[TowerTalk] heat shrink weathering

Fri Sep 30 11:46:39 PDT 2011

On 9/30/2011 2:27 PM, Marlon K. Schafer (509-982-2181) wrote:
> 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.

I've never had a problem with the MMM coming loose, or rather the 
glue...unsticking?
I've used it on Davis BuryFlex(TM), 8X, CNT240, LMR400, LMR-600 and the 
UF versions of the LMR cables.  The jacket does have to be clean and dry 
(no finger prints) and it takes a bit of extra heat installing it in 
cold weather.
I also leave about a 2" to 3" overlap on each end.
I typically wipe the jacket with a lint free paper towel wet with 
Acetone. Shop towels usually work fine.

I start by applying heat in the center of the connection and working out 
so the center shrinks down tight and then forces any air out the ends 
and they progressively shrink.

73

Roger (K8RI)

>
> 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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