Lengthen or shorten?

[KD3Y]

I was building my new dipole for 40 meters and cut the "legs" to about 36 feet to allow room for tuning.  I was aiming for 7.185-ish.
The SWR was maxed all the way in the red at 7.185 and I couldn't remember if I was supposed to shorten it or lengthen it. 
Chopped off another 10" and this is what I got.
I was afraid I was going to accidentally cut it short and I don't like to splice dipole wire for the moisture to get into the strands.
Glad it worked out, 12 gauge copper is about as expensive as gold nowadays.

1.2 SWR.  I can live with that!

I guess Im going to have to write that on the back of my analyzer.  Old minds forget fast.   LOL
 

"Increase frequency, decrease wire."
Fixing to tape that to my analyzer.  Old minds forget.  Did I say that already?  I forgot.   🙂

Edited March 17 by KD3Y