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Re: Mr Risch et al- What characterizes a pro interconnect termination?

Posted by Coffeecupman (A) on May 18, 2007 at 17:10:55

In Reply to: Re: Mr Risch et al- What characterizes a pro interconnect termination? posted by pkell44 on May 18, 2007 at 12:47:53:

hey pkell44,

Thanks for your post. This is getting warmer to the kind of answers I'm looking for, like "the crimp must be gas free" and "one needs a specialized crimp tool to get it right."

What I'd really like to know is the kind of stuff like: where does one get such a tool, etc? And exactly what must happen in order for it to be gas-free? is a sealant painted on to it after? If so, what sealant? Is it the kind of job that requires a bit of a knack? Or can any first timer nail it straight away? Also, there must be some specific chemicals used to clean the joint prior to the big squeeze? All these things are what I'm interested in.

I am reasonably confident that the world's best terminations are not made by just duffing it on. That the leading cable manufacturers have spent some time researching the optimal way to do it. For example, you say you solder, but with what brand of solder? What temp? How much do you use? Any flux? What kinds of cable do you usually work with? How much do you strip from the wire? Do you stagger the joints? Do you use heat shrink to cover the individual wires inside once soldered? What kind of heat shrink has the best dielectric? There are lots of questions involved. That's why I am asking the experts. Like I say, I didn't come this far only to stop being meticulous in the end game :)

For the record and to be fair, Nordost charges the $500 for the labor mostly, not for the parts. That's why I'm wondering about just exactly how skilled this labor must be. Of course I could solder it myself with silver solder. But is that the optimal way? And how you solder could be a world different from the way I solder. One of us will have a lesser connection.

Thanks for the post and all the best,

ccm

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Kimber Kable

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