what do audio guys use to solder? iron size/wattage, solder type, thin vs large power wire techniques?

 

You can use almost any size iron. There is nothing that is heat sensitive so there is not much to worry about. Only use Rosin core or no clean solder. Same goes for flux. Clean your connection with alcohol. You should have a nice clean shiny solder joint. Heat the joint and feed the solder into the joint not the iron.


[Modified by nsxxtreme, 2:17 AM 3/20/2003]

 

is soldering beneficial? i mean, will it make a diference?

 

less resistance. keeps voltages up, so better sq/electricity flow. I haven't soldered anything yet, but I'm going all out on my next install.

Edit: I need to practice. I suck at soldering.
I've attempted to use flux before, but what does it do and how is it used?


[Modified by t0p_sh0tta, 10:25 AM 3/20/2003]

 

Solder itself is a poor conductor. Make sure there is copper to copper contact. On wires you can even use a torch to solder. I use a soldering gun for thick wires and a soldering iron for smaller stuff.

 

just be careful if you do like some people and solider the wires to your speaker terminals. Too hot and you'll disconnect the leads to the voice coil. (as a side note doing this will void infinity's warrenty.. don't know about other makers)

 

This practice, in fact, voids a lot of manufacturers warranties. I used to solder the speaker terminal to the wire and then strap tie the wire to the speaker basket, that way the wires didn't pop off while the speaker was mounted inside the cabinet.

Jon Black



[Modified by Jon Black, 7:43 AM 3/20/2003]

 

haha i used my propane torch and it would just disintegrate the strands (4ga).

i have a 30w cheapo iron and ive stood there for like 2-3min and it still wouldnt get hot enough to melt the solder wire (8ga). is this normal?

 

"what do audio guys use to solder" --- weller makes one of the best portable soldering irons around. you can get it from snap on...


" iron size/wattage"
Stock Number YAKS1
Name Kit, Butane Soldering Iron (25 to 125 Watts)

"solder type"
I use something called "super solder wire"
size: 60 % <----what ever that means... ?
Dia: 1.0 mm


"thin vs large power wire techniques"
normal: (smaller than, say, 12 ga.) just my iron and solder, heat the wire and push solder in to the wire till its full.
fat: ( 10 ga or bigger) I use a portable propane torch (we call them 'tiger torches'... see below...) because its fast, I'll take 4-10 lengths of the normal solder and spin them together in my drill to make a fat rope of solder. for terminals I just heat the ring termial (for example... NOT the wire) for about 10 sec. , and you can actually see see the heat transfer through the terminal, then push solder in to the "hole" where the wire is crimped in. I'll usually add a bit of solder to the 'crack' in the terminal too. Which means no plastic sleeve on the terminal. then tape it up.
Wow, that is really hard to describe with out pics.






[Modified by nOOber, 1:50 PM 3/20/2003]

 

Metcal or Hakko


[Modified by nsxxtreme, 10:49 AM 3/20/2003]

 

i personally don't recommend the butane irons. I use the weller 45 watt irons myself. The butane's exhaust gases are hot, and I have seen people accidentally melt the insulation on nearby wires or plastic parts.