[Boatanchors] Antenna Sealing, thanks all. Another question. . ."Liquid Tape"
Jim Wiley
jwiley at gci.net
Fri Mar 11 07:54:21 EST 2016
The very best, bar none, electrical tape I have ever used, both for
amateur radio and commercial radio antenna work is 3M (Scotch) brand
type 70 silicon rubber tape. It stretches to conform over irregular
surfaces (elongates up to 450%), works over a very wide temperature
range (approximately -70 degrees F to +350 degrees F). It is arc and
track resistant, and will not rot or deteriorate in almost any
environment. I do recommend covering it with an "over layer" of
something like Scotch 88 black tape. I have used it to seal coaxial
connectors on antennas, and have them emerge looking like new after 20
years out in the weather. It is practically invulnerable, and easy to
apply, It sticks to itself (self fusing) and forms a watertight
seal. That means it works underwater, including being permanently
submerged in a salt-water environment.
Here is a link to more information: Scotch 70 tape
<http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/EMDCI/Home/Products/ProductCatalog/%7E/Scotch-Self-Fusing-Silicone-Rubber-Electrical-Tape-70-1-in-x-30-ft?N=5433135+4294907179&rt=rud>
It is, however, not cheap, at $45.00 for a 1" wide by 30 foot long roll
from Amazon.com. This is a perfect example of "you get what you pay
for", and I strongly advise that you bite the bullet and do it right the
first time. This is a single-use item, as removing it will destroy the
product. Get used to that concept too.
They have another product, with slightly different specs,and a bit less
expensive. That would be their type 23 splicing tape.
Here is a link to that product: Scotch 23 tape
<http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/NA_Communication_Technologies/Home/Products/%7E/Scotch-Rubber-Splicing-Tape-23?N=8694168+3294318588&rt=rud#>
Type 23 tape is specified for high-voltage splicing, and has much less
elongation, rated to 100% . That means it cannot conform to irregular
surfaces as easily as type 70. It is also a self-fusing type tape, but
this time it is rubber based. Type 23 tape is about $22.00 for a
similar sized roll (also 1 inch wide by 30 ft long). Type 23 also has a
narrower temperature range, specified only up to 266 degrees F. Low
temp limit is not given, but have used it at -10 degrees F. I have
no data on survival when submerged in a salt-water environment.
Read the product reviews for both items on Amazon.com for
confirmation. I have used type 70 for 50 years, and never been sorry.
- Jim, KL7CC
On 3/11/2016 2:07 AM, jbrannig wrote:
> West Marine sells "Rescue Tape, a self bonding silicon based product"
> I've used this tape on extension cord plugs for Xmas lights and repairing line cords, but have not tried it on coax connectors.
> I do not know the UV properties.
> Jim
>
>
>
>
> Sent from my Galaxy Tab® A-------- Original message --------From: Michael Baker <918ham at gmail.com> Date: 03/10/2016 3:26 PM (GMT-05:00) To: jbrannig <jbrannig at verizon.net> Cc: Phil <ko6bb1 at gmail.com>, Boatanchors <boatanchors at mailman.qth.net> Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] Antenna Sealing, thanks all. Another question. . ."Liquid Tape"
> Years ago, a friend who worked for MaBell as a cable spliced turned me on to a very good system using Scotch 333 electric tape and a brushable liquid called Scotchkote. Very nasty stuff to get off of clothing or skin.
>
> First a layer of 333 followed by a covering of Scotchkote. Let it dry and then repeat the process. It makes a waterproof seal that can be removed with a sharp blade if needed.
>
> Works great in buried cables.
> On Mar 10, 2016 1:12 PM, "jbrannig" <jbrannig at verizon.net> wrote:
> I have used "Liquid tape" on a variety of coax connectors and marine electrical connections.
>
> The results have been great. Acetone is the solvent.
>
> Jim
>
>
>
>
>
> Sent from my Galaxy Tab® A-------- Original message --------From: Phil <ko6bb1 at gmail.com> Date: 03/10/2016 1:39 PM (GMT-05:00) To: Boatanchors <boatanchors at mailman.qth.net> Subject: [Boatanchors] Antenna Sealing,
>
> thanks all. Another question. . ."Liquid Tape"
>
> First I want to thank those who took the time to answer my "Antenna
>
> Sealing" questions concerning sealing "joints" on a Tram 1481 3 section
>
> 2M/440 antenna. It seems that at least SOME RTV products are to be
>
> avoided. Now I have another question.
>
>
>
> After thinking about it, I thought of something I saw at Harbor 'Fright'
>
> quite some time ago. That is, Liquid Tape.
>
>
>
> It seems that IF I first used good quality black electrical tape, then
>
> sealed it with one of the following products I would end up with a GOOD
>
> seal that could be removed by slitting through both the liquid and
>
> plastic tape with a knife then peeling it off. NOT sure how easily
>
> liquid tape applied directly to the joint without regular tape under it
>
> could be removed.
>
>
>
> It might seem like I'm going to extremes here, but like I said in the
>
> first email, once I put it up, I want to leave it up. At 72 it's
>
> getting a little bit harder to easily work with antennas 'solo'.
>
>
>
> Here are a couple different products that might be suitable, one from
>
> Harbor 'Fright', the others from Amazon. . . I have an HF store in
>
> town, but if one of the Amazon products are doable I might go that
>
> route, though I'd have to wait till next week to order it.
>
>
>
> http://www.harborfreight.com/4-fl-oz-liquid-electrical-tape-36821.html
>
>
>
> http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_1_5_hso_sc_smartcategory_1?rh=n%3A256161011%2Ck%3Aliquid+tape&keywords=liquid+tape&ie=UTF8&qid=1457634227&sr=8-5-acs
>
>
>
> As a side note, I thought I might get a can of the Liquid Tape "Spray"
>
> and spray the bottom of the bottom mast section where it will be buried
>
> in the ground about a foot. Hopefully that would prevent the buried
>
> part from "rotting" (rusting etc).
>
>
>
>
>
> --
>
> 73 From "The Beaconeer's Lair"
>
> Phil, KO6BB
>
> http://www.qsl.net/ko6bb/ (Web Page)
>
>
>
> PRESENT RADIOS:
>
> Grundigs: S-350 (~2006), G6 (2011) & S450DLX (2014).
>
> HOMEBREW: 7 Tube+Rect 1v3 Regenerative RX for LF (built 2015)
>
> Icom: IC-735 Transceiver (~1990).
>
> Icom: R-75, Cascaded 250/125Hz CW-Filt, Panadapter. (~2009)
>
> Icom: IC-7200 Transceiver (~2015).
>
> R-Shack: DX-380 digital portable (~1990).
>
> SDRs: Softrock Ensemble II LF (built from a kit 2015).
>
> CommRadio CR-1A (~2015)
>
> Zenith: Royal-7000 Transoceanic Portable (~1968).
>
>
>
> ACCESSORIES: HOMEBREW LF-MF Pre-Amp, MFJ-993B HF Auto-Tuner.
>
> HOMEBREW 8 Hz Audio Filter.
>
>
>
> ANTENNAS: 88 foot Long Ladder-line fed dipole, 35 feet AGL for MW/SW.
>
> Active Mini-Whip, 36 Feet AGL for LF/MW/SW.
>
> 37 foot "Low Noise Vertical", 11 feet AGL for LF/MW/SW.
>
>
>
> Merced, Central California, 37, 18, 37N 120, 30, 6W CM97rh
>
>
>
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