[Elecraft] PL 259's

[Dan Presley]

Everyone has their favorite method, and here's mine from an old ARRL 
handbook. Before you slip (or actually,screw on) the barrel to the 
coax, trim the outer jacket and then tin the braid.This works best if 
you have good quality coax as the braid is thicker:).Then, take a 
pipe cutter to trim the tinned braid a short distance from the end of 
the inner dielectric( about 1/16 is fine).Also,before you thread the 
barrel on, it'll help the heat transfer if you file a bit of the 
plating off around the holes where you'll solder the braid. By 
tinning and filing, I can cut the heat/solder  time down a fair 
amount, and have a very good connection.Also, don't forget to tin the 
center conductor before you thread on the barrel.Another trick for 
weatherproofing is to fill the voids with vaseline, and then coax 
seal.Mine have all withstood Oregon rain for many years this way .
-- 
Dan Presley-N7CQR-Portland, Or QRP-L #502 ARS #71
n7cqr at arrl.net