I've done that, or I also have a good set of wire cutters that will do the
job just fine.
Tom Behler: KB8TYJ
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bob, K8LR" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, May 22, 2013 9:02 PM
Subject: Re: Tinning the center conductor of RG8X coax
>I just use a knife!
>
> Bob, K8LR, [log in to unmask]
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "John Miller" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Wednesday, May 22, 2013 8:53 PM
> Subject: Re: Tinning the center conductor of RG8X coax
>
>
> He's talking cutters, not strippers and that is a good point. I bought a
> whole set of cutters, strippers, crimpers, a while back. It wasn't cheap
> but
> it's more than paid for itself already.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Tom Behler" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Wednesday, May 22, 2013 8:48 PM
> Subject: Re: Tinning the center conductor of RG8X coax
>
>
>> Ed:
>>
>> I've got a special coax stripper from The RF Connection, so I'm fine on
>> that
>> score.
>>
>> It's just working with it and getting it successfully onto the connector
>> without any shorts that I'm still struggling with.
>>
>> But, I'm sure I'll get the hang of it eventually.
>>
>> I've had much more challenging learning curves; it's just a matter of
>> getting the time to really sit down and work things out thoroughly.
>>
>> Tom Behler: KB8TYJ
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Ed Malmgren" <[log in to unmask]>
>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>> Sent: Wednesday, May 22, 2013 6:44 PM
>> Subject: Re: Tinning the center conductor of RG8X coax
>>
>>
>>> Tom, also cut coax with cutters that don't flatten or flare the wire.
>>> 73
>>> Ed K7UC
>>>
>>> --------------------------------------------------
>>> From: "Steve Forst" <[log in to unmask]>
>>> Sent: Wednesday, May 22, 2013 4:06 PM
>>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>>> Subject: Re: Tinning the center conductor of RG8X coax
>>>
>>>> Tom,
>>>>
>>>> The best way to solder is the same way to get to Carnegie Hall:
>>>> "Practice man, practice."
>>>>
>>>> Try some practice runs on some scrap wire. Heat the wire with the
>>>> gun
>>>> and give it a few seconds, then touch the solder to the wire and if it
>>>> is hot enough, the solder will flow. Don't overdo it, too much solder
>>>> will make lumps and bumps that might make it hard to insert into the
>>>> center pin if it is a close tolerance to begin with.
>>>>
>>>> Something else you can try: Strip the coax maybe an inch and a half
>>>> longer than you would normally do. When you've pulled off the waste
>>>> parts you will have a much longer stripped center conductor. You can
>>>> grab this with your fingers and *gently* insert into the connector and
>>>> feel for the hole of the center pin and slip it through. Slide the
>>>> connector down all the way, check for shorts, then snip off the excess
>>>> center conductor protruding past the tip. I've found this works
>>>> pretty well for me.
>>>>
>>>> Also, when stripping the coax and pulling off the waste center
>>>> insulation, be sure the end of the stranded wire didn't try and
>>>> unravel
>>>> a bit Snip off any little bits at the end if needed. When
>>>> you think you have it ready to go, try inserting into the other end of
>>>> the center pin. If it won't go in that way, figure out why before
>>>> trying to insert the correct way. This is also good to try if you
>>>> solder the wire. If it won't go in from the open end, it won't go in
>>>> from inside the connector.
>>>>
>>>> 73, Steve KW3A
>>>>
>>>> On 5/21/2013 10:34 PM, Tom Behler wrote:
>>>>> Hi, all.
>>>>>
>>>>> I'm making up some coax jumpers with some extra RG8X coax that I have,
>>>>> and
>>>>> the crimp-solder PL259 connectors I bought several years ago from Joel
>>>>> at
>>>>> The RF Connection.
>>>>>
>>>>> These connectors are the type that you thread the center conductor
>>>>> through
>>>>> the pin of the connector, and solder it to the connector tip. You
>>>>> then
>>>>> crimp the shield to a small metal sleve that goes over the front
>>>>> portion
>>>>> of
>>>>> the connector body.
>>>>>
>>>>> The RB8X cable I'm working with has a multi-strand center conductor,
>>>>> and
>>>>> a
>>>>> few of the strands seem to want to bend in on themselves, and
>>>>> therefore
>>>>> touch the connector body.
>>>>>
>>>>> My thinking is that the way to avoid this issue would be to tin the
>>>>> center
>>>>> conductor strands prior to inserting them into the center of the
>>>>> connector
>>>>> and out the pin end.
>>>>>
>>>>> Does anyone have a relatively fool proof way to tin the multi-strand
>>>>> center
>>>>> conductor with solder and a soldering iron?
>>>>>
>>>>> Still in learning curve mode here, but one of my goals in life
>>>>> continues
>>>>> to
>>>>> be making successful PL259 coax connedctions independently, and I
>>>>> don't
>>>>> give
>>>>> up easily.
>>>>>
>>>>> Tom Behler: KB8TYJ
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>
>>
>
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