what kind of solder wire to use?

[tauket2]

Hey guys,

I was installing my brand new Hot Rails pickup in my telecaster today when i came across a little problem. No matter how hard i pressed, how much flux i put, or how much solder i put on my contacts, the wires just wouldnt stick to the prongs.

Now, my question is, is there a specific type of solder wire than i need to use, that is compatible with the metal the SD pickup wires are made from?

right now i am using Rosin type solder wire. am i supposed to use something else?

thank you,
-chris-

 

[nepalnt21]

Re: what kind of solder wire to use?

regular 60/40 rosin core is the standard type. you dont need flux at all, because its already got that in it. not sure, but that might be the problem. is it melting? if not, then its the iron.

 

[tauket2]

Re: what kind of solder wire to use?

oh it's melting allright, it's just not sticking AT ALL. there is absolutely no resistance. it's like of the things im trying to solder are made of teflon or something.

-chris-

 

[SpiderVenom]

Re: what kind of solder wire to use?

You are heating the connection and applying the solder to that, as opposed to melting solder onto a cold connecting, right?

You could try scruffing up the prongs with sandpaper lightly.

 

[tauket2]

Re: what kind of solder wire to use?

actually i was melting the solder onto a cold connection. am i supposed to do the opposite? and thanks for the sandpaper tip.

also, my iron is 100 watts. should i be using just a 30 watt one?

EDIT: when trying to ground a connection, wouldnt heating up the casing to one of my pots kill the pot?

-chris-

 

[nepalnt21]

Re: what kind of solder wire to use?

holy crap man 100 watts? i just use a 30 watter and it works fine. dont use flux.

 

[Artie]

Re: what kind of solder wire to use?

As Spider said, you must heat the connection first. The tip of the iron must be "tinned" also. That is, covered with a thin layer of wet solder. You bring the terminal and the wire all up to the same temperature, and then the solder will "flow" into the connection.

 

[Chaos]

Re: what kind of solder wire to use?

Soldering is not “glue”. You are not bonding things together through adhesion. The ‘donor’ metals in the terminal, wire and solder combine to make an alloy uniting all three (mechanically and electrically) into one.
This can only happen when all three components are brought up to the melting temp of the solder.

 

[tauket2]

Re: what kind of solder wire to use?

ok, i really dont know what is wrong. for the past half hour i've been trying to solder my output jack ground to the back of my volume pot, and it simple wont stay put.

-chris-

 

[tauket2]

Re: what kind of solder wire to use?

allright, i've worked something out. thanks alot for the help

-chris-

 

[BachToRock]

Re: what kind of solder wire to use?

To qoute Spicoli...

People on ludes should not drive...