Best Soldering Practices

[Mentat]

What are some Best Soldering Practices? It seems that i have been having issues with my 6.5mm bullets coming off my batteries, im wondering if its something to do with how i am soldering it to begin with? I can tell you right now that i do not solder or "tin" the wire at all. i usally heat up the "CUP" side of the bullet and melt the solder into it, then stick the wire in and let it cool. Would using some kind of Flux help? HELP!!!

[BL_RV0]

You always should tin the wires.

[Mentat]

whats the best way to do this? I cant seem to get the wire blanketed with solder, only globs here and there, LOL!

[BL_RV0]

Put some solder on your iron, press the wire onto a hard surface and press the iron into it.

sounds like you dont have enough heat.

I clean everytihng with rubbing alcohol before starting to solder anything!

[Mentat]

i have a 100w iron and a 30w iron. Ill try the cleaning in rubbing alcohol. what about Flux?

Originally Posted by Mentat

i have a 100w iron and a 30w iron. Ill try the cleaning in rubbing alcohol. what about Flux?

eh...i never use it.......

[E-Revonut]

Rosin core solder works fine, no flux needed its already there. Heat up the wire with the iron till the solder will melt by touching it to the wire. Then get the bullet hotter than hell! I use a small butane lighter to help get the bullets up to temp then fill them with solder, heat the wire/solder up again a little and then stick it in. Another important step is to keep it all still while the solder cools and hardens. 6.5mm bullets are just a pita imo, however doing it like this I have never had a bad connection or had one come apart.

[J57ltr]

Number 1 Tin the wires. Use flux That's probably why you are having so many problems,the flux will melt and wick throughout the wire and allow the solder to flow evenly. Flux is what floats the contaminats away from the metal and keeps O2 from getting to the work. That's why it's used in all forms (be it sheilding gas or flux) of welding (except Spot). As far as using rubbing alcohol, maybe for cleaning off the flux after you are finished. Also use a quality solder like Multicore or Kester, And make sure you are not using lead free unless you know what you are doing it solders quite a bit different. Use a damp sponge to clean your tip.

Jeff

[Mentat]

Thanks for the info. I was kinda wondering about the whole flux thing. Any Flux you would recommend? and Ill look into getting that solder you mentioned as well. Thanks!

[Snipin_Willy]

I don't generally use flux. Getting the solder to "flow" requires more heat that it makes to melt it. If I had a video cam I'd take a video but I'm sure there are already plenty out there.

[What's_nitro?]

Use your 100W iron. Always tin the wires first- get about 1/4" of the wire full of solder. For bullets, I heat them up and fill them about 1/2 way with solder then stick the tinned wire into the pool of solder. Keep the iron on it for a few seconds to melt the tinned wire and make a good connection. Pretty much the same thing you do, but the tinned wire makes the difference between a good connection and what's called a "cold joint" that falls apart. The 60/40 rosin core solder works fine. IMO using separate flux is unnecessary. If you don't have one already get one of those "helping hands" things with the alligator clips to hold parts while you solder them. You can actually hold the wire in one clip, the bullet in another, and move the arms so that the wire is already inside the cup of the bullet. Then just heat it up (a lot) and fill it with solder.

[brushlessboy16]

keep heat on the wire until the globs of solder flow smoothly into the strands of the wire, then tin the bullet connector. Keep heat on the cup and insert the tinned wire- watch as the solder from the wire melts and blends with the solder in the cup. then let cool