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[TowerTalk] Soldering Weathered Connections

To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
Subject: [TowerTalk] Soldering Weathered Connections
From: philk5pc@tyler.net (Phil Clements)
Date: Mon, 25 Oct 1999 08:37:06 -0500

>
> Anyone have a good technique for soldering new wires
> to old weathered connections?
>
> I have two applications in mind which have not gone as
> well as I would like.
>
> First, reconnecting stranded copper ladderline wires to
> my high 80M dipole which is supported at the ends by
> two 130 ft towers.  Typically my ladderline breaks
> after one to two years service and it is difficult getting
> good clean solder joints to the old stranded copperweld
> antenna wire.
>
> Second, when adding radials to a 1/4 inch diameter
> copper tube ring (previously tinned) I found it difficult to
> reflow the old solder and again got only spotty solder
> lump connections.  I have used both direct application
> of a propane torch flame and a soldering tip on the
> propane torch.  Neither technique was satisfactory.
>
> de Tom  N4KG
>
Hi Tom,
I just finished soldering 100 radials to a 1/4 inch circular
tube last week. I cleaned the tube with  plumber's cloth
first, and just used an open flame torch and Radio Shack
solder. It turned out really nice and professional looking.

GL!
Phil, K5PC




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