…from the users of 985
- Contour gauge… for copying complex contours
- Practicalantennas.com/construction/masts/ – help with winding up cables, wires, and more…
- Forj Thermoplastic tape – thermal plastic tape – use with a heat gun
- Goo Gone — for removing adhesive residues, etc.
- WD-40 – cleaning saw tabletops, old radios with black crinkle finishes; for loosening bolts, cleaning permanent marker off equipment panels (spray WD-40 on a rag and wipe with the rag)
- PB Blaster — for loosening rusted bolts, shafts, etc.
- DeOxit D5 Contact Cleaner
- Jewelers Screwdrivers — come in handy often
- Epoxy on the end of a dowel — for extracting something broken off…
- Beeswax — apply to old dial cords to stop them from slipping; also put some on the end of a nail to avoid splitting the wood — some old hammers had a hole in the end of the handle for beeswax!
- Solder choice: Kester 44, rosin core – industrial standard
- SharkBite plumbing fitting removal: try an open-end adjustable wrench — tighten so it just slides along the pipe; pull up against the SharkBite fitting to remove
- Mr Clean Magic Eraser for cleaning cabinets and such
- Use a glue syringe-needle for applying cleaner, oil, etc, just where it is needed
- GoJo hand cleaner (without pumice!!) – for cleaning dirty wooden antique radio cabinets!
- Conductive grease from Palstar – for lubricating roller inductors and other sliding contacts
- Toothbrushes— one (A) to apply a cleaner/polish, second (P) to polish
- Use a second radio to check the audio of the transmitted signal on the first; care must be taken to avoid feedback caused by the radio used to monitor your signal!
W3GMS REPEATER in Parkesburg, PA 