Soldering
08-24-2003, 07:25 PM
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Soldering
I have a Sig 1/6th scale Piper Cub and have come to the part in building where I must solder the landing gear wires together. Unfortuantely, I am having no luck whatsoever with it. I am tightly wrapping the joints with thin copper wire, using a propane torch to heat the joint, and then using a rosin-core solder, but when I try to apply the solder, it just beads up and runs off the joint. What should I do to make this job easier? I have some flux for soldering but it is acid flux, will this make a difference?
08-24-2003, 07:37 PM
#2
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Soldering
You must have the wire very clean. Use emery cloth and rough it up until it is bright and shiny, wipe with acetone or alcohol and DO NOT TOUCH WITH HAND as the oil in you skin may cause problems. Coat the area to be soldered with a good flux (not an acid flux) and heat the area to be soldered just hot enough to melt the solder when it touches the area--do not melt the solder with your iron or torch. You should see the solder suddenly wick over the area. Have the unit jigged up so it can not move while the soldering is being done and leave it jigged until cool. You can over heat a joint as well as not heat it enough, takes a little practice.
08-25-2003, 01:08 PM
#4
Soldering
You can, it's just not advisable (or necessary if the metal has been cleaned with sandpaper).
Just follow Rodney's instructions and it should work fine.
Also like Rodney said, too much heat can ruin the spring properties of the metal, so don't get it RED hot. Just apply heat, remove the heat, and touch the solder to the joint. If it doesn't melt, apply more heat, and repeat.
Just follow Rodney's instructions and it should work fine.
Also like Rodney said, too much heat can ruin the spring properties of the metal, so don't get it RED hot. Just apply heat, remove the heat, and touch the solder to the joint. If it doesn't melt, apply more heat, and repeat.
08-25-2003, 02:32 PM
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90 watt gun
I have had similar probs soldering push rods, etc. I thought the 30watt iron not enough. So I got a 90 watt gun. same probs. Do I need a propane torch? 
I have been using rosin core solder. Not sanding or preping area.
Thanks
I have been using rosin core solder. Not sanding or preping area.Thanks
08-25-2003, 03:14 PM
#6
Soldering
I am presently working on a "How to Solder" article. I wish it were finished, it would save me a lot of time! LOL
For small wires and circuit boards, an iron is the tool of choice. Once you get into doing pushrods, a gun is preferable (soldering gun that is. I know some of you would rather shoot yourselves than have to make a push rod, but that's another thread) and for big jobs like landing gear, you really need a torch.
In any case, for soldering a clevis onto a rod the basics are the same...
Clean with sandpaper. You MUST expose some nice shiney metal!
Apply flux (Soldering paste)
Heat the METAL until the METAL melts the solder. The solder will wick its way into the joint.
For small wires and circuit boards, an iron is the tool of choice. Once you get into doing pushrods, a gun is preferable (soldering gun that is. I know some of you would rather shoot yourselves than have to make a push rod, but that's another thread) and for big jobs like landing gear, you really need a torch.
In any case, for soldering a clevis onto a rod the basics are the same...
Clean with sandpaper. You MUST expose some nice shiney metal!
Apply flux (Soldering paste)
Heat the METAL until the METAL melts the solder. The solder will wick its way into the joint.
08-25-2003, 07:19 PM
#7
Re: 90 watt gun
Originally posted by xtech
I have had similar probs soldering push rods, etc. I thought the 30watt iron not enough. So I got a 90 watt gun. same probs. Do I need a propane torch? I have been using rosin core solder. Not sanding or preping area.
Thanks
I have had similar probs soldering push rods, etc. I thought the 30watt iron not enough. So I got a 90 watt gun. same probs. Do I need a propane torch?
I have been using rosin core solder. Not sanding or preping area.Thanks
John
08-25-2003, 10:09 PM
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Soldering
Is flux absolutely necessary, as long as you keep the surfaces clean? If it is necessary, and all I have is acid flux, can I just neutralize it by rubbing some baking soda into it?
08-26-2003, 01:52 AM
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Soldering
or go to hardware store in plumbing for flux.you must have flux it is what pulls the solder into the joint.if it is not heated enough the solder will just break and it will not flow.and i use map gas instead of propane gas since it is hotter.good luck.
08-26-2003, 06:05 AM
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Soldering
For doing landing gear I sand the metal, put a coat of resin flux from a can of paste flux, heat the wire till it melts the flux. The big thing I do different is that I use an acid brush to move the molten solder around to tin the wire, then I wrap it with copper and melt the solder into the copper coils till it runs out. Again I hit it with the brush and make sure that the molten solder is nice and even over the whole wrap.
Let it cool, wash it off and its done.
Let it cool, wash it off and its done.
