ".invalid"s and add ".co.uk" to reply)   
   www.poppyrecords.co.uk   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)