The Clancy Brothers, Simon and Garfunkle and Tom Behler.  Damned good company!
Pat, K9JAUAt 07:44 PM 5/22/2013, you wrote:
>Hey, Steve:
>
>Thanks for the great tips.
>
>When I make it to Carnegie Hall, will you come and join me in the
>celebration?
>
>After all, you have been a great contesting mentor, so I'll just add
>Soldering 101 now to the on line tutorials you have so patiently provided me
>with.
>
>Tom Behler: KB8TYJ
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Steve Forst" <[log in to unmask]>
>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: Wednesday, May 22, 2013 6:06 PM
>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
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >