[TenTec] parts not SS

[Dr. Gerald N. Johnson]

On Fri, 2009-05-01 at 07:39 +0000, Charles Harpole wrote:
> Yep, many brands of hose clamps have a plated
> 
> screw which fails before the SS part, of course.
> 
> Weird construction.  I goop such clamp screws
> 
> with black sillycone sealer all around... do not leave
> 
> voids which will fill with water.
> 
> The raw fiberglass rods that insulate parts on some
> 
> Cushcraft will start to "hair off" without the same
> 
> sillycone treatment.  Electrical tape, so often the
> 
> ham's "friend" is just not ....  it shrinks and curls,
> 
> withdraws the end leaving a flag, or cracks.

There is Scotch 33 (or 88) and there is black tape from the western
Pacific rim. The two are totally different.

The tape peeling and pulling back is a function of how its been treated.
When its stretched to break, even Scotch 33 will pull back. Its much
better to be cut with the Kleins and the last turn or two not be
stretched at all.

ScotchKote is a good cover, far better than coaxseal that falls apart in
the sun. If you really want waterproof, several layers alternating
Scotch 33 and ScotchKote really works. On our repeater it kept 9913 dry
on a water tower for about 20 years. Until the advent of heat shrink
tubing with a melting interior it was the electrical industry standard
for insulating underground spices and repairs.
> 
> Seal coax fittings with one wrap of electrical tape, NOT
> 
> pulled so tight, followed by a wrap of CoaxSeal, followed
> 
> by a loose wrap of electrical tape.  The inner tape allows fast
> 
> and clean removal of the CoaxSeal, the CoaxSeal keeps the
> 
> water out, and the outer wrap protects the CoaxSeal from
> 
> being scraped off by accidental movement of the cable.
> 
> Do not use sillycone sealer directly on coax plugs because
> 
> the evaporation of the stuff often evaporates INSIDE itself,
> 
> making a nice acidic splash on ur plug.  73,

Ordinary silicone sealer creates acetic acid (vinegar) as it cures and
that will corrode stuff encased in it. If often takes shopping at an
industrial supplier to find silicone sealer that cures without making
acetic acid. McMaster-Carr (www.mcmaster.com) is one possiblity, home
centers tend to not carry the safe silicone.
>  
> 
> Charles Harpole
> k4vud at hotmail.com   
> 
73, Jerry, K0CQ