Tips for soldering coax?

[RT145]

I'm building my own ADS-B antenna collinear antenna, but I was looking for some advice with soldering the coax pieces together. When attempting to solder the center conductor to the outer conductor, the solder does not hold and most of it flows into the sheath.

 

[wtp]

the solder does contain resin ...right ?

 

[RT145]

Correct

 

[eorange]

Why solder at all? I built two collinear antennas for 1.09 GHz from this:

The pieces hold together. I wrapped the joints with electrical tape and shoved it all into a narrow PVC pipe. It works great.

 

[RT145]

Why solder at all? I built two collinear antennas for 1.09 GHz from this:

The pieces hold together. I wrapped the joints with electrical tape and shoved it all into a narrow PVC pipe. It works great.

I did that for most of it, but its a pain.

 

[eorange]

I know. It wasn't easy. But the braided shield will always tend to wick the solder.

 

[RT145]

I wonder if this would work https://smile.amazon.com/Zehhe-Copp...=1&qid=1583882181&sprefix=aluminum+ta,aps,154

 

[RT145]

I just ordered the copper tape. I'll see if it works and report back.

 

[prcguy]

What kind of coax are you using? If its copper or tinned copper braid it should solder very nicely. If you are using foil shield coax with the token shield, good luck.

The best way to solder sections together is to first remove the outer insulation and flow solder the braid for an inch or so at the end before even cutting it to final length. Then score the soldered braid around its circumference with an exacto knife or similar and break the excess soldered shield off in a single tube shaped piece. Then trim the dielectric and center conductor and tin the center conductor. After all that it will be easy to solder the lengths together in the typical offset pattern for a colinear antenna.

I'm building my own ADS-B antenna collinear antenna, but I was looking for some advice with soldering the coax pieces together. When attempting to solder the center conductor to the outer conductor, the solder does not hold and most of it flows into the sheath.

 

[buddrousa]

Most people have no idea how to solder the correct way. Most apply solder to the tip and try to blob it on what they want to solder.

 

[Chronic]

Tin The "Central" conductor before trying to solder pieces together

 

[WA0CBW]

There are 1000 ways to solder incorrectly and 1 way to solder correctly. You might try making a video so we can see what your issue might be.
bb

 

[Hit_Factor]

Solder is an electrical connection, you still need a mechanical connection for strength.

Cleaning everything, including finger tips, is an important part of the process. I work with a couple I&C Techs who are nuclear Navy trained. They can solder correctly.

 

[ArloG]

Just a tip. Having a variable temp soldering station is handy. Knowing your solder flow temps is a good way to control how a solder joint is going to turn out. Soldering coax is a bear sometimes. It's a acquired skill. At least you're not trying to solder aluminum braid. And btw. A fat black Sharpie works pretty good as a solder mask to keep it where you want it. It's an old PC board trik.

 

[prcguy]

35yrs ago I was trained and certified on mil spec soldering at Hughes Aircraft and also became a certified solder inspector.

Solder is an electrical connection, you still need a mechanical connection for strength.

Cleaning everything, including finger tips, is an important part of the process. I work with a couple I&C Techs who are nuclear Navy trained. They can solder correctly.

 

[eorange]

and also became a certified solder inspector.

That sounds really...uninteresting.

 

[prcguy]

Yea, it was just a small facet of my job at the time. Not something you want to strive for as your main gig.

But that extra training allowed me to put things together quickly and efficiently passing any critical inspection the first time so I could get on with other more interesting things.

That sounds really...uninteresting.