why cant i solder correctly?

[Jeff7]

Get some wire to experiment on.
Heat up the wire toward the end, then push the solder against the wire opposite the soldering iron, so that the diameter of the wire is between the iron and the solder.

Once the wire is hot enough, it'll melt the solder and wick it right up.


How many watts is this soldering iron?

 

[Colt45]

get the most surface area of the iron on the wire (i.e. flat part)

put just a touch of solder on the iron, while you're warming the wire.. this makes a 'heat bridge'. like simulated more surface area.

bring the solder to the other side, wire should be hot by now and stick.


if you do that, and it still doesnt work, you've got some ****** wire thats oxidized bigtime. copper shouldnt be black. anyways, if the wire is bad enough, rosin wont help, youve gotta clean it with sandpaper.

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

http://www.elecraft.com/Apps/K2info.html Click on the soldering tutorial.

http://www.apogeekits.com/downloads.htm Click on soldering tutorial near the top.

http://www.epemag.wimborne.co.uk/solderfaq.htm

The fun will soon begin as all hardware becomes RoHS compliant 😉
That means lead free solder with higher melt temp.


...Galvanized

 

[Squisher]

I'm with those that said to use flux even if it is rosin core solder, but on wires I use soldering acid. It's a lot less messy.

The 3 oz. bottle I have has lasted 20 years and is still half full.

 

[biggestmuff]

Originally posted by: 91TTZ
Use flux.

I've done plenty of soldering and solder won't stick to a dirty joint, no matter what the temperature is.

Either get it perfectly clean, or just use flux.

QFT.


Flux it. Brush some flux onto the parts that you want the solder to stick to. When the parts are heated, the flux will melt and the solder will coat the parts where the flux was. The parts will then join. Do not blow on the parts to cool them. Let them air cool.

 

[Eli]

Should've replied to this thread earlier, thought it would just die.

The only thing you need to know while soldering simple things like wires is that the solder will flow where the heat is.

Do NOT touch the solder to the soldering iron tip except maybe to help the heat transfer along. Do not put solder on the tip of the iron and then try and use it like glue.

Based on your previous posts, even though the connection may seem solid now.. you probably have a cold solder joint; very susceptible to failure.. especially in an automotive environment(hot, cold, vibration, etc).