solder recommendation

[colinB]

I just bought some sennheiser 25s of ebay and felt a right plonker when i saw the 3m cable. Im planning on cutting it back and sticking a new plug on it and so i need some solder. The maplins stuff i bought last time did not melt very well at all. Dont know if it was the flux or the high silver content but i need something quicker when then that with these small wires.
Any suggestions?

[YNWaN]

I would (and do) use standard 60/40 solder - RS components sell it.

[StanleyB]

If it's only a plug you are going to solder then either pop round if you pass close by.

Mind you I use a three meter cable on one of my headphones so that I can lie on in my bean bag and operate the CDP with a remote.

[colinB]

Thanks gents. For home use ive got my Denons and i wish the lead on that was longer. The sennheisers are for portable use and thats a lot of cable to stuff in the pocket.

[Ali Tait]

I use the WBT silver stuff which flows no problem. What iron are you using?

[colinB]

Its a 18w antex. Absolute shite compared with the vari temp Wellers i once used down at Rosyth.

[bobbasrah]

Its a 18w antex. Absolute shite compared with the vari temp Wellers i once used down at Rosyth.

You were in Rosyth and didn't manage to nick one? :scratch:

[colinB]

If i wanted to nick something i got my dad to do it. The police didnt stop your car if you had a Naval uniform with bits of gold on it.

[bobbasrah]

If i wanted to nick something i got my dad to do it. The police didnt stop your car if you had a Naval uniform with bits of gold on it.

Ah yes I remember the ModPlods well....:rolleyes: The reaction of some to scrambled egg was priceless, as if prompted by cattle prod....;)

[Ali Tait]

I'd recommend a higher wattage, say 40w.

[colinB]

Thanks Ali. These headphones are turning out to be an expensive buy.

[Ali Tait]

I use one of these, works well -

http://www.maplin.co.uk/48w-lcd-display-solder-station-219133?c=maplin&utm_source=gcs&utm_medium=gcs_search&utm_campaign=N34FB&utm_content=Temperature+Controlled+Irons+%26+Solde r+Stations

[YNWaN]

I pretty much always use a Weller 25w iron for everything - never had any problems.

[Yomanze]

I pretty much always use a Weller 25w iron for everything - never had any problems.

Me too. I have used a Weller SP 25 for a long time, but I do have a soldering station on the way... have a feeling it won't be better.

[Yomanze]

I just bought some sennheiser 25s of ebay and felt a right plonker when i saw the 3m cable. Im planning on cutting it back and sticking a new plug on it and so i need some solder. The maplins stuff i bought last time did not melt very well at all. Dont know if it was the flux or the high silver content but i need something quicker when then that with these small wires.
Any suggestions?

I colin, I can send you a length of Cardas Quad Eutectic solder if you want.

It is VERY easy to work with and has silver & copper in it along with tin and lead.

About as much of a plonker as myself having just bought a lovely Hammered centre tapped transformer... a 115v one.

[YNWaN]

I've used a couple of temp controlled solder stations in the past and didn't find them any better than just using a standard iron and not holding the heat on for any longer than necessary.

[colinB]

I colin, I can send you a length of Cardas Quad Eutectic solder if you want.

It is VERY easy to work with and has silver & copper in it along with tin and lead.

About as much of a plonker as myself having just bought a lovely Hammered centre tapped transformer... a 115v one.

Oops. Yes i would be grateful for a wee bit Neil.
Got a Neutrik right angle 3.5 plug on its way im hoping it has a decent clamping system.

[Rare Bird]

Its a 18w antex. Absolute shite compared with the vari temp Wellers i once used down at Rosyth.

When people want to solder bull rope with em sure they are but i think it's a great iron for tonearm wire jobs..

[Yomanze]

Oops. Yes i would be grateful for a wee bit Neil.
Got a Neutrik right angle 3.5 plug on its way im hoping it has a decent clamping system.

Cool, just PM me your address.

[colinB]

Thought id prep my cable tonight. Its more difficult than i thought!
The hd25 cable is steel and without the malleability of copper its nigh on impossible to wrap the two earth cables together and get them to stay in the solder tag which has no hole in it just a cup shape to hold the cables.
They just spring back into whatever shape or direction they fancy , little buggers.

[StanleyB]

Be careful with how much heat you use by the way and for how long. The wire that goes into the headphone transducer can easily heat up to such an extent that it causes permanent and catastrophic damage to the transducer. Plastic melts under that heat and the glue that keeps the transducer coil nice and round can give way.
I am speaking from personal experience as a repair engineer by the way, but I am of course not suggesting that you would be less careful or unfortunate than technicians that I have observed doing a similar modification.

[colinB]

Im just touching these wires with the heat for a second and no more.
Glad you told me though as i have another little project. Managed to get hold of the cable used on the Denon hd-7000 phones and was planning on sticking it on my Denon hd-2000 together with some wooden cups to replace the plastic ones.
I will make sure im extra careful, thanks.