Soldering Banana Plugs

FittyFieFo

What type of electric solder do you guys use to solder your speaker wire into your banana plugs?

Freddy mentioned I should only use silver electric solder so it won't degrade sound.

I recently bought some Nakamichi banana plugs (http://cgi.ebay.com/24-PCS-Nakamichi-Speaker-banana-plug-connector-24k-Gold_W0QQitemZ320411531230QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item4a9a03f7de&_trksid=p4999.c0.m14) --These are the double screws locking.

and some speaker wires from Signal Cable (barewire). Looks like Frank from SC, soldered the tips for me on the speaker wires. I plan on NOT using the double screws and just taking them out and use the already solder speaker wires and solder that into the Nakamichi Banana Plugs.

Looking for some silver electric solder, if someone can link me.

As always, thanks in advance .

Scott (554)

Face

Cardas solder from Sonic Craft. http://soniccraft.com/products/connections/solder/cardas.htm

But nanners that have screws in them, I'd probably use the screws instead. If you're bent on soldering them, what kind of iron do you have?

F1nut

Second on the Cardas solder, none better.

kcoc321

For what it is worth, Audioquest speaker cables are connected with screws, and they say they actually prefer it to solder...check out their web page...they say they did a boatload of research on it.

FittyFieFo

Face wrote: »

Cardas solder from Sonic Craft. http://soniccraft.com/products/connections/solder/cardas.htm

But nanners that have screws in them, I'd probably use the screws instead. If you're bent on soldering them, what kind of iron do you have?

If I use the screws, I would need to melt the existing solder on the speaker wires Frank did for me. The screws don't tighten all the way because the wire is thick.

As for the iron, my co-worker was doing it for me and he had a soldering gun. He said he couldn't melt the metal, so he ordered some..kind of small torch? (I'll find out later in the day)

Found this on ebay: http://cgi.ebay.com/CARDAS-QUAD-EUTECTIC-SILVER-SOLDER-20-feet_W0QQitemZ150306035597QQcmdZViewItem

EDIT: How much feet do I need to solder all ends of my speaker wires? (5 speaker wires total, 20 Banana Plugs)

Face

I'd be a little apprehensive about buying solder on ebay. 20' should be more than enough though.

FittyFieFo

Face wrote: »

I'd be a little apprehensive about buying solder on ebay. 20' should be more than enough though.

Yeah I'm little iffy on buying solder on ebay too, but I've read good reviews from people buying the solder from that seller.

I'm not sure yet...we'll see.

messiah

Face wrote: »

Cardas solder from Sonic Craft. http://soniccraft.com/products/connections/solder/cardas.htm

But nanners that have screws in them, I'd probably use the screws instead. If you're bent on soldering them, what kind of iron do you have?

That does look like nice solder, and would be the minimum I would use. Standard solder will just degrade the sound quality, or speaker wire would be made of lead lol! Just do yourself the favor of using nanners with screws and save yourself the pointless inconvienence. Unless you have some super wire with super nanners and super solder... what do you have?

FittyFieFo

messiah wrote: »

That does look like nice solder, and would be the minimum I would use. Standard solder will just degrade the sound quality, or speaker wire would be made of lead lol! Just do yourself the favor of using nanners with screws and save yourself the pointless inconvienence. Unless you have some super wire with super nanners and super solder... what do you have?

Signal Cables (barewire), Nakamichi Banana Plugs, and just order 10 feet of the Cardas Tri Solder (only $5). If I were to go the double screw lock, I would need to take off the solder that Frank did for me on the wires already. I tried using the screws, but the wire is too thick.

treitz3

Cardas and a hot soldering iron. 'Nuff said.



[EDIT]^^^This will get the job done well. For this application and many more.

messiah

treitz3 wrote: »

Cardas and a hot soldering iron. 'Nuff said.



[EDIT]^^^This will get the job done well. For this application and many more.

Yep, that would do the trick. A cheaper approach would be to cut off the soldered wire, and strip new wire, but it will cost you an inch and a half. I have really nice wire strippers if you want to borrow them

FittyFieFo

messiah wrote: »

Yep, that would do the trick. A cheaper approach would be to cut off the soldered wire, and strip new wire, but it will cost you an inch and a half. I have really nice wire strippers if you want to borrow them

Hehe, thanks for the offer, but I already bought the solder. Should be here early next week hopefully.

My co-worker is actually going to show me how to solder the banana plugs. Just going to leave the solder on, take the double screws out *not even use em*, and use solder to fill the banana plugs.

He bought some kind of Solder Torch.

Face

Be sure to post pics.

messiah

FittyFieFo wrote: »

Hehe, thanks for the offer, but I already bought the solder. Should be here early next week hopefully.

My co-worker is actually going to show me how to solder the banana plugs. Just going to leave the solder on, take the double screws out *not even use em*, and use solder to fill the banana plugs.

He bought some kind of Solder Torch.

Cool, let me know how it turns out (with pics of course!!).

FittyFieFo

Face wrote: »

Be sure to post pics.

Will do! Hopefully my boss at work doesn't be like..."shouldn't you be working instead of taking pictures"

Meh oh well! I'll get a few in .

Hopefully he does a good job at teaching me AND soldering my plugs

messiah

Damn, Face beat me to the pics part lol

ShinAce

How many solder joints do you see in a car? Solder does not like vibrations, so do this if you don't move the speaker wires around. Honestly, don't worry about this unless the speaker wires are constantly being handled.

Solder will go to anything that is hot enough and stick to it. The trick to soldering is making sure the parts are hot enough to melt the solder. It's not the iron or torch that should be melting the solder. So...insert wire to connector, find a way to apply heat to the end of wire AND the banana plug. Once solder starts melting on contact with both metal parts, keep feeding solder until you're happy.

What you don't want to do is float the wire in the middle of the connector and fill it with solder. You want the wire as close to the connector as possible. Push the wire into the connector and apply pressure to the side before soldering.

Hope that helps.

zingo

Also be aware that screw type banana plugs are not designed to be soldered, and thus typically have thicker bodies that are harder to solder correctly. The reason a soldering torch may be been suggested is because an iron is typically not too good at heating a large metal body quickly (which is the key).

I use Radio Shack silver solder and it works great and flows like the leaded stuff. I originally got the suggestion from Ben, and it is good stuff at a good price.

FittyFieFo

Thanks for the information! The reason why my co-worker bought a torch because his soldering gun wasn't hot enough to heat up the banana plug. I believe that's what he said.

I think he knows what he's doing. If not, crap?

Face

Cut back the wires, strip a little insulation, and use the screws or buy different bananas that were made to soldered or buy a good soldering iron. I'd lean towards the first two.

FittyFieFo

Face wrote: »

Cut back the wires, strip a little insulation, and use the screws or buy different bananas that were made to soldered or buy a good soldering iron. I'd lean towards the first two.

::sigh:: Will I be just fine soldering with the banana plugs i have now?

ShinAce

Probably. Soldering actually creates a sort of chemical change in the surface layer of the metal, so that's why you see 'solder type' anything as bare grey metal.

I once used solder type Pomona (Panama?) bananas to make speaker cables for my sister. They were so basic I had to color code with shrink wrap but the connectors were good quality.

Soldering will stiffen a bit of the wire coming from the plug, as the speaker wire wicks it up.

FittyFieFo

Thanks ShinAce,

I just need peace of mind that what I'm doing will work. I don't feel like spending more $$. I just want to have them soldered so I can test out my equipment!

ShinAce

p.s. Gold as in gold plated is solderable.

http://www.uyemura.com/solder_joint_reliability.htm#5
Story #5

FittyFieFo

My banana plugs are 24k Gold plated

jimmydep

When you finish making your connections (whether it be by solder or screw) put a piece of shrink tube over the plug to insulate it and as strain relief.

Jimmy

FittyFieFo

jimmydep wrote: »

When you finish making your connections (whether it be by solder or screw) put a piece of shrink tube over the plug to insulate it and as strain relief.

Jimmy

Awesome, thanks for the advice. I'll purchase some shrink tubes from RadioShack or something.

messiah

Why dont you just get gid of the solder, try the plugs, and see if you like it. I highly doubt the solder is going to improve the sound quality. It might actually do the opposite. That, and you wont be able to re-use your nanners.

kawizx9r

messiah wrote: »

Why dont you just get gid of the solder, try the plugs, and see if you like it. I highly doubt the solder is going to improve the sound quality. It might actually do the opposite. That, and you wont be able to re-use your nanners.

+1
I think I've questioned this as well, because I personally wouldn't solder my plugs but if you insist the above advice is definitely something to take into consideration. Some nice quality silver solder (like the cardas above) and some heatshrink (do it right with a heatgun) and youre done! Doubt the rat shack will have the size you want since I was looking for 1/2 and 3/4 inch where I live, so just pick some up off mprice/PE or even eprey.

F1nut

Ummm.....ya'll do realize that the all the better cable manufacturers solder their terminations, right?

Talk about making a mountain out of molehill.

kawizx9r

F1nut wrote: »

Ummm.....ya'll do realize that the all the better cable manufacturers solder their terminations, right?

Talk about making a mountain out of molehill.

Heh, I figured they would I mean those things don't budge after much abuse. A few people would say solder can degrade SQ, but I would believe that; if you use quality solder and use the above method ShinAce suggested then the SQ will remain and you've got a termination that'll last alot longer.

Make sure to post pics of your progress!