Should I solder the end of the flex?

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  • jetnfast
    Senior Member
    • Apr 2013
    • 162

    #1

    Should I solder the end of the flex?

    Hi guys,

    I know this is up for debate, but I am still undecided myself! I cut the measured flex with my dremel then chamfered the tip. From the pics it looks secure and I hope will not come unraveled, but I am thinking about soldering the end. pro's and con's? I am using a hex coupler. I bought some silver brazing solder that melts around 435F and I have my butane torch, so I am thinking about trying to solder the tip on the scrap piece of flex, then going ahead on the actual flex drive, but just not sure its worth it....thoughts??
    Attached Files
  • driftah
    Senior Member
    • Aug 2010
    • 760

    #2
    I dip the end in flux first then solder the end up about half an inch so it grips better in the collet,never heard a con to soldering the end

    Comment

    • Heaving Earth
      Banned
      • Jun 2012
      • 1877

      #3
      Solder/ no solder. Either way is fine.
      You can get rid of the Teflon washer there. It's pointless

      Comment

      • Fluid
        Fast and Furious
        • Apr 2007
        • 8011

        #4
        "Always solder the end of a flex cable" - this from the manufacturer of the best cables in the hobby - Ed Hughey.




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        Comment

        • TheShaughnessy
          Fast Electric Addict!
          • Mar 2011
          • 1431

          #5
          Just do as you have planned, practice on your scrap piece and if it goes well move on to the good one.

          Flexes are the one thing I have trouble soldering. Can never seem to get it to flow in the shaft, not sure if its the solder ( I've tried 40 60 plumbing solder and a rosin core one with 2% silver) the prep ( tried sanding and alcohol, flux. i did get different flux since my last attempt maybe I need to retry) or a lack of skill.

          I've been using an un soldered flex ( collet end) for over a year now without it comming undone.

          Comment

          • Rumdog
            Fast Electric Addict!
            • Mar 2009
            • 6453

            #6
            Never soldered one. Never had a failure.

            Comment

            • Doug Smock
              Moderator
              • Apr 2007
              • 5272

              #7
              Originally posted by Fluid
              "Always solder the end of a flex cable"




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              Comment

              • iop65
                Senior Member
                • Mar 2013
                • 367

                #8
                when you get it to hot the steel gets brittle,the steel loosses it's flex

                never solderd the end , never had a problem

                Comment

                • martin
                  Fast Electric Addict!
                  • Aug 2010
                  • 2887

                  #9
                  If your using silver brazing solder only do the very tip of the flex, don't try & solder down the flex any further like you would when using electrical type solder or the heat will affect the flex. You only need to do the tip anyways with brazing as it wont unwind, also brazing solder takes very well on flexes. Some I braze others I do nothing re soldering & both work fine, just make sure you have good quality cable & prep the end with a nice bevel on the end so as it cant catch & unwind when inserting into the coupling.

                  Comment

                  • jetnfast
                    Senior Member
                    • Apr 2013
                    • 162

                    #10
                    Originally posted by martin
                    If your using silver brazing solder only do the very tip of the flex, don't try & solder down the flex any further like you would when using electrical type solder or the heat will affect the flex. You only need to do the tip anyways with brazing as it wont unwind, also brazing solder takes very well on flexes. Some I braze others I do nothing re soldering & both work fine, just make sure you have good quality cable & prep the end with a nice bevel on the end so as it cant catch & unwind when inserting into the coupling.
                    Great posts and helpful info here guys, thanks!!

                    In my original post I tried to post a macro pic to show how I beveled (chamfered) the tip, hopefully that is good enough...

                    Here is a pic of the solder I bought. It seemed the closest to brazing solder I could find. I have read the silver variety is much better than anything with lead since the lead is softer. Will this stuff work? If not I might just take it back and save $10 or get something different but ACE didn't have many other options...
                    Attached Files

                    Comment

                    • Southwest
                      Senior Member
                      • Sep 2012
                      • 274

                      #11
                      Depends on type of coupler. Some use set screws, other couplers like Octura clasp the flex. Set screws on bare flex can distort shape of flex. Clasp works best on bare flex but can slip if solder is used on ends. You can if you want but then over tightening of clasp may have you talking FRENCH!! I believe power of motor and size of prop will be trial and error.

                      Comment

                      • jetnfast
                        Senior Member
                        • Apr 2013
                        • 162

                        #12
                        ...went ahead and tried the work on a scrap piece of flex, after getting the technique down which was making sure the flex was hot enough to prevent the solder from balling, I went ahead and tinned the actual flex. I think the results turned out well. I figure its cheap insurance to make sure the flex doesn't explode. The key was my $20 mini torch! That thing is money, no way in heck I was going to mess with the soldering iron on this job. After it was all soldered I hit it with the dremel to smooth things out a bit and here is the end result.... I appreciate all the inputs here, even from those who chose not to solder the ends.
                        Attached Files

                        Comment

                        • Cooper
                          Fast Electric Addict!
                          • Jan 2011
                          • 1141

                          #13
                          This is what I use. Soldering the end is good practice when done properly. The solder should not be on the outside of the wire, but should be in between the individual strands and internally. Only spreading a slight way past the coupler being used. Reason is that as said above the solder is softer and if the clasp or set screw is onto the solder it may fail. Simply sand off solder to expose wire when done. The whole purpose for the solder is to make the end that is being clamped solid. As this will give the best possible function of whatever coupler used, screw clamp style or set screw type. The flex will have the tendency to shrink while under load and the solder will not allow the area being used to shrink under load. Now realistically most of our applications are not loading to the point of failure so those that don't solder ends are fine, but as an added security and overall mechanically sound practice it is a very good idea. And on extreme setups necessary. The type of solder is relatively irrelevant as the melting temp isn't of interest, its just to keep the strands of wire from not moving.
                          Attached Files

                          Comment

                          • jetnfast
                            Senior Member
                            • Apr 2013
                            • 162

                            #14
                            Your work looks better than mine! You must have done this a few times before

                            Anyways, good points Cooper. I use you used stay brite? That's what I was looking for but locally unavailable. We only have Lowes and ACE in town. I guess I could have waited and ordered it online from Tower or whatever, but in the end it doesn't matter the type like you said.
                            Last edited by jetnfast; 07-21-2013, 02:13 PM.

                            Comment

                            • Mike Caruso
                              Senior Member
                              • May 2012
                              • 940

                              #15
                              Originally posted by Cooper
                              This is what I use. Soldering the end is good practice when done properly. The solder should not be on the outside of the wire, but should be in between the individual strands and internally. Only spreading a slight way past the coupler being used. Reason is that as said above the solder is softer and if the clasp or set screw is onto the solder it may fail. Simply sand off solder to expose wire when done. The whole purpose for the solder is to make the end that is being clamped solid. As this will give the best possible function of whatever coupler used, screw clamp style or set screw type. The flex will have the tendency to shrink while under load and the solder will not allow the area being used to shrink under load. Now realistically most of our applications are not loading to the point of failure so those that don't solder ends are fine, but as an added security and overall mechanically sound practice it is a very good idea. And on extreme setups necessary. The type of solder is relatively irrelevant as the melting temp isn't of interest, its just to keep the strands of wire from not moving.
                              Perfect!
                              Do It Like You Mean It .....or Don't Bother

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