Soldering tips anyone?

Posted by Wade on August 18, 2014 at 4:31pm

Does anyone have any soldering/resoldering tips when finishing up their pickups? I tried lightly sanding the wire before soldering, but it's tough! It's also difficult to hold and control the thin wire while soldering.

Thanks,

Wade

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Replies

  • Richey Kay August 20, 2014 at 12:36pm
    I use tiny brass screws as the termination poles... I just wrap the wire around at the start and finish of the coil and solder the lead wires into the little channel on the screw head. Seems to work fine!
  • Wade August 20, 2014 at 12:09pm
    Thanks all! I'm soldering right to the lead wire and then grounding to a baseplate.
    Guessing I would really heat up the baseplate before attempting to solder
    • Skeesix > Wade August 20, 2014 at 6:43pm

      Yes, you'll need a hotter iron with a bigger tip to get it to stick to metal.

  • Skeesix August 19, 2014 at 3:06pm

    You can get eyelets from Mouser Electronics. http://www.mouser.com/

    If you're doing a direct connection between the lead wire and the magnet wire, it helps to secure the lead wire from moving. You can use tape to secure the wire to your work surface, leaving the end sticking up in the air or off the end of the table.

    Lightly sand the magnet wire so you get good electrical contact. Use 400 grit wet or dry sandpaper. Tear off a little piece and fold it in half. Put the wire inside and lightly pull the sandpaper over the wire.

    Wrap the magnet wire several times around the lead wire, so you get a good mechanical connection, then solder.

    You could also use one of those third hand devices. http://www.harborfreight.com/helping-hands-319.html

    • mojoatomic > Skeesix August 20, 2014 at 12:02pm

      Good advice from everyone - I'd also add use a good paste flux - my favorite is this, I've used Kester SP-44 since the early 80's. Their SP-44 rosin core lead solder is my all time favorite as well. 

  • Bruce Ferrero August 18, 2014 at 5:23pm

    I put an eyelet in a hole on the base of the pickup and wrap the 42 ga wire through that several times then insert the 20ga lead wire into the hole and solder everything together in the brass eyelet.  I have not needed to sand the fine wire as the solder will melt the thin poly/enamel off and make good contact with the wire.

    http://www.stewmac.com/How-To/Trade_Secrets/Build_your_own_custom_p...

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