Smith-Kettlewell Soldering Series: Soldering Kinks
Table of Contents
Soldering I
Soldering II
Soldering III: Tinning Stranded Wire
Soldering IV: Popular RF Connectors
Soldering V: RCA and Motorola Plugs
Soldering VI: Resistance Soldering
Soldering VII
JA3TBW Solder Guide
Soldering Kinks
Vinther Fingertip Soldering Iron
SOLDERING KINKS
Dale E. Heltzer of St. Paul, MN, writes:
"One feature of the small-diameter solder compatible with the JA3TBW solder guide (SKTF, Spring 1983) is that it easily kinks. As a remedy for this problem, I wind it in empty dental-floss containers, always keeping two to three inches protruding so as to allow pulling more out.
"There are two types of floss containers that I am aware of: the relatively flat packs, and the tall types which contain cylindrical bobbins. I find that the tall version is better suited to holding long pieces of solder; the long shaft on which it is wound gives less opportunity for 'cross-overs' while winding."
The editor suggests that you file a notch in the lid of the container, so that the solder can be drawn out with a minimum of tension. When flux-core solder is stretched, the tubular structure of the solder elongates, but the flux core, which is brittle, does not. Thus, when solder is put under tension, it is possible to create unintentional voids in the flux.
A notch in the lid of the floss container takes care of this problem of stretching the solder, and it's a pretty good idea. Thank you, Mr. Heltzer.
Jean Le Borgne sent me a couple of his latest-model feeders for the tubular solder guide (SKTF, Winter 1986). Now of 1/4-inch aluminum and about 2 inches long, it's pretty slick. It has a No. 2-56 setscrew near the top to clamp onto the solder, and it slides nicely onto the stainless-steel tube above the collar. (A 2-56 nut is threaded all the way to the head to make a poor man's thumbscrew.) Its purpose is to feed solder without kinking as it enters the tube. He sets the sleeve so that he can make three or four connections before loosening the setscrew for "reloading."
He also modified the solder guide. With a file, he filed away aportion of the tube at the bottom so as to expose the solder on one side. In this way, the solder can more directly be involved with the top of the iron. He turned the collar so that its setscrew is on the side of this filed-away portion.
Jean also suggests that the resultant pointed guide is the answer to a maiden's prayer for soldering PL-259 coax connectors. The pointed end of the tube is placed in the holes in the side for soldering the shield to the shell.
Mr. Le Borgne is generous enough to make these Cadillac solder guides available to readers. For now, he says they are free. (I, being a normal greed-head, would take you for 4 or 5 dollars.) To get your solder guide, write to: Mr. Jean Le Borgne, 12022 Celine Street, El Monte, CA 91732. Thanks, Jean.
Everybody's concerned with kinks in their solder. What kind of kinky crowd have I got out there? (As they laugh in Morse Code telegraphy, HI.)