[Elecraft] Coax cable

[Tom McCulloch]

Hi Jerry,
 Tnx for the clothespin hint...I those banana plugs are a bear to solder.
Tom
k2 1103
wb2qdg

----------------------------------------------

Teamwork is a lot of people doing what I say.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jeremiah McCarthy" <wa2dkg at earthlink.net>
To: <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Saturday, June 17, 2006 10:30 AM
Subject: [Elecraft] Coax cable


> Hi, Jesse:
>
> There are several good ways to unravel the braid on coax...One way is to 
> use a sharp pointed tool, like an awl, a dental pick, an ice pick, or even 
> a BIG needle, and, starting near the end, inset the point into the braid 
> and push the point of the tool outward toward the end of the cable, 
> unraveling the braid...Continue doing that, working back a little at a 
> time towards the cut end of the outer jacket until you have it all 
> unraveled...
>
> Another way is to lay the cable on the table and simply comb it with a 
> fine wire brush, starting at the end of the bare braid and working back 
> towards the cut end of outer jacket, rotating the cable on the table as 
> you go...A wire brush is also good to use to comb the braid out over the 
> grounding ring when installing BNC's, after which the braid can be trimmed 
> with cuticle scissors...A suede brush is ideal...
>
> Still another way is to grasp the end of the unraveled braid and push it 
> inward towards the cut end of the outer jacket, causing it to bunch up 
> near the end of the outer jacket...Then take an awl and open up a hole in 
> the bunched up braid near the end of the outer jacket...Bend the cable 
> over sharply at the hole and, using the awl, work the inner conductor out 
> through the hole...This leaves the braid unraveled and intact...It can now 
> be pulled straight forming a braided wire...
>
> The banana plugs are intended to be plugged into your DMM which you will 
> be using as a read-out when using the probe...Soldering to the banana 
> plugs can be a challenge because the plug has to be held stationary 
> somehow...A vise will soak up the heat preventing good soldering...A 
> spring type wooden clothespin is handy for holding the banana plug when 
> soldering, it won't soak up the heat...
>
> Hope this helps...GL and 73
>
> Jerry, wa2dkg
> _______________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Post to: Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
> You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
> Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
> Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com