soldering problems

[knotdrummer88 10+ year member]

Im trying to solder my 0 gauge for my big three and im having problems. Im only applying the heat o the back of the terminal, but the solder only melts and stays in that area. It wont spread to the rest of the terminal all the solder is just along the back of the terminal, however it does feel solid. Also, the heated up terminal is burning the **** out of the end of the wire. the top of the wire cover that touches the terminal is all black and real burnt. What am I doing wrong here?

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[ewadz3006 10+ year member]

trying to solder wire that big is a beeotch. what type of soldering gun are you using? or are you using a torch?

 

[knotdrummer88 10+ year member]

Im using a torch

 

[goingdef 10+ year member]

try taping the crap out of the end of the wire leaving about a 1/16 of an inch of sheath, next lightly sand the inside of the terminal and dip the wire in flux now insert the wire and lightly crimp it now heat from the bottom as prior but when it's hot enough you should be able to wick the solder in until it's full, it sounds like you have a cold solder connection heat it up and try again I would trust that one to not pop loose one day.

 

[ewadz3006 10+ year member]

thats what i was going to suggest. sounds like you still may not be getting it hot enough. are you using flux core wire?

 

[goingdef 10+ year member]

thats what i was going to suggest. sounds like you still may not be getting it hot enough. are you using flux core wire?

sorry to correct you but it's rosin paste for cleaning solder connections and rosin filled solder flux core wire is for wire fed mig welding.

 

[knotdrummer88 10+ year member]

im using rosin core solder, and what should i tape the wire with?

 

[ewadz3006 10+ year member]

sorry to correct you but it's rosin paste for cleaning solder connections and rosin filled solder flux core wire is for wire fed mig welding.

your right on the flux for mig. I meant rosin core silver solder i'm a dumas sometimes

 

[goingdef 10+ year member]

im using rosin core solder, and what should i tape the wire with?

most electrical tapes are high temp it's going to burn but not damage the sheath underneath, also don't just heat the bottom heat the whole thing low flame on your torch heat from all sides when it's right test by touching the end of the solder straight down into the wire it should feed right in but I always use rosin paste on my wires it makes a world of difference with the way the solder flows into the wire.

 

[knotdrummer88 10+ year member]

most electrical tapes are high temp it's going to burn but not damage the sheath underneath, also don't just heat the bottom heat the whole thing low flame on your torch heat from all sides when it's right test by touching the end of the solder straight down into the wire it should feed right in but I always use rosin paste on my wires it makes a world of difference with the way the solder flows into the wire.

when i heat the front of it, cause its such a small area the top of the wire sheath starts to melt though. and rosin paste, you mean flux?

 

[akheathen Premium Member]

lol, rosin is a type of flux. so is acid, and zinc chloride. flux is just a general term. i tin the cable first, then tin the terminal, and insert the wire while the terminal is still "wet" and kee the heat on it while feeding solder in. best when terminal is down and wire up, if closed end, and flat, if open. otherwise, you'll be chasing the solder up in the wire forever.i suppose pasting the wire first should work just as well, like plumbing. x2 on not going overkill on the torch. the terminal may need some scuffing if you have oxidized it from heat. i would imagine that is what you are running into with the solder not tinning more of the terminal.

 

[maylar 10+ year member]

By the time you get a wire that big hot enough to wick solder you'll have melted the insulation. Even with solder paste or liquid flux getting solder into inner conductors of the cable is almost impossible. And just coating the outer strands will make the connection brittle.

This is one case where I would prefer a good crimp connection.