ORIGINAL: JoeAirPort
I have 4-40 control rods and Dubro threaded ends that I'm trying to solder and I can't get the solder to stick. I'm using flux and silver solder with a small torch. The metal just won't take the older. I heat it up plenty, and use flux on the joint, but the solder just drips off.
There's gobs of it on my basement floor.
I solder electrical very well and I know something is very wrong here. Is 4-40 control rod and the Dubro control rod ends solderable?
Do I have to sand down the control rod first?
Thanks,
Joe
Joe,
Don't melt the solder with the torch. Sand the joint, get some flux inside it, and heat the joint. Pull the torch back and touch the solder to the joint. Orient it so the solder will flow down into the joint, if possible. If you don't get it hot enough to melt the solder, heat more.
Now, if at that point you get the solder to melt, by touching it to the joint, and it runs off... maybe you'll have to get solder ends, rather than threaded ends. Dubro makes them, no threads, just formed sheet metal.
That's the best I can do, going by your description. Good luck,
Dave Olson