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
>>>
>>>
>>>
>