- Sep 28, 2001
- 8,464
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- 106
I am not a newb when it comes to DIY and I do electronics stuff incl. soldering since...well since I can think. I don't remember ever having this problem.
The problem is in particular fixing *'**/!%%!" headset wires. Since we have cats, I fix on avg. 400 headsets per week since they chew through cords. Ok, sorta, but you get the idea.
I have a no-frills soldering station, but for the other stuff, in this case the solder, I rely on a Chinese dollar store around the corner. (And this is not meant derogatory or whatever, but the Chinese dollarstore carries stuff of the lowest quality, is just a fact)
So, those darn headset wires have laquer (SP?) on them which I need to burn off, I also tried with nail polish remover but this doesn't work. After I burn the insulation off, I wipe the ends of the wires it with alcohol to get the black gunk from the burning off.
The problem is, I can solder until blue in the face, the wire simply doesn't "take" the solder, whatsoever. I have no problems soldering other stuff like boards when I replace caps, whatever, but soldering these wires together is virtually impossible.
Is it the solder I am using, do I need a better one which has flux in it? (The one I have has something in it but I don't know what it is)), all I know is that I cannot solder two simple wires.
So, the store also has something for soldering, it is a solid, HARD chunk of "rosin" (colophony) i guess.. I tried to use it, but don't even know how since it's hard as a rock. I tried to dissolve some of it with alcohol to make a paste, but this doesn't work either.
I remember from years ago when I did soldering work, I had quality solder and the flux was the consistency of vaseline. You simply dipped a wire end into it and everything worked beautifully. Should I simply get quality solder/flux and all my problems are solved? What is it I do wrong trying to connect simple headset wires?
It's something which ****es me off to no end because I must have spent 1-2 hours today for something which shouldn't take longer than 5 minutes. (Also, when I "drill" the ends together without soldering, the connection is more than finicky, suggesting that there is still insulation on the wires despite me having it burnt off)
The problem is in particular fixing *'**/!%%!" headset wires. Since we have cats, I fix on avg. 400 headsets per week since they chew through cords. Ok, sorta, but you get the idea.
I have a no-frills soldering station, but for the other stuff, in this case the solder, I rely on a Chinese dollar store around the corner. (And this is not meant derogatory or whatever, but the Chinese dollarstore carries stuff of the lowest quality, is just a fact)
So, those darn headset wires have laquer (SP?) on them which I need to burn off, I also tried with nail polish remover but this doesn't work. After I burn the insulation off, I wipe the ends of the wires it with alcohol to get the black gunk from the burning off.
The problem is, I can solder until blue in the face, the wire simply doesn't "take" the solder, whatsoever. I have no problems soldering other stuff like boards when I replace caps, whatever, but soldering these wires together is virtually impossible.
Is it the solder I am using, do I need a better one which has flux in it? (The one I have has something in it but I don't know what it is)), all I know is that I cannot solder two simple wires.
So, the store also has something for soldering, it is a solid, HARD chunk of "rosin" (colophony) i guess.. I tried to use it, but don't even know how since it's hard as a rock. I tried to dissolve some of it with alcohol to make a paste, but this doesn't work either.
I remember from years ago when I did soldering work, I had quality solder and the flux was the consistency of vaseline. You simply dipped a wire end into it and everything worked beautifully. Should I simply get quality solder/flux and all my problems are solved? What is it I do wrong trying to connect simple headset wires?
It's something which ****es me off to no end because I must have spent 1-2 hours today for something which shouldn't take longer than 5 minutes. (Also, when I "drill" the ends together without soldering, the connection is more than finicky, suggesting that there is still insulation on the wires despite me having it burnt off)
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