View Full Version : Help! I cant solder anymore.
Im trying to bang up some phono cables , pair of cheap ( read crap ) cables and plugs to tide me over until i can afford some from Merk Grant.
Problem is nothing is working correctly. Im trying to tin the wires and i cant even get a nice tin on the tip of my new solder iron. It takes an age for the flux to melt and then the tip goes black instead of a nice silver. The iron is only 18w, is that the problem or is it this new lead free solder?
Thing Fish
18-04-2011, 16:09
I had the same problem the other day with my friends really expensive soldering iron. Which leads me to think it must be the solder?
ourdogmax
18-04-2011, 16:21
It's the solder most probably.
Lead free has a higher melting point, also depends how thick the solder is.
I hate it and scour car boot sales for good o'l leaded stuff.
I now have enough to last years.
Interesting. Where can you buy good old fashioned toxic solder these days!
Actually theres a few places on the web selling Draper lead/tin solder.
I think people imagine a level of control thats not there. Your can still buy lead solder from RS
http://uk.rs-online.com/web/search/searchBrowseAction.html?method=getProduct&R=0557118
Actually theres a few places on the web selling Draper lead/tin solder.
colin
pm your address and I will send you some i/c's to tide you over, some cheapo ones of course as I don't want to rob mark of a sale
or i can post you some furutech solder f.o.c
the soldering iron needs to be hot and clean!
The trouble with modern lead-free solder is that it has a much higher melting point than the good old lead solder of yore before all these new fangled regulations came into force. All well and good, but the flux doesn't seem to tolerate the higher heat requirement and readily burns off in an instant, so you have to keep shoving more fresh solder onto the joint just to keep the flux active to do it's job it's supposed to do.
It was difficult enough back in them "leaded" days to get a perfect solder joint, but you need finely honed expert soldering skills now to achieve the same result.
Frank,
This is not a shameless plug but I got some Oayide solder a few weeks back and it is really easy to work with, I never use the cheapo stuff myself.
I use low melting point solder from RS, which I bought years ago. If this is still available (2% silver in my case), it's perfect for fine wires and plugs. You do need a more powerful soldering iron though IMO and with a small screwdriver-style bit ideally. I currently use a variable temp iron from Maplin. OK for light use, but would fall apart in daily service-dept use as we had..
Frank,
This is not a shameless plug but I got some Oayide solder a few weeks back and it is really easy to work with, I never use the cheapo stuff myself.
I was hoping to but a Furutech brush of you today , i could have bought some soldr at the same time. Unfortunatly ive got a non payer on my ebay sale for the second time :steam:
Have to wait now.
I was hoping to but a Furutech brush of you today , i could have bought some soldr at the same time. Unfortunatly ive got a non payer on my ebay sale for the second time :steam:
Have to wait now.
Shit happens mate, e-bay is a pain in the arse but a necessary evil!
Reid Malenfant
18-04-2011, 19:29
Anyone who is going to do more than an odd bit of soldering should think about investing in something like a Weller TCP ;) Different bits are available that will take the thing to a much higher temperature & it's thermostatically controlled.
With 50W to play with i have had no problems soldering up to 6mm^2 wire :eyebrows:
Anyone who is going to do more than an odd bit of soldering should think about investing in something like a Weller TCP ;) Different bits are available that will take the thing to a much higher temperature & it's thermostatically controlled.
With 50W to play with i have had no problems soldering up to 6mm^2 wire :eyebrows:
Weller. Thats the ones we used as a apprentice. Shit hot they were.
Reid Malenfant
18-04-2011, 19:33
Weller. Thats the ones we used as a apprentice. Shit hot they were.
:exactly:
Shit happens mate, e-bay is a pain in the arse but a necessary evil!
Sorry , didnt see your post. Broadband is crap tonight. Wanted to watch movie on Lovefilm but its telling me it cant buffer. ( whats it mean when broad band upload speed is ok, 12, but download speed is crap ,52, :scratch:)
I screwed some plugs of some old Cambridge pacifics but i would appreciate a wee bit of solder :)
I dont know why im such a whinny bitch tonight. Ive got a new sound sytem and a choice of intoxicants to take my pick from. I should be happy :)
Reid Malenfant
18-04-2011, 19:45
Ive got a new sound sytem and a choice of intoxicants to take my pick from. I should be happy :)
Nothing like a good mix & match to get you rocking :eyebrows: Put on some good tunes & forget about your worries Colin ;)
Ha Ha ive been accepted on a second offer. Im rich :eyebrows:
Reid Malenfant
18-04-2011, 20:23
Time to celibrate with those intoxicants of yours then me thinks :lolsign:
Frank,
This is not a shameless plug but I got some Oayide solder a few weeks back and it is really easy to work with, I never use the cheapo stuff myself.
I only used the lead-free rubbish for a short while David and luckily I have a decent stash of the leaded stuff when I do need to solder :eyebrows:
I just read the sellers feedback and its a lass and the last thing she bought was a pole dancing pole.:stalks:
I believe only manufacturers have to use lead free solder. I got 60/40 1mm lead solder from B&Q!
Techno Commander
19-04-2011, 11:00
Its the solder. Get rid of it and buy some good old fashioned stuff with lead in it.
It is still freely available and much better then the lead free stuff.
Techno Commander
19-04-2011, 11:07
I believe only manufacturers have to use lead free solder.
Correct. Although we are actually exempt under the "critical reliability" clause and continue to use the "good stuff".:)
We do have a very good fume extraction system though.
Rare Bird
19-04-2011, 12:26
There's only one solder i use, i'll never use anything else.
Trying to save money this month but by the time i buy more powerful iron......
I need 5m cable between phono stage and amp. The grey Belkin AV cables are ok for audio? Or will impedence be to high ?
Reid Malenfant
19-04-2011, 13:14
It's being driven by an active stage, 5m won't be a problem ;)
Cheers Mark.
Just so i understand, a cable used for analogue audio, does it matter if its 50ohm or 75ohm , as in the video stuff like belkin ?
Reid Malenfant
19-04-2011, 14:24
No, it just doesn't matter one jot :cool:
A 60/40 or 63/37 is what you need.
SN62 for any silver wires.
Paul.
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