Solder to Aluminum?
 

Hi, Antenna Guys.

My FM antenna had the wire attachment posts ripped out by the wind. I'm
wondering if I can solder to the aluminum? Then I'd epoxy over it. I'd just
try it, but I'm afraid it might pop in my face or something.

--
Ed Light

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Solder to Aluminum?
 

"Ed Light" wrote in message
news:hE6Gg.17746$RD.221@fed1read08...
Hi, Antenna Guys.

My FM antenna had the wire attachment posts ripped out by the wind. I'm
wondering if I can solder to the aluminum? Then I'd epoxy over it. I'd
just try it, but I'm afraid it might pop in my face or something.

--
Ed Light

Smiley :-/
MS Smiley :-\

Send spam to the FTC at

Thanks, robots.

Bring the Troops Home:
http://bringthemhomenow.org



Why not just replace the posts with 4-40 or 6-32 stainless steel bolts and
nuts. Drill new holes in the aluminum if needed.

Tam/WB2TT

Solder to Aluminum?
 

Ed Light wrote:
Hi, Antenna Guys.

My FM antenna had the wire attachment posts ripped out by the wind. I'm
wondering if I can solder to the aluminum? Then I'd epoxy over it. I'd just
try it, but I'm afraid it might pop in my face or something.

Ordinary solder, no, but there are solders specifically made for
aluminum.

--
Jim Pennino

Remove .spam.sux to reply.

Solder to Aluminum?
 

http://www.aluminumrepair.com/

denny

Solder to Aluminum?
 

On Sun, 20 Aug 2006 20:15:48 -0400, Tam/WB2TT wrote:
"Ed Light" wrote:

My FM antenna had the wire attachment posts ripped out by the wind.
I'm wondering if I can solder to the aluminum? Then I'd epoxy over
it. I'd just try it, but I'm afraid it might pop in my face or
something.

Why not just replace the posts with 4-40 or 6-32 stainless steel bolts
and nuts. Drill new holes in the aluminum if needed.

Or, use a pop-rivet tool to attach whatever fastner(s) suit you.

Or, use small, SS, worm-screw pipe clamps to attach the wire(s) directly.

HTH
Jonesy
--
Marvin L Jones | jonz | W3DHJ | linux
38.24N 104.55W | @ config.com | Jonesy | OS/2
*** Killfiling google posts: http//jonz.net/ng.htm

Solder to Aluminum?
 

Thanks, folks.


--
Ed Light

Smiley :-/
MS Smiley :-\

Send spam to the FTC at

Thanks, robots.

Bring the Troops Home:
http://bringthemhomenow.org

Solder to Aluminum?
 

My FM antenna had the wire attachment posts ripped out by the wind.
I'm wondering if I can solder to the aluminum? Then I'd epoxy over it.
I'd just try it, but I'm afraid it might pop in my face or something.

Ordinary solder, no, but there are solders specifically made for aluminum.

I suspect safety guru's would say one should always wear (safety)
glasses when soldering!

It takes practice, but if you'll "puddle" some silver polish on
a spot you want to solder, rub it a bit to clean the oxide off
the aluminum, and then solder right through the puddle with a
hot iron (the stuff will bubble and sizzle, so do wear glasses!),
one CAN solder to aluminum with standard solder and without buying
some expensive stuff for a onesies/twosies job.

I don't remember how strong the solder joint was nor did I test
how long such a joint might last, but it DID solder and stick!

--Myron A. Calhoun.
--
Five boxes preserve our freedoms: soap, ballot, witness, jury, and cartridge
PhD (retired) W0PBV Barbershop Tenor CDL(PTXS) (785) 539-4448
NRA Life Member and Rifle, Pistol, & Home Firearm Safety Certified Instructor
Certified Instructor for the Kansas Concealed-Carry Handgun license

Don't Solder to Aluminum
 

Greetings,
A soldered joint to aluminium won't last. For a good
electrical connection to aluminium get some jointing compound
suitable for ensuring an electrical contact between dissimilar
metals without corrosion. One has to use the same stuff for
aluminium to aluminium connections as well or the aluminium will
oxidise at the joint. Required for long (HF) yagi elements.
Put the jointing compound on the cleaned aluminium and on
the wire then fasten them together; by clamp, screw whatever.
Some would tape up the joint so the jointing compound doesn't
blow or wash away.
There's an article in Radcom July 2005, p75 Technical topics, on
working with aluminium.
I've assisted engineers/technicians constructing/repairing HF
yagi's on which every single aluminium to anything connection
that has to conduct has the compound put on. Note that copper
corrodes aluminium and that tightly clamping aluminum is
useless at stopping oxidation in the joint. Take the joint
apart later and everything will be wet ...
Good luck.

, ZL2TTS

Solder to Aluminum?
 

wrote in message
...
Ed Light wrote:
Hi, Antenna Guys.

My FM antenna had the wire attachment posts ripped out by the wind. I'm
wondering if I can solder to the aluminum? Then I'd epoxy over it. I'd
just
try it, but I'm afraid it might pop in my face or something.

Ordinary solder, no, but there are solders specifically made for
aluminum.

--
Jim Pennino

Remove .spam.sux to reply.

Actually regualr old 40/60 solid core works fine . the trick is the flux.
Use 10w motor oil. Over the years Ive won more than a few after work beers
from guys around here by soldering a copper wire to a pop top ring.

Solder to Aluminum?
 

On Sun, 1 Oct 2006 22:33:59 -0400, "Jimmie D"
wrote:


Actually regualr old 40/60 solid core works fine . the trick is the flux.
Use 10w motor oil. Over the years Ive won more than a few after work beers
from guys around here by soldering a copper wire to a pop top ring.

How strong does it hold, can it be pulled off easily?
w.

Solder to Aluminum?
 

The problem with soldering to aluminum is that the aluminum oxidixes before
it gets hot enough for the solder to stick. The trick is to puddle the
solder on the aluminum, them using a stanless brush or something the solder
won't stick to, brush the aluminum under the hot solder. That way the air
can't get ot it to oxidize it. The solder will tin it and stick fine. I have
been doing this since 1948.

Solder to Aluminum?
 

if you don't want to solder, just clean the aluminum area
and use a stainless steel hose clamp (automotive type)
with some noalox or similar anitox/sieze compound.

or deoxit on the area before clamping.

73

Solder to Aluminum?
 

On Mon, 02 Oct 2006 23:03:33 GMT, "Lawrence Earl"
wrote:

The problem with soldering to aluminum is that the aluminum oxidixes before
it gets hot enough for the solder to stick. The trick is to puddle the
solder on the aluminum, them using a stanless brush or something the solder
won't stick to, brush the aluminum under the hot solder. That way the air
can't get ot it to oxidize it. The solder will tin it and stick fine. I have
been doing this since 1948.

Thanks, will try soon.
w.

Solder to Aluminum?
 

Have to agree-- aluminium oxidizes almost
immediatly, when burnished, and as mentioned
the trick is to get the solder to the aluminum,
before it re-oxidizes . As an aside, the silvery
powder in a firecracker IS powdered aluminium,
which gives an idea of how FAST the stuff oxidizes
(burn, in this situation)! Jim NN7K


Helmut Wabnig wrote:
On Mon, 02 Oct 2006 23:03:33 GMT, "Lawrence Earl"
wrote:

The problem with soldering to aluminum is that the aluminum oxidixes before
it gets hot enough for the solder to stick. The trick is to puddle the
solder on the aluminum, them using a stanless brush or something the solder
won't stick to, brush the aluminum under the hot solder. That way the air
can't get ot it to oxidize it. The solder will tin it and stick fine. I have
been doing this since 1948.

Thanks, will try soon.
w.