I have used something else to cover the connectors before using tape or coax
seal. Plumbers teflon tape is not too expensive and can be tightly wound on
the connectors to prevent anything from sticking to it.
Jim KI7Y
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike" <noddy1211@comcast.net>
To: "K8RI" <K8RI-on-TowerTalk@tm.net>, towertalk@contesting.com
Sent: Sunday, May 19, 2013 4:01:20 AM
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] How close to salt water is close enough?
The stuff you are talking about is Self Amalgamating Tape and is very much
available in the Big Box stores. It is even available in different colors
now. It is great stuff and I use it all the time.
Coax Seal is completely different, it is more like black putty in form but
stays soft and moldable, very useful and works well if you put regular
Scotch 88 on first as base so it makes for removing the Coax Seal easier if
needed to do a repair.
Both will do a fine job to make water proof connections.
Mike/K6BR
-----Original Message-----
From: TowerTalk [mailto:towertalk-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of K8RI
Sent: Saturday, May 18, 2013 7:22 PM
To: towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] How close to salt water is close enough?
On 5/18/2013 9:37 PM, Steve Maki wrote:
> On 5/18/2013 11:51 AM, K7LXC@aol.com wrote:
>
>>> Products like coax seal are worth using liberally wherever it
>>> can be
>> applied if needed.
>
>> Just make sure you never have to take it off. It's the WORST
>> stuff in the world to get off of anything. You put in on a connector
>> - you have to throw the connector away.
>>
>> Much better butyl rubber for this is just about anything else;
>> e.g. db Products vapor wrap, the plumbing stuff you buy at the
>> hardware store.
>> etc.
>>
>> If you put a layer of electrical tape down first and then put
>> the Coax Seal over it, you can actually get the CS off. Otherwise
>> use it at your own risk. Your mileage won't vary.
>
> OK, here's my secret, which I swore (to myself) to never reveal but
> it's now become necessary for unknown (to me) reasons:
>
> This is the critical step: for the "courtesy wrap", use silicone tape.
Years ago I had rolls of the stuff. I do not know if it was the same stuff
you are talking about. It was rolled with what appeared to be cellophane
between layers. A roll was maybe up to 8 or 10 inches in diameter. I don't
know how long that would have been It was reddish orange with a white line
down the middle and an inch to an inch and a half wide. It had maybe a half
inch wide section in the middle/center that was the thickest. Then it
tapered down to a rather thin edge on both sides. This allowed you to make
an extended wrap all the same thickness. It was also "stretchy" and wouldn't
stick to anything except itself and that wasn't just stick, it would
vulcanize into one inseparable piece! Once it touched itself it became one
piece that never let go. We used it at "the plant" to wrap high voltage
connections, both DC and RF. They bought new stuff unlike the rest of us.
Thing is, I've not seen any in over 20 years. I think what i had were
research samples, but i don't remember that it needed any protective
layer. It wasn't sticky and you could just brush it off. OTOH you
could ruin a piece with dust, dirt, or lint if the surface was contaminated
before use.
I'm pretty sure it was made by Dow Corning and we could get stuff from the
company store. But "years ago" is probably 20 or 30...maybe?
Now that stuff was the ideal cover for connectors. It'd form a barrier
around an SO239 that was like a gasket formed in place. The only problem
was if you let a wrinkle form at the surface that left a void.
Your only alternative was to cut it all off and start over.
73
Roger (K8RI)
>
> Add on top any damn thing you wish - vinyl tape, butyl rubber and then
> vinyl, just about anything that will keep the UV off the silicone for
> the amount of time that you want the weatherproofing to last.
>
> It's just plain magic. Slit the weatherproofing with a razor knife 15
> years later, it just pops off revealing a shiny connector.
>
> -Steve K8LX
> _______________________________________________
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> TowerTalk mailing list
> TowerTalk@contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
TowerTalk mailing list
TowerTalk@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
-----
No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 2013.0.3336 / Virus Database: 3162/6332 - Release Date: 05/17/13
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
TowerTalk mailing list
TowerTalk@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
--
Jim Cassidy
KI7Y
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
TowerTalk mailing list
TowerTalk@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
|