Progbusters
New member
basically a wire to a big piece of metal? You heat up a spot on the flat surface of the metal? I can't get the solder to stick onto the big piece of metal. dankes
how do you solder a wire to the base plate?
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King IzzO)))
Ultimate Kitten Puncher
Re: how do you solder a wire to the base plate?
Scratch the plate in the selected area first, solder will then stick there.
This should be in the pickup room.
Scratch the plate in the selected area first, solder will then stick there.
This should be in the pickup room.
Lewguitar
New member
Re: how do you solder a wire to the base plate?
Might be that your soldering tool is to small to heat up a large surface like a baseplate.
I use two different soldering tools when I'm working on guitars.
One for soldering to terminals on pots and switches and a larger one with a 1/4" tip for soldering wires to the back of pots, to tremolo claws and to baseplates.
As mentioned, you should keep a little sandpaper on hand and clean the area of the baseplate you're wanting to attach solder to.
And keep cleaning your soldering tips constantly of the black crap that builds up on them.
Might be that your soldering tool is to small to heat up a large surface like a baseplate.
I use two different soldering tools when I'm working on guitars.
One for soldering to terminals on pots and switches and a larger one with a 1/4" tip for soldering wires to the back of pots, to tremolo claws and to baseplates.
As mentioned, you should keep a little sandpaper on hand and clean the area of the baseplate you're wanting to attach solder to.
And keep cleaning your soldering tips constantly of the black crap that builds up on them.
ginormous
Understatmentologist
Re: how do you solder a wire to the base plate?
edit: snowdog and lew beat me to it.
Use a dab of rosin flux paste on the surface before you solder the joint. Flux is the material that helps solder flow more easily.
Only rosin paste flux is suitable for audio work.
Acid-based flux (like that used for metal pipes) will cause the solder joint to corrode as electricity is passed through it.
This is the stuff most commonly available on electronics supply websites in the US, Kester NXG33.
(photo: kester.com)
A soldering gun is only for big honking metal pieces like trem claws and base plates; inner plastic spacers (such as found inside pots, switches and the like) will melt.
If you try to use it on a strat superswitch or a push/pull pot, you'll wind up buying a replacement... I learned the hard way.
(photo: homedepot.com)
This is a 75-watt gun, which should be more than sufficient. If you use this on a regular basis (like building for friends and so on), you'll need refill tips.
Clean your tips (gun and pencil alike) with a wet sponge.
Practice before you commit, on scrap pieces. Get your technique down.
Trust my error-filled experience, chasing cold solder joints (which degrade easily, and create circuit problems) is a major PITA.
edit: snowdog and lew beat me to it.
Use a dab of rosin flux paste on the surface before you solder the joint. Flux is the material that helps solder flow more easily.
Only rosin paste flux is suitable for audio work.
Acid-based flux (like that used for metal pipes) will cause the solder joint to corrode as electricity is passed through it.
This is the stuff most commonly available on electronics supply websites in the US, Kester NXG33.
(photo: kester.com)
A soldering gun is only for big honking metal pieces like trem claws and base plates; inner plastic spacers (such as found inside pots, switches and the like) will melt.
If you try to use it on a strat superswitch or a push/pull pot, you'll wind up buying a replacement... I learned the hard way.
(photo: homedepot.com)
This is a 75-watt gun, which should be more than sufficient. If you use this on a regular basis (like building for friends and so on), you'll need refill tips.
Clean your tips (gun and pencil alike) with a wet sponge.
Practice before you commit, on scrap pieces. Get your technique down.
Trust my error-filled experience, chasing cold solder joints (which degrade easily, and create circuit problems) is a major PITA.
Artie
Peaveyologist
Re: how do you solder a wire to the base plate?
+1. Also, if it was me, I'd remove the four small screws on the bottom, and separate the coils/mags/bobbins from the baseplate before continuing.
+1. Also, if it was me, I'd remove the four small screws on the bottom, and separate the coils/mags/bobbins from the baseplate before continuing.
El Supremo
New member
Re: how do you solder a wire to the base plate?
Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't solder guns potentially degauss magnets?
Anyway, I'd use at least 40W for that. Actually have a 100W with a big tip at the moment, works like a charm.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't solder guns potentially degauss magnets?
Anyway, I'd use at least 40W for that. Actually have a 100W with a big tip at the moment, works like a charm.
LtKojak
New member
Re: how do you solder a wire to the base plate?
No solder guns should be used when working with magnetic p'ups, specially PAF-types with A2 or A3 magnets, which are particularly sensitive to degaussing.
HTH,
No solder guns should be used when working with magnetic p'ups, specially PAF-types with A2 or A3 magnets, which are particularly sensitive to degaussing.
HTH,
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