[AMRadio] Dow Corning DC 4

[Dennis Gilliam]

Not that it relates to the connector issue, but pro auto paints stores have
a product for eliminating 'fisheyes' in paint jobs from wax & silicone
residue.  It is a liquid used in the stripping & sanding phase.  RM marketed
it under the name "Pre-Kleano" when I bought some a few years back.

73DG  W7TFO

On Mon, Sep 19, 2011 at 2:32 PM, Jim Wilhite <w5jo at brightok.net> wrote:

> A couple of weeks back I asked if anyone knew what the grease
> composition was in the little packets furnished with commercial VHF
> antennas.  Several people responded with the answer Dow Corning DC 4.
>
> I had a friend who send me a couple of packets and I put it in several
> connectors that I am using now in my temporary transmission line.  First
> I measured the reflected power into a dummy load from 1.8 up to 29 Mc.
> I did that in the middle of the 6 bands.
>
> Then I put the grease in one connector and measured at the same points.
> The reflected power did not change so I put it in the rest of the
> connectors.  Still the reflected power did not change and the power
> measured at the dummy load did not change.
>
> Given those results I clinched my jaw and ordered a tube of it, about 5
> oz.  I forget the exact cost but it was about $20.  I made the decision
> to put the grease in my PL 259 connectors because over the years I have
> used them in all sorts of installations.  I put tape around them, I put
> heat shrink over them after taping them but in most cases I found
> corrosion on the center pin from condensation.
>
> So by filling the connector this should help keep that problem down to a
> very little bit.  I hope this time I never have to move and this will
> last from now on.  Thanks to all of you who posted your thoughts and
> suggestions.  In my measurements it is a worth while thing to do
> particularly if you live in high humidity areas.
>
> The only thing to watch is it has silicone in it.  If you use it on
> something to be painted, you will regret it.  Paint will not stick to
> surfaces that have had silicone on them.  And it does not matter how
> much you clean the surface, it will always cause trouble.
>
> Jim/W5JO
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Our Main Website: http://www.amfone.net
> AMRadio mailing list
> Searchable Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/amradio@mailman.qth.net/
> List Rules (must read!): http://w5ami.net/amradiofaq.html
> List Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/amradio
> Post: AMRadio at mailman.qth.net
> To unsubscribe, send an email to amradio-request at mailman.qth.net with
> the word unsubscribe in the message body.
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>