New- Hints And Kinks For The Radio Amateur Now

By WB2FAS (In the spirit of the original QST column)

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.

Now get on the air—and keep the hints coming.

Before snapping the bead onto the cable, wrap the coax with one layer of friction tape (cloth electrical tape) or two wraps of vinyl electrical tape where the bead will sit. Then push the bead over the taped section. New- Hints and Kinks for the Radio Amateur

The tape fills the air gap and provides friction. The bead stays exactly where you put it—even on vertical runs—and the improved surface contact actually increases common-mode impedance. 2. Instant Solder Wick (When You’re Out) The problem: You need to desolder a through-hole component. The last piece of solder wick vanished months ago.

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.”

Use vulcanizing silicone tape (often sold as "rescue tape" or "self-fusing silicone tape"). It’s about $8–10 per roll. Stretch it 100% as you wrap—it fuses to itself into a solid rubber sleeve. By WB2FAS (In the spirit of the original

Stick a metal ruler (12" or 24") directly to the fiberglass or wooden mast using double-sided foam tape, aligned vertically with the antenna element. Use a small spring clamp or a plastic clothespin on the ruler as a temporary stop.

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.

Remove the knob. Drip 2–3 drops of isopropyl alcohol (91% or higher) into the shaft opening. Rotate the pot back and forth fully 20–30 times. Let it dry 5 minutes. Then add one tiny drop of lightweight machine oil (sewing machine oil or even 3-in-1) to the same spot. Rotate again 10 times. Now get on the air—and keep the hints coming

Let’s face it: half the fun of amateur radio is the tinkering. We love solving the little problems—the RF in the shack, the cable mess behind the desk, the soldering iron that’s never hot when you need it. Here’s a fresh batch of hints and kinks to save you time, money, and frustration. The problem: You slip a ferrite bead over a coax cable, but it rattles around and slides right off the bend. Not effective.

Use a metal eyeglass repair screwdriver (the flat kind that comes in those little keychain kits). The tip is exactly the right width to fit into the two holes of a standard knurled SMA plug. Insert the tip into one hole and use it as a lever for that final gentle snug.