I finally did some soldering!
evhudsons
Posts: 1,175
Yay!
I finally did some long planned soldering! It makes me even more glad I didn't start on my crossovers, but now I see that it is more than in the realm of a novice to do the crossovers.
I decided to start on my temporary sda interconnect cord. I had been using Homedepot "best" speaker wire which has an unknown gauge. I twisted each end, positive and negative, together to make one end. I had simply before crimped it into a basic quick connect on the round side that I had squished with pliers to make it fit into the sda pin plug. It worked in a pinch, but is obviously not a great method.
I used a radioshack gold plated rca pin made to be soldered. I soldered the wire to the rca jack, removed the outer shield pieces, and used a heat shrink tube also from the shack to make a solid end.
It's not the best job, but it is soldered using the silver solder, and looks great, and is an easy temp fix until I get the binding post upgrade done.
But now my confidence is there, the learning curve is done, and I'm ready. I learned the hard way that you have to let the solder move down the tip onto your tinned or heated part of the project.
It's funny, my wife only saw the finished project and not the work while I was doing it. She of course ignored it, then asked, "so you just learned this today?" Yep. I did it once as a kid, but not really. Someone else had soldered and let me hold the gun but I can't remember much else about it.
I have an adcom gfa555 amp that is missing an rca pin shield, so I'm going to solder repair that, and also maybe do the upgrades on that although it all seems to be in working condition. I'm going to tackle my Marantz 2230 at some point. My parasound hca 1500a seems fine, but eventually I'll do that one too.
The solder bug has hit!
I finally did some long planned soldering! It makes me even more glad I didn't start on my crossovers, but now I see that it is more than in the realm of a novice to do the crossovers.
I decided to start on my temporary sda interconnect cord. I had been using Homedepot "best" speaker wire which has an unknown gauge. I twisted each end, positive and negative, together to make one end. I had simply before crimped it into a basic quick connect on the round side that I had squished with pliers to make it fit into the sda pin plug. It worked in a pinch, but is obviously not a great method.
I used a radioshack gold plated rca pin made to be soldered. I soldered the wire to the rca jack, removed the outer shield pieces, and used a heat shrink tube also from the shack to make a solid end.
It's not the best job, but it is soldered using the silver solder, and looks great, and is an easy temp fix until I get the binding post upgrade done.
But now my confidence is there, the learning curve is done, and I'm ready. I learned the hard way that you have to let the solder move down the tip onto your tinned or heated part of the project.
It's funny, my wife only saw the finished project and not the work while I was doing it. She of course ignored it, then asked, "so you just learned this today?" Yep. I did it once as a kid, but not really. Someone else had soldered and let me hold the gun but I can't remember much else about it.
I have an adcom gfa555 amp that is missing an rca pin shield, so I'm going to solder repair that, and also maybe do the upgrades on that although it all seems to be in working condition. I'm going to tackle my Marantz 2230 at some point. My parasound hca 1500a seems fine, but eventually I'll do that one too.
The solder bug has hit!
Polk Audio SDA CRS+ crossover 4.1TL by Trey/VR3 (Rings and custom stand by Larry)-Polk Audio SDA SRS2 crossovers by Trey/VR3Parasound HCA1500aYamaha rxa-3070 with musicast-Celestion SL6S presence,- sl9 surround backNHTsuper1's surroundMagnepan SMGParasound 1500pre- Sofia "Baby" tube amp - Monitor Audio Silver RX2 Marantz 2230/B&Kst140Technics 1200mk2 Gamertag: IslandBerserker I am but a infinitesimally small point meeting the line of infinity in the SDA universe
Post edited by evhudsons on
Comments
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Remember this... Solder runs to heat.Too much **** to list....
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Soldering is very easy and fun once you get the hang of it. You just need to know the basics of how to proceed and from there, everything jus flows!
DARE TO SOAR:
Your attitude, almost always determine your altitude in life -
Good Job! Just be sure to heat the parts to be soldered and touch the solder to them, otherwise you can get a cold solder joint. Also, tin the iron before you start and keep it clean by wiping it on a wet rag whenever the tip gets dull looking (not shiny)."Science is suppose to explain observations not dismiss them as impossible" - Norm on AA; 2.3TL's w/sonicaps/mills/jantzen inductors, Gimpod's boards, Lg Solen SDA inductors, RD-0198's, MW's dynamatted, Armaflex speaker gaskets, H-nuts, brass spikes, Cardas CCGR BP's, upgraded IC Cable, Black Hole Damping Sheet strips, interior of cabinets sealed with Loctite Power Grab, AI-1 interface with 1000VA A-L transformer
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Never solder without wearing pants !!!!!!!!!!!
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Never solder without wearing pants !!!!!!!!!!!
Soldering is a lot like tig welding aluminum.
Reminds me of a Job I did for Starbucks. Would get in a grove and throw the lead over my leg. About the 3rd time it whipped around and stuck my inner thigh I decided to put leather there LOL.Too much **** to list.... -
Do chaps qualify as pants?--Gary--
Onkyo Integra M504, Bottlehead Foreplay III, Denon SACD, Thiel CS2.3, NHT VT-2, VT-3 and Evolution T6, Infinity RSIIIa, SDA1C and a few dozen other speakers around the house I change in and out. -
the man lives in key west! pants is something you and your doggy do
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^ Not if you drop some molten solder on a walnut! :eek:--Gary--
Onkyo Integra M504, Bottlehead Foreplay III, Denon SACD, Thiel CS2.3, NHT VT-2, VT-3 and Evolution T6, Infinity RSIIIa, SDA1C and a few dozen other speakers around the house I change in and out. -
Soldering is a lot like tig welding aluminum.
Reminds me of a Job I did for Starbucks. Would get in a grove and throw the lead over my leg. About the 3rd time it whipped around and stuck my inner thigh I decided to put leather there LOL.
I only do stick welding and oxy/acc cutting. It's very alarming when molten stuff ignites the synthetic laces and tongue of your Reboks while you're wearing them ! Painful too !:redface: -
You got that right. Any time there's an opportunity for the hot stuff get in or under clothing be ready to make a Funniest Home Video!Too much **** to list....
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thanks for the tips! I was wondering what a cold solder joint was. I noticed that the solder was going up the iron because I was holding it too high. Once I saw that I held it more level and the solder would go down. I was already heating up the wire and rca piece before letting the solder flow down and seep into the wire so I think it should be alright. When I do the binding post option I'll be soldering again anyway. I noticed that the rca pins really don't have much metal connection compared even to the amount of copper in the speaker wire.
On my inductors, I crimped the connection because I haven't permenantly mounted them yet. I have to find the aluminum bolt DarqueKnight used, and haven't had luck locally. When I do mount it right I will solder those connections.
Yep, no pants here in Key West unless you are going to a wedding, funeral, or to court. The court is the only place in Key West that requires pants or shoes. Otherwise you are good to go with shorts and sandals, which is my work clothes. Anyone wearing a suit is either an attorney, defendant, or completely lost.Polk Audio SDA CRS+ crossover 4.1TL by Trey/VR3 (Rings and custom stand by Larry)-Polk Audio SDA SRS2 crossovers by Trey/VR3Parasound HCA1500aYamaha rxa-3070 with musicast-Celestion SL6S presence,- sl9 surround backNHTsuper1's surroundMagnepan SMGParasound 1500pre- Sofia "Baby" tube amp - Monitor Audio Silver RX2 Marantz 2230/B&Kst140Technics 1200mk2 Gamertag: IslandBerserker I am but a infinitesimally small point meeting the line of infinity in the SDA universe -
Do you have an enjoyable time during Fantasy Fest ? I've always wanted to go to one, but never have. (yet)
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enjoyable would be an understatement!Polk Audio SDA CRS+ crossover 4.1TL by Trey/VR3 (Rings and custom stand by Larry)-Polk Audio SDA SRS2 crossovers by Trey/VR3Parasound HCA1500aYamaha rxa-3070 with musicast-Celestion SL6S presence,- sl9 surround backNHTsuper1's surroundMagnepan SMGParasound 1500pre- Sofia "Baby" tube amp - Monitor Audio Silver RX2 Marantz 2230/B&Kst140Technics 1200mk2 Gamertag: IslandBerserker I am but a infinitesimally small point meeting the line of infinity in the SDA universe
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Yeah......I figured.
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I did some soldering while wearing shorts - O-N-C-E! :eek: :redface:"Science is suppose to explain observations not dismiss them as impossible" - Norm on AA; 2.3TL's w/sonicaps/mills/jantzen inductors, Gimpod's boards, Lg Solen SDA inductors, RD-0198's, MW's dynamatted, Armaflex speaker gaskets, H-nuts, brass spikes, Cardas CCGR BP's, upgraded IC Cable, Black Hole Damping Sheet strips, interior of cabinets sealed with Loctite Power Grab, AI-1 interface with 1000VA A-L transformer
