I use crimp on rings & then use regular solder.  I have a stainless steel radial plate with #10-24 SS bolts that the rings bolt to. 
  If I remember correctly from our last meeting at W5ZN’s QTH, Joel said you only need silver solder if there are a lot of pine trees around.  Something about the acidity of the soil.  Silver solder is a real pain as you need a different gas (Matt type I think).
Chuck

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From: [email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of Jay Bromley <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, December 12, 2022 5:27:29 PM
To: 'John McKinnie' <[email protected]>; 'ADXA List' <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [ADXA] Radial Connections
 

[External Email]

Hi John,

On some of my stuff while living in Fort Smith I crimped and used silver bearing solder (2%)made by Kester. 

 

Some like to use real silver solder, but you need a torch/flux for that.  For ham radio I think using regular solder is A-OK.  On AM broadcast they use a torch method with real expensive silver solder to withstand heat from a lightning strike and longevity.  Regular solder will turn to a white paste after a while and doesn’t like heat from lightning strike too much.  Still regular solder worked for me, but only saw it for a few years after the sod pushed it down 3 inches into the dirt.

 

With today’s cad welding that technique may be history?  73 de jay/w5jay..

 

From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of John McKinnie
Sent: Monday, December 12, 2022 5:10 PM
To: ADXA List <[email protected]>
Subject: [ADXA] Radial Connections

 

Any one have lessons learned on radial connections that they would be willing to share? (i.e. solder, crimp, no connector but wrap end of radial wire around bolt on radial plate, coating, etc)

 

Thanks,

John

KT4AC