You can solder Aluminum... just not the same way as you would solder electronics parts with tin/lead solder.
I work with a guy who can plate copper onto aluminum and then solder to the copper plate. I've been asking him for years how he does it and he still hasn't told me the whole story. But it is a true and strong copper plate with wires soldered to it. Not the flea market stuff... the read deal with copper plate. cheers, skipp > DCFluX <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Remember folks, you can't solder to aluminum. Anyone who says > different and shows you the magic stick that can is a liar. I see > demos of this crap at ham fests every now and then and every time I > try to use it the joint looks good until you pick it up and the > entire thing falls apart. That aluminum sloder paste doesn't work > either and just makes a mess of your aluminum. > > The only real way to bond aluminum is with a TIG welder. And when > you get the stuff hot enough to where it starts making a good bead > it melts on you. > > So that would mean that only crimp on style connectors can be used > with this type of coax. That would be fine for BNC and N, But most > of the PL-259s wouldn't work. BTW leaving the braid on a PL-259 > unsoldered is a good way to blow up the finals in your radio, so > check your jumpers when you get a chance. > > It should be noted also that QST will usually post some kind of > April fools joke in the April issue, so keep an eye out. >
