Nice idea Syd -- you always have the most interesting things to say and
stories to back them up -- I can see how such solder wafers may be less
mass to carry around than a soldering iron-- electric or battery powered
thanks for sharing your thoughts,
Jeff
Syd Curtis wrote:
>=20
>
>>From: "Jeffrey D. Daub" <>
>>Reply-To:
>>Date: Wed, 12 Oct 2005 12:53:54 -0700
>>To:
>>Subject: Re: [Nature Recordists] Re: carry spares
>>
>>Although finding a power source to solder with may involve hiking out to
>>civilization or having to run a remote research station's noisy
>>generator for a while
>>=20=20=20
>>
>
>Don't know how useful this is, but I mention it for what it's worth.
>
>Here in Australia some 50 years ago, Authorised Surveyors running property
>boundary lines, measured distances by means of steel tapes. (Probably sti=
ll
>do.) Flexible steel bands about a quarter of an inch wide, as I recall.
>Great accuracy is possible by allowing for expansion according to the
>ambient temperature, and using a weight over a pulley to obtain a standard
>tension.
>
>But this thin flexible steel was easily kinked, and if a kink was not
>noticed and corrected, and the tape then pulled hard, it would break at th=
e
>kink. Repairs were effected like this:
>
>The Surveyor always carried a supply of small brass sleeves with an openin=
g
>along one side that fitted over the steel tape. The broken ends of the ta=
pe
>were gently hammered flat inserted into the sleeve so that the broken ends
>fitted neatly together and the sleeve soldered in place. As good as new!
>No need to abandon the days work and head for town!
>
>And how was the soldering effected? The Surveyor had a supply of very thi=
n
>wafers of solder of the exact size to wrap around the steel tape and fit
>neatly within brass sleeve. Low melting point solder such that when all w=
as
>in place one merely struck a match and held the flame under the sleeve.
>Solder melts and sets again in place. Job done.
>
>If shops supplying surveying equipment still sell those little solder
>wafers, there may be occasions when with some improvising temporary repair=
s
>to cables etc., could be effected.
>
>BTW, on one recording trip when camped some miles from my vehicle, I had a
>wire come loose from a terminal in a plug. Tracked down the problem, but=
I
>had no little solder wafers. Retrieved a thread from my clothing and
>bound the wire to the terminal. The contact was good enough to let me
>continue recording.
>
>Cheers
>
>Syd Curtis (Brisbane)
>
>
>
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icrophones are not ears,
>Loudspeakers are not birds,
>A listening room is not nature."
>Klas Strandberg
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>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>=20
>
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