[Test-Equipment] Make your own coil dope (Was Re: HP-606ACalibration question)

[Richard Knoppow]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve Byan" <stevebyan at comcast.net>
To: "Discussion of Electronic Test Equipment" 
<test-equipment at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Tuesday, May 26, 2009 9:32 AM
Subject: [Test-Equipment] Make your own coil dope (Was Re: 
HP-606ACalibration question)


>
> On May 26, 2009, at 11:14 AM, Richard Knoppow wrote:
>
>>     I used to know how to make coil dope, its something
>> like polystrene dissolved in xylene but I am not sure.
>
> Clear (unpigmented) polystyrene dissolved in methyl ethel 
> ketone
> (MEK). MEK should be available at your local hardware 
> store; you may
> be able to find clear polystyrene sheets packaged by 
> Evergreen Scale
> Models at you local hobby shop.
>
> Best regards,
> -Steve

    I got a couple of private e-mails with similar 
information. I also found out that General Cement still 
makes Q-Dope. The MSDS indicates that it contains MEK. Other 
sources state that polystyrene will also dissolve in toluene 
and xylol. All three of these solvents are available at 
paint and hardware stores including Home Depot. I have all 
three here but no styrofoam cups or shipping peanuts. In any 
case, the stuff is available via the web. Beware that MEK 
will dissolve latex gloves, not sure about nitrile. Probably 
a way to make rubber cement.
    I am surprized that my tricky memory actually retained 
this. I read a short article many years ago in some ham 
magazine about how to make your own coil dope. This was 
before styrofoam and I think required shaving polystyrene 
sheets or something of the sort.
    Thanks to those to responded.  You never know what the 
communal mind has stored away:-)


--
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles
WB6KBL
dickburk at ix.netcom.com