+++++++++++++++++++++ Reply-To: "Ron D'Eau Claire" From: "Ron D'Eau Claire" To: "Mike McCoy" , Subject: Re: [Elecraft] twisting wires for KAT2 Toroid Date: Sat, 4 May 2002 09:19:06 -0700 > I'm at the step where I twist the wires together for T1 (on the ATU control > board)... Anyone have any surefire tip(s) for twisting the 2 wires together that > result in a consistent turns per inch? > Mike - AT5IU I clamp one end in my drill chuck and the other end in a vise. Pull them fairly taught and run the drill (Not too fast! I use a Makita on slow speed. An old hand-crank drill would work fine too). Makes a nice, uniform twist and you have good control over the turns per inch. The wire will unwrap only slightly when you take the tension off. For really short bits of twisted wire, I have good results holding the two wire ends in one hand, then spreading the two wires out at equal angles from the line of the twisted pair. Then I grab both wires and twist them around holding them equally flared out. Don't let one wire go 'straight' or the other wire will simply wrap around it like you describe. The drill method is so quick that I avoid doing them by "hand". Ron AC7AC K2 # 1289 ++++++++++++++++++ Reply-To: "Ron D'Eau Claire" From: "Ron D'Eau Claire" To: "Mike McCoy" , Subject: Re: [Elecraft] twisting wires for KAT2 Toroid Date: Sat, 4 May 2002 09:19:06 -0700 > I'm at the step where I twist the wires together for T1 (on the ATU control > board)... Anyone have any surefire tip(s) for twisting the 2 wires together that > result in a consistent turns per inch? > Mike - AT5IU I clamp one end in my drill chuck and the other end in a vise. Pull them fairly taught and run the drill (Not too fast! I use a Makita on slow speed. An old hand-crank drill would work fine too). Makes a nice, uniform twist and you have good control over the turns per inch. The wire will unwrap only slightly when you take the tension off. For really short bits of twisted wire, I have good results holding the two wire ends in one hand, then spreading the two wires out at equal angles from the line of the twisted pair. Then I grab both wires and twist them around holding them equally flared out. Don't let one wire go 'straight' or the other wire will simply wrap around it like you describe. The drill method is so quick that I avoid doing them by "hand". Ron AC7AC K2 # 1289 +++++++++++++++++ From: "Mike McCoy" To: "Bob Tellefsen" , Subject: Re: [Elecraft] twisting wires for KAT2 Toroid Date: Sat, 4 May 2002 20:01:15 -0500 Per a previous recommendation that's exactly how I did it and it turned out perfect. Thanks! Mike - AD5IU ++++++++++++++++ From: "Stuart Rohre" To: "Ron D'Eau Claire" , "Mike McCoy" , Subject: Re: [Elecraft] twisting wires for KAT2 Toroid Date: Mon, 6 May 2002 13:58:57 -0500 What you do is slowly take the tension off, and the wire will try to tie itself into a spring or loops, but if you gradually loosen the tension, and let the wire relax, before unclamping from the vise and drill, it will be manageable. 72, Stuart K5KVH ++++++++++++++++++