[Antennas] Soldering Stainless Steel...

[KD7JYK]

There is a certain type of solder with a matched flux for soldering
stainless to itself and most other metals.  I do not know who makes it, and
it is currently packed, but it is a package my Brother bought at a hardware
store in Newhall, California.  The package is a small clear tube with a red
cap with a hook on top for hanging, inside is a coil of solder about five
feet long, it is very thin and stiffer than most solder, could almost be
confused with wire, and a small clear bottle of a liquid acid flux.  You
must use the supplied flux with the solder, other fluxes, I have tried
hydrochloric and rosin types do not work with the solder.  I use a 325 Watt
Weller soldering gun, and solder the stainless whips into RF connectors.
The whip is thicker than the ID of the connector, to I ground a taper on the
whip and set it in place.  The solder flows VERY smoothly, looks more like a
Silver Solder joint, and is much, much stronger than any other solder jont I
have seen.

You think that's something, Loctite makes superglue for Aluminum and
Stainless that I have yet to break with a wrench though I can bust the
fastener...

I have the location of my solder narrowed down to about six boxes (recent
move), when I dig it up I will post the specifics to the list.

Kurt

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Ross Technologies Signals Intelligence Division
Rosetta Proving Grounds