Acetic acid is involved in the silicone curing process. I forget the exact
mechanism but it should be easy enough to look up.
Btw, someone mentioned eletrical tape becoming a "sticky mess" over time. I
have found that the better grades of tape are much less prone to that. The
"cheap" black electrical tape (the 50 cents per roll stuff) turns gooey in
short order. I've found that the much better 3M tape (the kind that comes in a
little plastic can for about $3/roll) is *far* better and doesn't become a
gooey mess over time. The better tape is the 33 and 35 series and is also
available in different colors that I use to color code cable runs.
[Sent using Blackberry Messaging]
----- Original Message -----
From: topband-bounces@contesting.com <topband-bounces@contesting.com>
To: Tom W8JI <w8ji@w8ji.com>
Cc: topband <topband@contesting.com>
Sent: Sun Aug 05 10:47:27 2012
Subject: Re: Topband: Soldering in the wild
Hi Guy,
The only thing to watch out for---and I don't know if Silicone II Sealant falls
into this category, or not---are the corrosive fumes that might be emitted
during the curing process...
If the "raw" stuff smells a lot like vinegar, beware!
I recall one time years ago we erected an after-the-fact, ad hoc gamma match
for an on-site Field Day antenna we were using: we attached the variable
capacitor to the inside of an impromptu weather-proof "Tupperware" container
witch a couple of blobs of silicone sealant...and by morning the frame of the
capacitor was COMPLETELY covered with what appeared to be rust / corrosion! The
fumes from the sealant had nowhere else to go, I guess, & attacked those parts
of the capacitor that weren't made of aluminum...
~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ
On 2012-08-05, at 10:35 AM, Tom W8JI wrote:
>
>> found that GE Silicone II Sealant, which is fine for outside, to work very
>> well for covering solder joints.
>>
>> I've purchased it in many local hardware stores. It runs around $6 per
>> tube.
>>
>> It cures in just a few hours, is rain resistant and does not affect the
>> solder
>> joint.
>>
>> There were reports years ago that the curing process would impact the
>> solder
>> but I have not found that to be true.
>
> Me, too. I know people say it causes problems, but I've yet to ever see any
> problem or sign of any problem. I've used it or similar for many years. :-)
>
>> It can be peeled off and I've always found the solder joint just as clean
>> as
>> it was when it was first done even after several years.
>
> Same here.
>
> 73 Tom
>
> _______________________________________________
> UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
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UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
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UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
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