[TowerTalk] Cleaning tarnished wire

[Craig Clark]

   1. Re: Cleaning Tarnished Wire (Edwin Karl)

The key to all the suggestions posted so far is the acids found in coke and
ketchup.

Here's what Steve Davis of Davis RF has posted for cleaning Flexweave:

Soldering Flexweave Products

The directions below apply to bare copper flexweave products but also can be
valuable in dealing with protecting solder joints, cleaning aged flexweave
and insulated products. Please note all safety warnings on the materials you
will use. You should always wear safety glasses and work in a well
ventilated space.

Most hardware retailers and plumbing supply stores carry some type of
"plumbers acid" or acid based soldering flux. This product is a diluted acid
(typically hydrochloric, sulfuric or muriatic) and is available under many
brand names including but not limited to: Copper Glo Liquid, Stay-Clean Flux
and C-Flux.

The first step is to soak the end of the wire to be cleaned in the acid
solution for approximately ten minutes. Then using a small wire brush moving
in one direction (toward the end of the wire) carefully remove any oxidation
on the wire. Next the brushed wire should dipped several times in the acid
solution then rinsed with hot water dip. Dry the flexweave by pulling the
wire through a dry, clan rag. Allow the flexweave to dry for an hour or use
a hair dryer to speed up the process. 

Once the flexweave is fully dry, form the wire with your fingers and tin
with your solder iron. Please note that whenever soldering new, old or
cleaned flexweave that you should always apply some silicone grease over the
entire solder joint and an inch or so on the wire either side of the solder
joint. Then put any waterproof (not water resistant), UV resistant tape over
the solder joint (see our amp fusion or coaxseal tapes). This will allow you
to deal with the joint in the future without any oxidation build up.

YMMV


Craig Clark K1QX
PO Box 209
107 Fitzgerald Rd
Rindge NH 03461
(603) 899-6103 office
(603) 520 6577 cell