[Hammarlund] Dial Cord Re-Stringing

Thu May 17 19:53:16 EDT 2012

Greetings to the list:

   For Bob N0DGN and others:

   I have found that tying knots in dial cord while trying to maintain the 
correct tension can be a rather difficult and trying task.   I have found a 
shortcut, as well as a supply of cord that works pretty well as dial cord.

   My daughter works at a bead store.... basically a craft and hobby store 
that sells supplies for making things with beads.   I believe that these 
stores can be found in most cities, and if not, I will ask my daughter for 
on-line shopping URL's.

   "What does beading have to do with dial cords ?" you may well ask.

Two things:

First, beads are strung on cords that are a close match in physical 
properties for radio dial cord.   These cords are available in different 
sizes and strengths on small plastic reels at bead stores.   I used some 
cord that is marked for use with abrasive materials... i.e. rough surface 
beads, figuring that it would be more durable.   More conventional material 
is also available.

Second, it is possible to purchase some small crimp sleeves and a crimp tool 
specifically designed to join two pieces of bead string together.   The 
closest that I can come to a description of this hardware is that it is a 
miniature Nicopress sleeve and tool.   If you go to 
http://www.nicopress.com/ you will see a photo on the right of the page 
depicting a Nicopress tool being used to make a crimp-retained loop in the 
end of a wire rope.   If you can imagine a smaller tool held in one hand 
like a pair of small pliers and a crimp sleeve sized for dial cord, you 
should get the idea.

   I used this technique in re-stringing my Hallicrafters S-85 and it worked 
very well.   Sure beats tying knots while trying to maintain cord tension at 
the same time.   (Unless you have three or four hands, in which case you can 
save a little money and stick to knots.)