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Re: [TowerTalk] Soldering Coax Connectors

To: towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Soldering Coax Connectors
From: Gedas <w8bya@mchsi.com>
Date: Fri, 6 Sep 2019 10:05:31 -0400
List-post: <mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
Fred, I use 0.031" solder right now......should I be using smaller diameter for the tiny weep hole?

Gedas, W8BYA

Gallery at http://w8bya.com
Light travels faster than sound....
This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

On 9/6/2019 9:56 AM, Fred Matos wrote:
Just my two cents....BUT thinner solder will melt much quicker than the heavier gauge stuff.  People have been posting about irons and wattage, etc., but the solder diameter and solder content type are also factors.


-----Original Message-----
From: Gedas <w8bya@mchsi.com>
To: towertalk <towertalk@contesting.com>
Sent: Fri, Sep 6, 2019 9:33 am
Subject: [TowerTalk] Soldering Coax Connectors

I use crimp and traditional clamp type of connectors. I have a question
on the proper way or technique that should be used to solder the center
pin of N, BNC, and SMA style connectors onto the coax center conductor
w/o making a mess.

I do not have any issues with connectors like PL-259's or pure crimp
type connectors but I still struggle to solder just the center conductor
of the coax to the center pin w/o making a small mess on the outside of
the center pin and w/o melting the dielectric. I use a 25W Weller for
the center pin and have tried various tips. I also have tried different
solder sizes down to those ideal for SMD work.

How do folks get solder to flow just into the weep hole ? Do you use a
tiny pointed tip iron and put that tip into the weep hole and hold it
there until the center pin gets hot enough to melt solder? If so do you
then keep the iron in the weep hole and dab solder at the tip/pin
interface and hope it gets drawn in? Or, do folks use a larger sized
iron tip underneath the center pin to heat it up enough so that solder
when pushed into the weep hole will melt and cause a good connection?

What about pre tinning the center conductor?

Either way, regardless how careful I am, more times then not I seem to
get residual solder all over the outside of the center pin and need to
carefully scrap it off with an X-acto blade after things cool off.

And then of course there is the problem with holding the larger iron tip
under the center pin too long and start melting the dielectric because
the center conductor has been over heated.

Gedas, W8BYA

Gallery at http://w8bya.com
Light travels faster than sound....
This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.



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