[TowerTalk] Oxidized copper

[Robert Shohet]

Pete,

Having had to splice stranded copper antenna wire too many times to count,
use emery cloth and rub around the wire (this cleans the outside corrosion -
not the inside - then use a Weller SP-80  80 watt soldering IRON, NOT gun
and let wire heat up and then let the solder run.  make sure you get all the
copper.  This will make a great connection and you will have no trouble
soldering it.

The Weller SP-80 iron is about $30 and worth three times the price.  A 40
watter (which I also have) is not enough and a gun (which I also have) just
doesn't do it.

The tip is huge and takes a little getting used to but it is so well worth
it.  BTW, as I have discovered, the SP80 - large tip and all - makes
superior PL259 connections.

Incidentally, when I change the length of my 80 meter 4-sq. elements from CW
to SSB, I use the copper split nuts which work great.   The copper wire (PVC
covered of course) has two spots where the PVC is removed and the wire
soldered (so it won't corrode) and THIS is where I make a loop with the two
spots so that they touch and then the they are put next to each other and
"clamped" in place with a copper split bolt connector.  I suppose that for a
temporary connection you can get away without soldering it, but I discovered
that the wire corrodes VERY fast and even though the connections were rarely
used, they would get brittle and corrode and would start to break after 1 -
2 months outside.  So, for permanent connections (and where the wire is part
of an antenna outside) you need to solder as well for both the integrity of
the electrical connection as well as giving added physical strength.

Having done this, the lifespan of those connections has moved from 1 - 2
months to about 2 years!  And yes, now I CAN solder somewhat corroded wire.

GL!

Bob KQ2M

----- Original Message -----
From: Pete Smith <n4zr@contesting.com>
To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
Sent: Friday, November 10, 2000 8:25 AM
Subject: [TowerTalk] Oxidized copper


> I have been having a terrible time cleaning up oxidized stranded copper
> wire enough to resolder antenna connections.  Chemicals, sandpaper, you
> name it...
>
> I recall reading somewhere that copper oxides are conductive, which is why
> copper house wiring doesn't have the same problems as aluminum does.
> That being said, I'm wondering if you couldn't use a small copper split
nut
> to firmly attach two copper antenna conductors to one another without the
> need for soldering.  I realize that the connection would tend to come
apart
> under tension, but purely for electrical purposes, would it work (at HF
> anyway)?
>
> 73, Pete Smith N4ZR
>
> Contesting is ... Extreme Radio
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