An electric-arc-based scheme to generate strength-controllable weak polarization mode coupling (PMC) points in polarization maintaining fiber (PMF) is described. The resulting PMC strengths can be readily controlled to be in the very weak range of -60 to -40 dB. In this range, excellent mechanical strength combined with high return loss is achieved. An experimental quasi-distributed temperature sensor is formed by three separate PMC points in a single PMF using the electric arc method.