Topband: Soldering in the wild

[Eddy Swynar]

Hi Guy,

The only thing to watch out for---and I don't know if Silicone II Sealant falls into this category, or not---are the corrosive fumes that might be emitted during the curing process...

If the "raw" stuff smells a lot like vinegar, beware!

I recall one time years ago we erected an after-the-fact, ad hoc gamma match for an on-site Field Day antenna we were using: we attached the variable capacitor to the inside of an impromptu weather-proof "Tupperware" container witch a couple of blobs of silicone sealant...and by morning the frame of the capacitor was COMPLETELY covered with what appeared to be rust / corrosion! The fumes from the sealant had nowhere else to go, I guess, & attacked those parts of the capacitor that weren't made of aluminum...

~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ  






On 2012-08-05, at 10:35 AM, Tom W8JI wrote:

> 
>> found that GE Silicone II Sealant, which is fine for outside, to work very
>> well for covering solder joints.
>> 
>> I've purchased it in many local hardware stores. It runs around $6 per 
>> tube.
>> 
>> It cures in just a few hours, is rain resistant and does not affect the 
>> solder
>> joint.
>> 
>> There were reports years ago that the curing process would impact the 
>> solder
>> but I have not found that to be true.
> 
> Me, too. I know people say it causes problems, but I've yet to ever see any 
> problem or sign of any problem. I've used it or similar for many years.  :-)
> 
>> It can be peeled off and I've always found the solder joint just as clean 
>> as
>> it was when it was first done even after several years.
> 
> Same here.
> 
> 73 Tom 
> 
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