The closet rod dowel I used at first broke when I put it up into the vertical element.
I switched to this: (not to scale)
dowel = black
1 1/4" PVC = blue
1 1/2" PVC = gray
vertical element = red
coils = green
the dowel slid into the 1 1/4" PVC
the 1 1/4 PVC slid up into the 1 1/2" PVC, but not all the way to the top end (required a slit along the 1 1/2" PVC length)
the vertical slid down into the upper end of the 1 1/2" PVC bottom end of it resting on the top end of the dowel.
I wrapped my coil around the portion of this arrangement where the dowel,
1 1/4", and 1 1/2" sections all overlapped for triple layered integrity.
(the upper end of the coil attached to the bottom of the vertical.
the lower end of the coil to the GP radials along with the coax shield.
the center conductor to the tap point on the coil for best SWR.)
You can see all the electrical components are not overlapping
BTW, GP radials attached below the coil onto the 1 1/4" PVC pipe via the 1 1/4" x 4" PVC adapter I used. Crude, but effective.
