[TowerTalk] heat shrink weathering

Fri Sep 30 11:27:51 PDT 2011

mmm or 3m?

I've used the glue filled version of that too.  It just doesn't stick to the 
coax after a while and that leaves a way for water to get in.

A new thing I've seen a couple of times lately has been a hole in my mastic 
tape.  looks almost like some sort of bug has drilled a hole in it.

I can't decide if I need to just tape over it or replace the entire cable 
and antenna (only 3' of cable).  I am starting to wonder if it's more an 
issue of air having been in the connection when it was installed on a cold 
day and then pushing through as things got hotter.

Any ideas?
marlon

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "K8RI on TT" <k8ri-on-towertalk at tm.net>
To: <towertalk at contesting.com>
Sent: Thursday, September 29, 2011 4:45 PM
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] heat shrink weathering

> On 9/29/2011 6:37 PM, Marlon K. Schafer (509-982-2181) wrote:
>> What is MMM stuff?
>
> It's a flooded heat shrink tube that comes various sizes made by MMM
>
> 73
>
> Roger (K8RI)
>> marlon
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "K8RI on TT"<k8ri-on-towertalk at tm.net>
>> To:<towertalk at contesting.com>
>> Sent: Monday, September 26, 2011 10:22 AM
>> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] heat shrink weathering
>>
>>
>>> On 9/26/2011 11:52 AM, Marlon K. Schafer (509-982-2181) wrote:
>>>> When I was in the service we used quite a bit of this:
>>>> http://raychem.te.com/CableProtection.asp
>>>>
>>>> Pretty cool stuff.  It had something in the jacket that showed when you
>>>> were
>>>> getting it hot enough etc.
>>>>
>>>> Lately I've used some from a local electrical supply house.  It worked
>>>> well,
>>>> had lots of glue inside etc.
>>>>
>>>> What I found in my area is that when it gets cold the glue gets hard 
>>>> and
>>>> doesn't stay sealed to the cable.  This resulted in water penetration.
>>> Try the flooded MMM stuff.  It has never come loose here and we get a
>>> number of days and nights below zero in the winter.
>>>
>>> 73
>>>
>>> Roger (K8RI)
>>>> For the high frequencies that I work with this was a major problem. 
>>>> Any
>>>> little bit of water at 2400mhz is a disaster.  I've seen a LOT of sub
>>>> 1ghz
>>>> connections with no weather proofing at all work just fine.
>>>>
>>>> The heat shrink is great stuff where you can use it.
>>>>
>>>> laters,
>>>> marlon
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>> From: "Joseph or Ruth Patrick"<hdmc38 at bellsouth.net>
>>>> To: "Grant Saviers"<grants2 at pacbell.net>
>>>> Cc:<towertalk at contesting.com>
>>>> Sent: Monday, September 12, 2011 6:40 AM
>>>> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] heat shrink weathering
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Good Morning Grant
>>>>
>>>> I can't give you an exact figure as to the life of the heat shrink
>>>> tubing.
>>>> If
>>>> you can find out who the manufacturer is they should be able to help 
>>>> you
>>>> out. I
>>>> have used heat shrink on connectors that were hard to seal properly. To
>>>> close to
>>>> something, not enough clearance etc. I have had some in use for 5 years
>>>> now.
>>>> Recently I had to replace an insulator on my mobile set up. I cut off 
>>>> the
>>>> heat
>>>> shrink and the PL-259 was bright and shiny as when I sealed it. I can't
>>>> give
>>>> you
>>>> a name because the piece I have left is not marked. I did use the type
>>>> with
>>>> adhesive inside. Also look for a 3 to1 shrink ratio. If you don't have 
>>>> a
>>>> heat
>>>> gun I would suggest you purchase a cheap one unless you plan to use it 
>>>> a
>>>> lot. I
>>>> picked one up on E-bay for$20.00 + shipping. Yeah it was really cheap 
>>>> but
>>>> it
>>>> worked fine and still does. Just go slow and don't get it to hot. I 
>>>> also
>>>> use
>>>> a
>>>> silicone based paste named "STUFF" inside the connection. Had good luck
>>>> with
>>>> that also. The adhesive type is hard to remove. Maybe some SteppIR 
>>>> owners
>>>> can
>>>> help with that. Good Luck let us know how you make out.
>>>> 73 DE K4XZ Joe Patrick
>>>> God Made Man
>>>> Sam Colt Made Them Equal
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ________________________________
>>>> From: Grant Saviers<grants2 at pacbell.net>
>>>> To: towertalk at contesting.com
>>>> Sent: Sun, September 11, 2011 7:59:10 PM
>>>> Subject: [TowerTalk] heat shrink weathering
>>>>
>>>> I'm building a new SteppIR beam and they have changed from tape 
>>>> wrapping
>>>> the fiberglass element joints to an adhesive lined heat shrink "CANUSA
>>>> CFTV".
>>>>
>>>> This approach seems better than two layer's of Scotch 33 plus a layer
>>>> self amalgamating silicone tape which is what is in the instruction 
>>>> book.
>>>>
>>>> My question is how long does the heat shrink/adhesive last in the
>>>> weather, sun, etc? Apparently CFTV has been used for some time in the
>>>> cellular business and a fellow towertalkian might have observed the
>>>> performance for 5 to 10 years.
>>>>
>>>> I have plenty of silicone tape and plain old #33 so could wrap each 
>>>> heat
>>>> shrink piece if that is warranted.
>>>>
>>>> 73,
>>>>
>>>> Grant KZ1W
>>>> _______________________________________________
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