Yeah, but, Jim, my problem is successfully getting the entire center 
conductor all the way down into the connector, without bending any of the 
center conductor strands, which is why I came up with the idea of tinning it 
before proceeding.

Tom Behler: KB8TYJ

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jim Gammon" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, May 22, 2013 12:24 AM
Subject: Re: Tinning the center conductor of RG8X coax


>I haven't done that in years, and I may not have been using the
> same kinds of connectors but what I remember doing was making the
> center wires of the coax protrude maybe .5 inches out of the
> connector then running solder down the heated wires into the
> spaces between them, and the inside of the center pen.  When it
> cooled, I would cut off the excess and file the end smooth.
> Seemed to work well.  Jim WA6EKS
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Tom Behler <[log in to unmask]
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Date sent: Tue, 21 May 2013 22:34:24 -0400
> Subject: Tinning the center conductor of RG8X coax
>
> 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
>