Is there any danger of damaging stranded copper wire by overheating it with a torch when soldering or brazing?
73, Matt NQ6N On Wed, Oct 12, 2016 at 2:41 PM, Drew Vonada-Smith <[email protected] > wrote: > Radials are a lot of work to put in, and the expense of wire is > significant. I can't see any justification for not joining them the best > way available. IMHO, silver brazing. > > > I use and recommend Sta-Silv 15 (15% Ag, 80%Cu, 5% P brazing stick) and a > simple MAPP gas torch. Propane is not quite hot enough to work well. > Liquidus is 1475F. Flux didn't seem necessary, but you could use white > brazing flux. Sure, I spent $25 in solder over about 5 verticals, but of > what significance is that compared to the rest of the effort, to insure a > lasting joint? > > > Sta-Silv 5 is probably fine also, with a 1500F liquidus, But I prefer the > characteristics of the 15%. Very easy to work with. > > > 73, > Drew K3PA > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 5 > Date: Wed, 12 Oct 2016 08:52:40 -0700 > From: "Richard (Rick) Karlquist" <[email protected]> > To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> > Subject: Topband: Soldering radials? > Message-ID: <[email protected]> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed > > I'd like to get the latest thinking from the group > on soldering radials. What I currently thinking > is as follows: > > SOLDER SELECTION: > > 1. Tin lead doesn't hold up in the weather. > > 2. "Stay Brite" 3% silver solder (97% tin, > no lead) is known to work well, but is expensive, > and has a considerably higher melting point > than 63/37. > > 3. Lead free plumber's solder obviously works > in water pipes, but does it hold up outdoors > in the rain? What is the melting point? > > FLUX SELECTION: > > 1. Pure rosin. Hardest to work with, but minimum > corrosion issues. > > 2. Activated rosin. Easier to work with. What > corrosion issues are there? > > 3. Acid core plumber's flux. Very easy to work > with, very corrosive. Does this hold up in the > rain, etc? > > (I remember the dire warnings that Heathkit manuals > had about not using acid core solder, but I > guess that doesn't apply to radials.) > > CRIMPING? > > Has anyone tried crimping as an alternative to solder? > > Rick > N6RK > > > ------------------------------ > > Subject: Digest Footer > > _______________________________________________ > Topband mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/topband > > > ------------------------------ > > End of Topband Digest, Vol 166, Issue 8 > *************************************** > _________________ > Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband > _________________ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
