[TowerTalk] Crimp or Solder

[Kelly Johnson]

So, where can I find a stripper that will correctly strip my coax?

I just switched to crimping about 2 months ago because I've had too
many problems with poorly soldered PL-259's.  It's gonna cost me about
$200 next week to rent a lift so I can replace a bad feed to my 40m
yagi.  I'm 99% certain it is another bad solder job on the PL-259.

I bought 20 crimp-on PL-259's and a stripper a couple of months ago
from www.rfparts.com.  I'm borrowing a friend's crimper.  The problem
is that I can't seem to adjust the stripper to properly strip the
coax.  I'm using 9913F cable.  The stripper is part #RFA-4087.  It was
an expensive stripper and the documentation suggests that it can be
adjusted and is suitable for 9913.  Unfortunately, I can't figure out
how to adjust it to fit the connectors they sold me.  Essentially, I
need 3 "strips", right?  I need it to strip all the way down to the
center conductor, then nother strip that retains the dialectric, but
cuts away the braid and finally a third cut that only cuts the outside
jacket.  I see no way to do this with this stripper.  I improvised and
used the stripper for 2 of the 3 cuts, but then I had to do the rest
by hand.  Certainly not worth the money I paid for it.  Is there a
better one?


On 6/21/07, Jim Lux <jimlux at earthlink.net> wrote:
> At 07:27 AM 6/21/2007, Pat Barthelow wrote:
>
> >Hello Greg,
> >Uh - Oh...
> >
> >This is almost like the true north thread.   Well discussed, addressed,
> >here.
> >Crimp Connectors seem to have every thing...Reliability, speed/ease of
> >installation, longevity, if proper tools are used.  Especially good choice
> >in your situation.   Preferred method for Aircraft installations, though for
> >BNCs and N connectors, not PL-259s.
>
>
> I'd agree.  The only disadvantage is the cost of the tool. You need
> both a good stripper that does *exactly* the right strip of the coax
> AND a crimper and dies that *match* the connector you're
> using.  There are lots of slightly different connectors, and crimping
> with the wrong die will almost work right.
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> TowerTalk mailing list
> TowerTalk at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
>