Tom, also cut coax with cutters that don't flatten or flare the wire.  73
Ed   K7UC

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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
>>
>>
>>