[TowerTalk] FLooded shrink tubing?? Can you remove it??

[W5CPT]

The shrink I get (for free I might add) comes from the local Satellite Dealer who is given the stuff by companies (Dish & Direct) and uses very little of it so he passes it on. Most of it is the standard "Heat Shrink" but lately he has been giving me stuff that is sealed in a foil envelope and when removed, it shrinks on it's own. No heat, just air. There is 3 or 4 pieces in each envelope and each is about 6 inches long, which is just long enough to go over 2 PL-259s and a barrel. The goo sets up hard, not soft as most of the heat activated stuff. I have gotten used to just cutting the connection off and redoing it.  I am still working on a 500' roll of RG-213 I bought some time ago when the Nashua NH club did a bulk buy from Carroll Cable so I don't scrimp on cable when I make one up.  Cutting it off and redoing the ends seems like a lot less hassle than removing the shrink, though the suggestion to wrap a layer of good tape over the joint makes a lot of sense.  I may do that on the next one I do.

Clint - W5CPT

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Roger (K8RI) 
  To: TowerTalk at contesting.com 
  Sent: Monday, October 29, 2007 5:54 PM
  Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] FLooded shrink tubing?? Can you remove it??






  >I use the sealing shrink tube and the removal process involves a good set 
  >of cable cutters. I whack it off at the shrink tube ends and install new 
  >connectors. The time involved to remove all the sealing goo would be far in 
  >excess of what it takes to put on two new connectors.

  This makes me ask, Why remove the goo?  Little will stay on the coax jacket 
  and what does stay on the connectors doesn't hurt the reusability. On 
  occasion it leaves the connectors looking a bit scruffy, but more often than 
  not, most comes right off.

  IF shiny connectors are the criteria, just carefully rub a bit of "pledge" 
  or car wax on the connectors before applying the heat shrink with the 
  flooding compound. Just don't get the wax on the coax jacket, or more than a 
  film on the connectors. A tiny amount of DC-4 (flooding compound) will keep 
  virtually anything from sticking. Be careful not to get the wax or DC-4 on 
  your hands and then touch the coax jacket where you plan on sealing it.

  73

  Roger (K8RI)

  >
  > Clint - W5CPT