On Wed, 13 Feb 2008 21:54:47 -0500, "Hal Rosser"
wrote:

Daddy always said the solder joint oughta be mechanically sound before you
even put the heat to it.

Hi Hal,

Your daddy was teaching you that solder is a gas-tight seal, not a
mechanical connection.
Use an abrasive and clean the wires to be joined.
Join them mechanically (like a good twist or compression connector) (If the
wire is copper, this would be low-resistance in itself)
To the OP: a Western Union Splice is the correct form of joining
wires, and then flooded with solder. Flooded does NOT mean like Noah
and the Ark.
Then considering its for an outside antenna, dip it in 3M ScotchKote which
is like an electrical-grade varnish.
That is more so the weather doesn't leach the solder.
That would make a "low-ohmic" (some call it "low-resistance") connection.
Quite so.

73's
Richard Clark, KB7QHC

Richard Clark wrote:
Hal Rosser wrote:

Daddy always said the solder joint oughta be mechanically sound before
you
even put the heat to it.

Hi Hal,

Your daddy was teaching you that solder is a gas-tight seal, not a
mechanical connection.
Use an abrasive and clean the wires to be joined.
Join them mechanically (like a good twist or compression connector) (If
the
wire is copper, this would be low-resistance in itself)
To the OP: a Western Union Splice is the correct form of joining
wires, and then flooded with solder. Flooded does NOT mean like Noah
and the Ark.
Then considering its for an outside antenna, dip it in 3M ScotchKote
which
is like an electrical-grade varnish.
That is more so the weather doesn't leach the solder.
That would make a "low-ohmic" (some call it "low-resistance") connection.
Quite so.

73's
Richard Clark, KB7QHC

If the splice will be under strain, a Western Union or Lineman splice
(http://workmanship.nasa.gov/lib/insp.../407%20Splices
..html) is "bestest". I use such splices when there is nothing (i.e.
insulator) to take the strain. IMO, the OP's description of his splice
would not require such tensile strength. In his application, anything that
prevents oxidation of the mating surfaces would suffice.

73,
Bryan WA7PRC