Cable making

[guest1406]

Hi all,

Ive just made a throttle cable up now just need to solder a nipple on one end, the other end had one. However when trying to coat the tip in solder it just wont stick to it.

Im guessing its dirty? I will try cleaning it with sandpaper and maybe solder grease? Is there something im missing?

Mackenzie

[Steve H]

What are you using for heat ?. I found it much easier with a gas powered soldering iron and new inner cables.

[guest1406]

I was using a gas powered torch, it was heating the cable fine it was glowing red. It just was not sticking for toffee!

Mackenzie

[johnr]

its gotta be pretty much spotless and you need to be using the right flux.

[guest1406]

It was 3 core flux just to tin it (I think thats the right terms), used for electricals

I'll give it a clean and use grease and see what happens. I really dont fancy making a new cable up

Mackenzie

[johnr]

dont tin it, open the end of the cable out and then solder it into the nipple so when it sets it cant pull back through the nipple

[guest1406]

I was thinking of that after. But the solder still may no stick to the end of the cable. Or will it now because its open and clean?

Mackenzie

[Steve H]

I was thinking of that after. But the solder still may no stick to the end of the cable. Or will it now because its open and clean?

Mackenzie

I had a similar problem and found that heating it using a soldering iron solved the issue.

[guest564]

If its too hot then the flux will just evaporate.

[guest295]

Electrical solder is way not the right stuff. Use acid flux and a harder species of solder. The best way is to melt stick solder in a wee pot (a 3/4" galvanized plumbing end cap is good), assemble the cable and terminal (with cable end splayed to keep the terminal from falling off), heat them, dip in acid flux, Then dip the end in the molten lead until you see some of it wick up the cable.

[guest1406]

Thanks for the help everyone, its all done now.

I coated the parts in flux, heated the nipple for a bit to heat the core, then brought the fluxed end cable into the flame and heat them both gently, then quickly brought the two together and added solder.

Mackenzie