[Microwave] Re: Silly Homebrew Question

[Barry L. Ornitz]

Scott Townley, NX7U, asked:

> I need a small, solderable project box.
> I see in Mouser catalog some "Drawn Steel Boxes, Cadmium Plated"
with lids
> "designed to be soldered in place".
> So...anyone familiar with these items?  Are they truly solderable?
By
> their description they would seem to be similar to the boxes used to
hold
> EMI line filters.
> Or are there better alternatives?  These are pretty cheap.
> Please, no "make the box yourself" comments, as I have tried and
tried and
> for whatever reason, I just don't seem to be coordinated enough to
get it
> to work.

Conventional electronic solder will stick to cadmium quite well if the
surface is clean and shiny.  Use a Scotch-Brite pad to polish it
before soldering.  As Marius Hauki noted, a larger box can often be
readily soldered on the stove.

Just remember that cadmium is quite toxic so wash your hands well
after handling it.  It offers galvanic rust protection slightly better
than zinc but it is much easier to solder.
However if you heat it to red heat, the cadmium will oxidize giving
you a pretty yellow cloud of _extremely_ toxic fumes.

Have you ever looked at the inexpensive metal brakes by Harbor
Freight?  They have 18 inch metal forming brakes for generally less
than $20.  They can handle light gauge steel quite easily and aluminum
is a cinch.

        73,  Barry L. Ornitz     WA4VZQ     ornitz@tricon.net