Soldering Problem

[vibez]

I'm trying my 1st attempt at soldering. I'm trying to tin some wires. I've tinned & cleaned my iron.

I put the wire on the iron for about 1-2 seconds then then apply the solder to the wire for 1-2 seconds. The problem is that the solder jumps straight from the wire on to the iron's tip, leaving no solder on the wire at all.

Any idea what is causing this?

[grueinthebox]

Sounds like you need to heat the wire longer.  If you get the wire hot enough, you'll be able to touch the solder to the wire and it'll wick into the wire itself.  1-2 seconds isn't long enough to get the wire hot enough.

[vibez]

Ok i'll give that a try. All the guides I have read say that the iron shouldn't be in contact with any components for longer than 3 secs or you will damage them. I guess that doesnt apply with wire?

[RayB]

You can't damage wire (other than melting the rubber off it).

They are referring to stuff like chips, capacitors, etc, where heating for too long damages those parts.

Just as the solder melts, remove the iron quickly. Don't give it a chance to seep up onto it.

[vibez]

Cheers guys. I'll give it another go tommorow & let you know how I get on

[ShinAce]

Here's what I recommend for a smooth job.

1) Heat up the iron as much as possible. Let it sit, set it to 60 watts, do what you gotta do to get it hot.

2) Clean tip. If it's a copper tip, sand it before heating. If the tip is tinned, wipe it on a wet sponge once it's hot.

3) lay the tip of the solder on the wire. Now bring your iron down on the solder as to sandwich it between the wire and iron. It'll melt instantly, to th iron and touching the wire. Now wait 2-3 seconds, and apply solder to the wire.

[SirPeale]

At my new job I've been doing a lot of soldering, so I've been getting a lot of practice. 

What ShinAce holds true; get the iron good and hot!  And make sure your tip is clean.  You can use a sponge (what I always used) but now I certainly prefer a cleaning pot.  It looks like brass wool in a pot, and you stick the tip into it and the tip gets nice and clean.

Also, since this is your first attempt at soldering, I can emphasis only one thing: PRACTICE!  Everyone thinks it'll be a very simple thing to do.  It's not!  Solder flows UP, first of all.  It's the same thing as when you have a drop of water on a surface, and you touch it with your finger.  The water sticks to your finger.  Something about the surface tension and the wicking action.

Don't touch the solder to the iron.  Heat the part, not the solder.  Although you may have to get a little solder on the tip to conduct heat.

[Minwah]

OK on the subject, I'm gonna jump in with a question.

I have a little gas soldering iron (SolderPro or something).  Anyway, it works very well as a rule.  However, I keep messing up the soldering tips...I believe they keep going 'non-wetting' - the tip goes black and it limits the heat transfer from the tip.

I've been very careful lately not to have the iron too hot (I thought this might cause the problem), and I don't leave it on for long periods.  I've been using a wet sponge supplied with the iron, and silver solder with built in flux.  My last tip lasted about 2 days, before I got pissed off and just scratched the black stuff off (which in turn has taken the outer layer from the tip and caused it to gradually reduce in size!).

I'm reasonably proficient at soldering and I don't recall having such a problem with my old electric soldering iron.  What am I doing wrong!?

[vibez]

That sounds like  my iron. I tin & clean it, but it very quickly goes a dark grey

[Minwah]

That sounds like  my iron. I tin & clean it, but it very quickly goes a dark grey

You said the solder jumps onto the tip tho, when mine is like this the solder is very hard to melt with the tip, and when it melts it just falls off the tip.

[krion]

have you been tinning the tip after each use?  Sounds like the tip might be oxidizing for some reason.  After you solder a joint tin the tip.

[vibez]

Well I managed to solder my gamecube mod & it works perfect. I still couldnt tin the wires. Maybe its because they are so small?

[Minwah]

have you been tinning the tip after each use?  Sounds like the tip might be oxidizing for some reason.  After you solder a joint tin the tip.

I thought so, although probably not after every joint.  I'll pay more attention to that in future, thanks for the tip (pun intended)

[Navmaxlp]

Sometimes when the solder does not go into the wire, you can straighten the individual wires and separate them then twist them back together. This creates some space between the wires to allow the solder to seep. That might help.

[whammoed]

I have tinned more than my fair share of wire and here is how I found works the best/fastest:
Set your iron on a stand, table, clamp it so the tip is accessible.  Place some solder on the tip so there is a small drop accumulated on it.  With one hand place the very end of the stripped wire into the drop of solder.  With the other hand touch your solder strand to the tinned wire.  The solder should wick into the strands nicely.  Seems doing it this way, the heat transfer to the wire is really efficient.