I must say that I soldered with a torch for the first time last weekend... and WOW what fun! (I was making bonding straps for my mobile from scratch. A standard soldering iron can't heat it up enough.)
Mike, WA9PIE WA9PIE-2 Global DX Spotting Network hrd.wa9pie.net:8000 On Wed, Oct 12, 2016 at 2:56 PM, Matt Murphy <m...@nq6n.com> wrote: > 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 < > d...@whisperingwoods.org > > 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" <rich...@karlquist.com> > > To: "Topband@contesting.com" <Topband@contesting.com> > > Subject: Topband: Soldering radials? > > Message-ID: <c04783d1-8f96-c17c-5921-fb6648e85...@karlquist.com> > > 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 > > Topband@contesting.com > > 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 > _________________ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
