Help I can not solder.....argg

[boater76]

I am having a hell of a time soldering. I can't seem to solder worth a bleep. I am trying to add 3 capicitors and 2 tubes for cooling. Anyone know where I can get help to solder or what a good wattage iron to use? I got a 150 watt from Harbor Freighte but the casing heats up fast and seems to take too long. I am fustrated to all heck. Any help would be great. Thanks.

Ken

[LJH]

Ken,
I use to have the same trouble when I first started soldering, but with practice you can get good at it. First off I use a cheap 40W Weller soldering iron that can be found at Rat Shack or HD, I have never needed more power then this even when soldering cells end to end. Secondly you will need a good electronic solder found at Rat Shack, get the stuff without flux. Also get a can of electronic flux while you are there. Heat the iron up for the first time and apply solder to the tip aslo get a small kitchen sponge and wet it. As you apply solder to the tip wipe it off on the sponge till the hole tip is well tinned. Then unplug the iron and let it cool. Once the tinning process is complete you are good to go. Having just soldered cooling tubes to my brushes a couple weeks ago I will tell you what I did, First I used my dremel tool with a flapper sanding wheel and lightly sanded the surfaces to be soldered, then I apply a small amount of flux to the tube as well as the brush holder and slightly heat it till the flux melts then wipe the tip clean on the sponge. get some solder on the tip and try to heat the brush and tube evenly and the solder should be wicked into the joint. I have found that always having a wet sponge it really the biggest thing you can do to make great solder joints. Hope this helps.

Cheers,
Jim

[Quicksilver]

I use a sponge as well, which is great but wear pants, solder hurts when it flings on your legs. :) I have some tips, make sure the iron is hot, especially when soldering anything big, like cells, I use the 40w weller also and I only use the big heavy tip, I find I have better overall luck in all joints. Mind you, for capacitors and such it's overkill so you have to be quick. Also if you can get something too hot, which will make you think you're doing something wrong, but the solder will burn and the parts you're soldering may turn to a darker galvanized color. In this case cool the iron down, clean the parts again with sand paper and re-tin the tip.

[jamesbernatchez]

Im using a cheap 80 watt iron and a big fat tip. It transfers the heat quicker and makes the job easier. I solder deans plugs, wires, battery bars, capacitators, etc with the same tip with no problems. Make sure your using 60/40 rosin core solder also and make sure the solder isnt too thick. For batteries, I use a sanding drum in my dremel to scuff the positive and negative sides to allow the solder to adhere better.

[Fluid]

Make certain you are using electrical solder, not plumbers solder or silver solder. I use rosin core myself, I've assembled ca. 100 packs, motors, etc. with it and never a problem in over 30 years of R/C soldering.


.

[paulwilliams]

I am having a hell of a time soldering. I can't seem to solder worth a bleep. I am trying to add 3 capicitors and 2 tubes for cooling. Anyone know where I can get help to solder or what a good wattage iron to use? I got a 150 watt from Harbor Freighte but the casing heats up fast and seems to take too long. I am fustrated to all heck. Any help would be great. Thanks.

Ken

To quote my old metalwork teacher from school, successful soldering requires "the three Cs: cleanliness, closeness and centigrade".

150 watts is far too much heat for what you are trying to do - I only use an 80w iron for soldering cells end-to-end, for everything else a 40w or 25w. You need enough heat, but not too much - not the most useful statement I agree, but you get my meaning? So, use a smaller iron, pre-tin everything and as Fluid says, use 5-core electrical solder. Make sure everything is clean and free from grease.

Paul

[SJFE]

I am a bull in a china shop when it comes to soldering. I use a 240 watt gun for packs and heavy gauge wire, even deans connectors. You have to be quick and verry ginger with that much heat. For the smaller stuff I use a 150 watt digital solsering station. I like to have the option of setting the temp. Taking your time is one of the most importent things about soldering. I am impatient.....:D

[ReddyWatts]

Make sure to get both of the pieces evenly hot. You cab get a "Cold Joint", if one is not hot enough. This means the connection can break loose or become high resistance over time.

[boater76]

Well I got the tubes and caps soldered on. It took yesterday and today to do it. I also got the wires done as well. For some reason they gave me the most problems. Although I do thing there is too much solder. How is that going to affect current etc? I will get pics up tommorrow of my work...if you call it that. LOL.

Ken

[boater76]

I used my 30 watt cheapo iron to do the work.

Ken

[saleens7]

Well I got the tubes and caps soldered on. It took yesterday and today to do it. I also got the wires done as well. For some reason they gave me the most problems. Although I do thing there is too much solder. How is that going to affect current etc? I will get pics up tommorrow of my work...if you call it that. LOL.

Ken

i know how you feel about the wires no soldering...tool me 20 tries an a whole new deans plug before i could get it to stay on...:D

[Mich. Maniac]

Thats awesome! I started a thread of this myself. Guess what! I can solder like no ones biz now thanks to all your wise words and patience. lots of patience!