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soldering question

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Originally posted by: Ikonomi
Originally posted by: Eli
Originally posted by: Aharami
🙁

apparantly it is rocket science for me!

sheesh. thanks all you guys for the flames. i deserved it
Wait, wait.... you were trying to solder... without having solder?

:laugh:

Sorry. That's pretty funny. 😛 What were you expecting to melt? The wires?! 😕

The tip of the iron. 🙂

Sorry, Aharami. 😛

first time here. i thought the tip os the iron is the solder itself. 😱
no need to be sorry. i deserve all the flames.
 
Originally posted by: Aharami
Originally posted by: Ikonomi
Originally posted by: Eli
Originally posted by: Aharami
🙁

apparantly it is rocket science for me!

sheesh. thanks all you guys for the flames. i deserved it
Wait, wait.... you were trying to solder... without having solder?

:laugh:

Sorry. That's pretty funny. 😛 What were you expecting to melt? The wires?! 😕

The tip of the iron. 🙂

Sorry, Aharami. 😛

first time here. i thought the tip os the iron is the solder itself. 😱
no need to be sorry. i deserve all the flames.
That'd be pretty sh!tty. I know I'd be pissed if I turned on my iron, only to come back to a puddle of solder on my table. :laugh:
 
Well it's cool you're being a good sport about it.

Now just go to Radio Shack and ask for some rosin core solder.
 
It's like it's happening....all over again....it..feels..so...familar

Oh yeah

I would tell you that the search button is your friend but you proly searched for soder.

Soder(that reminds of what my redneck uncle calls soda)
 
You know, I spent like $10 on my soldering iron at wal-mart and it came with enough rosin core solder that I haven't needed to buy more. 25W too.
 
Originally posted by: Eli
Originally posted by: brxndxn
I swear, I've answered this exact question twice before on ATOT..

But, the cheap Radioshack soldering iron is not the problem. Only morons would say you can't solder with a $5 iron. I've soldered a LOT with my $5 Radioshack special - and it works FINE.

Here's the advice: USE FLUX!!! I almost guarantee that you were not using it. Melt a tiny bit of solder to the end of the soldering iron (it will stay there until you need it). Then, apply flux to both parts being soldered. Then, touch both parts together and hold iron on it until smokes. Remove iron and you should have a perfect solder. If not, practice a few times.
I think I've seen you say this in other soldering threads, so..


YOU DON'T NEED TO USE FLUX IF YOU ARE USING ROSIN CORE SOLDER.

There, I feel better now.
Correct you are, put a little solder on the tip of the iron, enough to melt maybe 1/4 inch of solder hold this against the wires, when it is hot enough the excess solder will wick up into the wires.

CAVEAT... if you are trying to solder the fabric based flexible wires used in headphones, you're liable to be frustrated as these "wires" are very hard to solder.
Also, make sure the tip is clean. Get a paper towel, wet it thoroughly, squeeze out the excess, and wipr the tip on it quickly in one motion. The tip should be shiney . NOW apply the solder as mentioned above. and continue. Also, you must heat both wires at the same time and with as much surface area of the iron tip as you can manage.
 
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