GB> Re: [Boatanchors] PL-259 modification...pic online now...

[Scott Johnson]

I am somewhat confused.  I have soldered all manner of PL-259, both 
silver and nickel plated, and although the nickel alloy is not the 
easiest metal to tin, it tins at least as well as brass.  I have never 
had a problem soldering the (pre-tinned) braid to the connector body.  
What works best for me  is a 1/8' chisel tip on a Metcal, or the chisel 
style tip on a Weller gun.  I use RA flux Kester .062" 63/37 solder.  My 
connectors always come out fine, and I do use a very we sponge or rag to 
cool the connector, and I clean off the flux carefully afterwards, as it 
is very hygroscopic and will hold moisture.  BTW, you can still purchase 
the Ag plated connectors, they are just pricier by a buck or so, but 
probably worth it.  I assume someone already mentioned pre-tinning the 
braid, and trimming it to length with a tubing cutter? 

regards,
Scott W7SVJ

john wrote:
> I have been doing this for some time and it really works well. If you 
> tin the newly exposed brass before beginning the process, it works 
> even better. With a large iron (like American Beauty) with a lot of 
> thermal mass, it makes soldering these things quite easy.
>
> I also would add dampening a sponge, so that when you're finished with 
> the solder joint, you can cool the housing off by pressing it into the 
> damp (not wet) sponge, minimizing the time the heat has to soak into 
> the inner insulator, perhaps melting it.
>
> With a high thermal mass iron, it takes very little time for the 
> housing to get to reflow temp (and thus less chance of melting the 
> inner insulator sheath.
>
> Thanks Sandy!
> John K5MO
>
>
>
>
> At 08:55 PM 10/11/2007, Sandy wrote:
>> Mike,
>>    Many thanks for posting it someplace!  It's not really my idea, 
>> someone else told me about the trick years ago.  Amphenol used to 
>> plate the connectors with something that took solder ( silver, at one 
>> time) but they plate them with something that is hard to "wet" with 
>> solder now (with rosin core flux).
>>    Hope this helps you guys like it's helped me over the years.
>>
>> 73,
>>
>> Sandy W5TVW
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "WE0H" <we0h at yahoo.com>
>> To: "Sandy" <ebjr37 at charter.net>
>> Cc: <boatanchors at mailman.qth.net>; "Glowbugs reflector" 
>> <glowbugs at piobaire.mines.uidaho.edu>
>> Sent: Thursday, October 11, 2007 3:57 PM
>> Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] PL-259 modification...pic online now...
>>
>>
>>> Here's the link to Sandy's picture.
>>> http://www.we0h.us/tmp/PL-259-Modification.jpg
>>>
>>> Mike
>>> WE0H
>>>
>>>
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>>
>>
>>
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