[TowerTalk] Soldering Coax Connectors

[FRED MATOS]

I am not an expert on soldering connectors, but I prefer Kester 0.020 inch diameter.  There’s also some Kester 0.015 available.  But it looks like the 0.031 is the most popular size.

73,

Fred W3ICM and YI3DX.

Sent from my iPhone

> On Sep 6, 2019, at 10:05 AM, Gedas <w8bya at mchsi.com> wrote:
> 
> Fred, I use 0.031" solder right now......should I be using smaller diameter for the tiny weep hole?
> 
> Gedas, W8BYA
> 
> Gallery at http://w8bya.com
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>> On 9/6/2019 9:56 AM, Fred Matos wrote:
>> Just my two cents....BUT thinner solder will melt much quicker than the heavier gauge stuff.  People have been posting about irons and wattage, etc., but the solder diameter and solder content type are also factors.
>> 
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Gedas <w8bya at mchsi.com>
>> To: towertalk <towertalk at contesting.com>
>> Sent: Fri, Sep 6, 2019 9:33 am
>> Subject: [TowerTalk] Soldering Coax Connectors
>> 
>> I use crimp and traditional clamp type of connectors. I have a question
>> on the proper way or technique that should be used to solder the center
>> pin of N, BNC, and SMA style connectors onto the coax center conductor
>> w/o making a mess.
>> 
>> I do not have any issues with connectors like PL-259's or pure crimp
>> type connectors but I still struggle to solder just the center conductor
>> of the coax to the center pin w/o making a small mess on the outside of
>> the center pin and w/o melting the dielectric. I use a 25W Weller for
>> the center pin and have tried various tips. I also have tried different
>> solder sizes down to those ideal for SMD work.
>> 
>> How do folks get solder to flow just into the weep hole ? Do you use a
>> tiny pointed tip iron and put that tip into the weep hole and hold it
>> there until the center pin gets hot enough to melt solder? If so do you
>> then keep the iron in the weep hole and dab solder at the tip/pin
>> interface and hope it gets drawn in? Or, do folks use a larger sized
>> iron tip underneath the center pin to heat it up enough so that solder
>> when pushed into the weep hole will melt and cause a good connection?
>> 
>> What about pre tinning the center conductor?
>> 
>> Either way, regardless how careful I am, more times then not I seem to
>> get residual solder all over the outside of the center pin and need to
>> carefully scrap it off with an X-acto blade after things cool off.
>> 
>> And then of course there is the problem with holding the larger iron tip
>> under the center pin too long and start melting the dielectric because
>> the center conductor has been over heated.
>> 
>> Gedas, W8BYA
>> 
>> Gallery at http://w8bya.com
>> Light travels faster than sound....
>> This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
>> 
>> 
>> 
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