How to solder 12/14 guage wire?

woox · Post by **woox** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 11:52 am

Can anyone tell me the best way to solder 12/14 gauge wires? I am having a real hard time tinning them versus smaller wires...the solder just wont tin it properly, I even bought a fresh new iron tip but no cigar.

I can tin smaller wires just fine its just these real thick (12/14 guage) wires that are giving me issues.

I use a 15 watt soldering iron and .022 (dia) rosin core solder from radio shack.

What should i do /buy to make soldering 12/14 guage wires easier?

Thanks

mothatrucka · Post by **mothatrucka** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 12:08 pm

Sounds like you need a bigger iron. I use a 30w iron for all my soldering.

Post by **bicostp** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 3:01 pm

Sounds like your iron can't get enough heat going, or you're doing something wrong. Try a stronger iron; I recommend 60 watts.

How can you stand using that iron?!

jeroen · Post by **jeroen** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 3:02 pm

I have a 15 watt.....it melts all the solder I want it to....

Mister X · Post by **Mister X** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 3:23 pm

Cigarette lighter or a soldering -gun-.

phantom92opera · Post by **phantom92opera** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 7:23 pm

jeroen wrote:I have a 15 watt.....it melts all the solder I want it to....

its not the solder melting problem, its adhering to the wire because the wire cant get hot enough for a decent connection between itself and the solder.. you know how it goes heat the component first then apply solder

timmeh87 · Post by **timmeh87** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 3:54 pm

I used to have a sweet 60w iron with a little dial on it to set the power. Thats definitely the way to.

APHawkes · Post by **APHawkes** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 6:55 am

Maybe you're not using enough flux? I dunno, whenever I'm tinning wires I poke the wire into the flux to get it into the weave. Then I try to add the solder. It also helps to apply heat to the wire primarily, not the solder (a common mistake).

Neildo_64 · Post by **Neildo_64** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 3:26 pm

Is it stranded or not? Like most everyone else said, get a hotter iron (I use a weller 100/140watt soldering gun for big stuff) and make sure your heating the wire and touching the solder to the wire until only the wire melt the solder. Do NOT touch the solder to the iron or it will flow to the iron. This is the most common mistake I see people make when tinning stuff. If it is not stranded, could you use wire nuts?