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Re: Lifetime resistor supply

 

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I always wondered why my resistor end pieces were copper coated steel when I found I could pick up the pieces with a magnet¡­¡­. Must save a ton of money over the years of production. ?Copper coated steel is used in the antenna wire I buy from The Antenna Man and many wire antenna manufacturing companies use it too. ?I have never seen any corrosion even when portions of the wire were exposed to Michigan weather. Maybe a better copper coating??? ?So I doubt any of the POTA/SOTA projects would get enough water and air exposure to ¡°rust¡± to otherwise deteriorate. ?

This is a fun observation but wonder how much effect it really has on our radio builds. ?
Keep writing. I am learning. ?But will still use up my resistor kits that magnets can pick up (if the Good Lord gives me another 20 years¡­.. I am 80 now) until they are gone. Then may be using only SMD parts without leads. ?They are fun too. ?I don¡¯t shake yet but can¡¯t see or hear well so my wife confines me to the basement shack (until her iPhone or iPad has a problem. Then I am a hero).?

Just thought of the few things written above and with the world mess as it is everyone needs a laugh this morning. ?Hope it worked. ?Silky antenna wire is the berries in my book.

Dave K8WPE


On Mar 23, 2025, at 1:02?AM, Terry VK5TM <vk5tm@...> wrote:

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My experience with coated steel is that they rust and the problem with that is it can cause the leads to rust through/break over time - it gets worse if you build something for portable use and use that out in damp/wet weather, regardless of whether you are under cover.
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As for brands, that I can't say off the top of my head as I normally buy a minimum 1000 per value from a wholesaler that supplies to industry , the packaging doesn't have any manufacturer branding on the last lot I bought.
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For smaller quantities you'll be looking at the likes of Digikey, Mouser etc but their resistor kits aren't particularly cheap.
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On Sun, Mar 23, 2025 at 01:59 PM, chuck adams wrote:
Yes, they are the coated steel leads.? Didn't know that would be or was a problem.
I checked and Amazon does have free return policy on them.

Is there a particular brand that you found that guarantees the plated copper
leads?
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Terry VK5TM
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