Date: Sat, 2 Apr 2011 22:29:32 -0500
From: "bob" <w9zv@comcast.net>
Subject: [Amps] Silver plated copper strap source anyone?
Anyone have a good source for some new 1/4", 3/8", and 1/2" silver plated
copper strap suitable for use in wiring the bandswitch/tank-circuit up or
creating a coil on an amp/tuner?
-bob
## I have looked and looked over the years myself...and found the odd
surplus scaps gere and there..and usually at wicked prices. I gave up on that
and instead just silver plate the straps myself. Our local super metal
market
[franchised all over NA] has 3' x 7' sheets of CU in various thickness's
from
.005" up to .125" and everything in-between. I get them to shear me off
several
3' lengths' and usually in 3/4" and 1" widths. The best trhickness's that
are strong, yet
thin enough to easily work with are .028" up to no more than .032" . [ I
use those
thickness's for tank coil taps to the model 88/85 bandswitch's I use, etc]
## for winding stuff like 10/12/6m tank coils..made from strap wound flat...
like
a paraistic suppressor... the thickness is increased a bit...to .048" to .065"
That makes
it more ridgid.
## I silver plat all my vatious straps and hb tubing tank coils, and strap
coils with this
goop called... 'cool-amp' ..made by the cool-amp co in Ore.
http://www.cool-amp.com/ They make a 2nd product... called
"conducto-lube"..and I use
that stuff, [which is just grnd up pure silver powder in grease] for any
sliding contacts on
relays and contacts on contactors, bnadswitch contacts, etc. For relay's
etc, I clean the contacts
1st..then silver plate em with cool-amp. Then a tiny layer of
conducto-lube is applied. Then
you end up with a zero ohm joint every time. You will end up with zero ohms
with just the silver plating alone.
If you had heat build up before cuz of losuy contacts, you won't after this
stuff is applied.
## When applied to Cu straps and hb tubing/strap tank coils..like the typ
1/4"- 3/8' 1/2" variety..the finish comes out
superb. It actually looks a lot better than if the same piece was silver plated
by the dip in tank method. It doesn't really
tarnish either. I bought a 1/2 lb jar of the cool-amp powder. it has an
indefinate shelf life. I use a tiny spoon and place
some of the powder onto the side of the SS sink...then apply a few drops of
water. it's then mixed really good, until I get a
good liquidy paste, but not too dry or wet.
## ALL the cu straps HAVE to be clean before hand. I use those scouring
pads..that look like bulldog steel wool pads..but
smaller...and they come soaked in this dry blue powder stuff. The cleaning
pads are used by the wife for cleaning SS pots
and pans etc. Typ go by the name of 'jet pads'....and 'SOS pads' in the
cleaning section of any grocery store. Use a tiny bit of water
on the cleaning pad..and scrub the cu straps and coils really good, until they
are squeaky clean. then rinse in warm water, and dry em
really good. Ok, the conducto-lube paste mix is then applied to the 1st
piece. Factory sez to use a small cloth to apply, but I found that
the best method appears to be when you get in there with all 10 x fingers. I
wear some latex/vinyl gloves... like your dentist uses..and
then you can apply the glop a lot better..and faster. When you are satisfied
that you didn't miss any where..then the excess glop is removed..
and applied to the next CU strap..with ur fingers. The finsished piece is
then simply rinsed under warm water..and CAREFULLY dried..by initally
placing finished pieces on some paper toweling [ bounty brand works the
best]... and patting it dry.
## of course, the various straps are 1st prepped with the required hole[S]
punched into each end with a #5 roper whitney hand punch tool.
Those #5 hand punch's come with 7 x punch's and dies..and range from 3/32"
up to 9/32"...[in 1/32" increments] I found long ago that you can't
drill holes in thin CU strap worth a damn..even when done carefully in a drill
press. Also, the straps are 1st cut with chromolly tin snips [ they come in
red/yellow/green]
to the desired length . Georgia copper sells Cu strap, in rolls in various
thickness's and widths.
later....... Jim VE7RF
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