Strip the insulation off a length of stranded hookup wire (16–22 AWG). Unravel the braided shield or simply flatten the stranded core. Dip the bare copper in rosin flux (paste or liquid). Apply your soldering iron to the joint and touch this makeshift wick to the molten solder.
Buy a silicone baking mat (meant for cookies, about $10–15). They are heat resistant to 450°F, non-slip, and have a slight lip. The best part: the non-stick surface means solder balls don’t adhere—they just roll into a corner for easy vacuuming. New- Hints and Kinks for the Radio Amateur
This is for RF ground and equipment bonding , not for lightning or AC safety ground. Always keep your AC safety ground separate and intact. 8. Silicone Baking Mat = Portable Work Surface The problem: Tiny screws, washers, and springs roll off your bench and into the abyss (also known as the carpet). Strip the insulation off a length of stranded
Use rare earth magnets (neodymium, 1/2" diameter or larger) with a screw hole in the center. Screw a copper ground lug directly to the magnet. Stick the magnet to the metal desk. Connect all your gear grounds to that lug via short straps. Apply your soldering iron to the joint and
Use a second mat as a soldering iron rest when traveling. The iron tip won’t burn it, and it won’t slide off the table. A Final Word The best kink is the one you discover yourself. Keep a small notebook in your shack (or a digital note) and write down every “that worked well” or “that was stupid, don’t do it again.”
WD-40 leaves a residue that attracts dust. This alcohol+oil method flushes oxidation then leaves a clean, thin lubricant film. 7. The "No-Drill" Ground Bus for a Metal Desk The problem: Your station ground needs a common bus bar, but you don’t want to drill into your nice metal desk or filing cabinet.
Tighten until it stops with light finger force, then use the screwdriver for no more than 10 degrees of additional rotation. 4. Cheap Coax Seal That Doesn’t Turn to Gum The problem: High-end coax sealing tape (Coax-Seal, etc.) works great, but it’s expensive and gets sticky-messy in heat.