Re: Topband: Soldering radials?

[Matthew King - KK4CPS]

All this talk of radials makes me wonder about my radial field

The area that the radials live in has been burned in a backfire. It has a
wide variety of wire in it, mostly stranded copper.  I'm sure the
insulation is no more now that it's been burned.

I'm quite sure they're corroded now, most likely on each strand of each
wire.

The million dollar question, now - are the radials ruined?  Would I realize
better coverage if I were to replace them?

Inquiring minds want to know

73

Matt
AK4MK

On Wed, Oct 12, 2016 at 3:56 PM, Matt Murphy  wrote:

> Is there any danger of damaging stranded copper wire by overheating it with
> a torch when soldering or brazing?
>
> 73,
> Matt NQ6N
>
> On Wed, Oct 12, 2016 at 2:41 PM, Drew Vonada-Smith <
> d...@whisperingwoods.org
> > wrote:
>
> > Radials are a lot of work to put in, and the expense of wire is
> > significant.  I can't see any justification for not joining them the best
> > way available.  IMHO, silver brazing.
> >
> >
> > I use and recommend Sta-Silv 15 (15% Ag, 80%Cu, 5% P brazing stick) and a
> > simple MAPP gas torch.  Propane is not quite hot enough to work well.
> > Liquidus is 1475F.  Flux didn't seem necessary, but you could use white
> > brazing flux.  Sure, I spent $25 in solder over about 5 verticals, but of
> > what significance is that compared to the rest of the effort, to insure a
> > lasting joint?
> >
> >
> > Sta-Silv 5 is probably fine also, with a 1500F liquidus,  But I prefer
> the
> > characteristics of the 15%.  Very easy to work with.
> >
> >
> > 73,
> > Drew K3PA
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> >
> > Message: 5
> > Date: Wed, 12 Oct 2016 08:52:40 -0700
> > From: "Richard (Rick) Karlquist" 
> > To: "Topband@contesting.com" 
> > Subject: Topband: Soldering radials?
> > Message-ID: 
> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed
> >
> > I'd like to get the latest thinking from the group
> > on soldering radials.  What I currently thinking
> > is as follows:
> >
> > SOLDER SELECTION:
> >
> > 1.  Tin lead doesn't hold up in the weather.
> >
> > 2.  "Stay Brite" 3% silver solder (97% tin,
> > no lead) is known to work well, but is expensive,
> > and has a considerably higher melting point
> > than 63/37.
> >
> > 3.  Lead free plumber's solder obviously works
> > in water pipes, but does it hold up outdoors
> > in the rain?  What is the melting point?
> >
> > FLUX SELECTION:
> >
> > 1.  Pure rosin.  Hardest to work with, but minimum
> > corrosion issues.
> >
> > 2.  Activated rosin.  Easier to work with.  What
> > corrosion issues are there?
> >
> > 3.  Acid core plumber's flux.  Very easy to work
> > with, very corrosive.  Does this hold up in the
> > rain, etc?
> >
> > (I remember the dire warnings that Heathkit manuals
> > had about not using acid core solder, but I
> > guess that doesn't apply to radials.)
> >
> > CRIMPING?
> >
> > Has anyone tried crimping as an alternative to solder?
> >
> > Rick
> > N6RK
> >
> >
> > --
> >
> > Subject: Digest Footer
> >
> > ___
> > Topband mailing list
> > Topband@contesting.com
> > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/topband
> >
> >
> > --
> >
> > End of Topband Digest, Vol 166, Issue 8
> > ***
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Re: Topband: W8JI is bailing out of this reflector?

[Matthew King - KK4CPS]

All I know is this - I just read the "lead up" to Tom's self-removal from
the group and it didn't take me long to identify a couple of asshats that
owe him an apology. Larry? Check. Misquoting is unethical and you knew it
when you did it. Roger? You betcha. A snarky "Bye, Tom" is all you had to
say? Probably just as well.

As a fairly new and "nobody" ham trying to learn about the supposed
"gentleman's band," I've found Tom's posts very educational. I've learned
more from Tom and his website than most others.  Do either of you have free
websites aimed at educating hams new and old?  Maybe Google is broken, but
I couldn't find them. Being prolific operators I'll concede in both cases,
but what're your contributions past that? If y'all are the "gentlemen" that
I'm supposed to be working on topband, I'll go cut the coax to my measly
160 antenna now, thanks.

Tom's loss will be felt far more than whatever you two may bring to the
table, I'm quite sure.

Shame on you both.

To the rest of the list - I apologize for my impertinent behavior. I've
spoken my peace. I'll reign it in.


73

Matt
KK4CPS



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On Tue, Jan 19, 2016 at 5:57 PM, Mike Waters  wrote:

> I'm afraid so, Jim. :-(
>
> I almost sent an email to Tom asking him to reconsider, but then I figured
> that anything we said wouldn't bring him back. Not as long as ... well, I'd
> rather not discuss this here anymore.
>
> You can read what led up to it at
> http://lists.contesting.com/_topband/2016-01/threads.html and search that
> page for "w8ji".
>
> 73, Mike
> www.w0btu.com
>
> On Tue, Jan 19, 2016 at 3:44 PM, James Rodenkirch 
> wrote:
>
> >
> > NowI just read a couple of posts on the K5P operation where it was
> > intimated that Tom, W8JI, was leaving this reflector!!
> >
> > Had that been confirmed??
> >
> > T bad - dang...technical prowess should be cultivated and
> > encouraged to keep posting away.friggin' shame if true!
> >
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Re: Topband: Spam:************, Re: Deployable radials for 80/160M

[Matthew King - KK4CPS]

Wouldn't stranded wire be preferred for such a use?  Maybe I'm missing
something, but it seems that solid wire would be more prone to breakage.

Matt
KK4CPS


On Thu, Jun 26, 2014 at 11:33 AM, Herb Schoenbohm he...@vitelcom.net
wrote:

 Wish we had a Lowes here in the VI but I will look and see if Home Depot
 has a solid wire equivalent. They have THHN is stranded but I am not sure
 about solid insulated #14 as i have not ever seen that.

 Herb, KV4FZ




 On 6/26/2014 8:17 AM, Dave Heil wrote:

 That seems a little too much work when Lowe's sells 500 foot spools of
 insulated #14 for $45.

 73,

 Dave K8MN

 On 6/24/2014 19 46, Herb Schoenbohm wrote:

 I found a great source for radial wire at home Depot where they have
 100' rolls of 14-2 packaged for under $40.  Two conductors are insulated
 and one of course is not after the easy job of striping them across a
 bench jig or simple having a second person hold a pocket knife while you
 pull the conductors apart you end up with 300 feet of higher quality
 ground radial material. 2 each  100 foot insulated radials due to the VF
 are very close to 1/4 wave consideration and the the shorter 100 foot
 bare doesn't hurt either.  This of course brings up the issue of mixing
 bare and insulated wire in any ground system so I use the bare conductor
 for other 80 and 40 verticals.  Yet the sum of the three wires is
 cheaper than buying them individually it seems.


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