Making DIY cables: Should I use Solder or hot glue or any other glue?

[chiefroastbeef]

Just wondering, what are the main pluses of a more expensive soldering iron? The ability to adjust heat? Or a better quality tip?

 

[Zorander]

Depending on your usage, the simple iron (pencil) could suffice but the station brings very useful extras that cannot be matched by the humble cheap iron, namely:

- Ability to heat up near instantly (pencil takes minutes to heat up to usable temperature)
- Continuing from above, since the station need not stay on all the time (thanks to the quick heating-up), it helps preserve tip life
- Ability to adjust temperatures (one setting only for the pencil) for different materials requiring different temperature settings
- Convenience and less frustration derived from the points above
- Generally better quality components, including tips, which translate to longer useful life (I used to replace my pencils every few months because the tips are spent quickly from being 'on' all the time and probably because they were not that good quality)

A quality station is a sound investment if you plan to be doing soldering from time to time. The cost of replacing pencils can eventually add up beyond that of a station.

Cheers!

 

[chiefroastbeef]

Thanks Zorander! I'll think about it, I've seen some pretty nice Hako stations here in Hong Kong. If i continue on with my diy audio endeavors I will probably go for a station.

 

[qusp]

i'm not sure I actually understand the question

are you seriously asking whether you should glue a wire to the terminal instead of soldering it??

as has been said here already, Hot glue is only really used for strain relief to take the pressure off the solder joint, or for otherwise holding parts of the cable or build together; not to actually form a connection. there are conductive glues out there, but I havent used them and I would think they would be a good recipe for short circuits. Also I cant believe you bought one of those cold heat guns; they are the DIY equivalent to the free energy machine. solder is in general used to MAKE a decent connection, not really to keep a connection; although the advice of making a good mechanical connection first is very good.

I actually recommend you get a hakko 936 station or a hakko clone; if you plan to keep going with this stuff; it will pay for itself (in peace of mind and time saved) in no time. the ability to set temperature fairly accurately is great if you plan on doing cables, SMD soldering and through hole assembly. also the availability of a huge number of different tips for a reasonable price is a god-send. I used to go through tips like no-ones business with my portasol gas iron and I had more than one mishap with the heat from the exhaust vent singeing the techflex or on one occasion something more vital (think ipod logic board after 36hrs with no sleep.... 'huh; whats that burning smell???'

); but i've been using the same standard hakko tip (for cables) for months now and its still in perfect condition. The gas iron is now mainly used as a hot air gun (for shrink tubing and SMD de-soldering), Hot knife (for cutting and sealing techflex) and blowtorch (for star grounding ......and smoking crack

jk) I also recommend getting a brass wool tip cleaner rather than a sponge, it really helps to keep the tip in good condition.

whatever iron you get, make sure to tin the tip regularly and try and leave a decent blob of solder on the iron when you turn it off. this helps to stop oxidization and your tips will last for much longer; especially if you are using fluxless solder.

hope that helped; please do us, yourself and your system a favour and never try and use hot glue for terminating wires, even if just because if the cable gets hot for some reason, the (at best) tenuous connection will lose contact. If you couldnt tell the difference between the joint made by glue and the one with the cold-heat iron; cold heat must be really really crap

 

[ericj]

Quote:

Originally Posted by qusp /img/forum/go_quote.gif whatever iron you get, make sure to tin the tip regularly and try and leave a decent blob of solder on the iron when you turn it off. this helps to stop oxidization and your tips will last for much longer; especially if you are using fluxless solder.

Well, unless your iron has plated tips that are designed Not to be tinned.

 

[Baird GoW]

Quote:

Originally Posted by qusp /img/forum/go_quote.gif and blowtorch (for star grounding ......and smoking crack jk)

did you know 90 % of the time someone says a joke like that its true. like if i were to say i think they are gay jk, its a 90% chance im telling the truth.
thanks alot for the help guys jk. i guess you will have to guess weather you believe me or not.

 

[chiefroastbeef]

Seriously...

 

[Baird GoW]

Quote:

Originally Posted by chiefroastbeef /img/forum/go_quote.gif Seriously...

hahaha
of course im joking.
except for the part about your guys so called "help". <s>
Have Fun with your headphones and thanks you guys.

-END THREAD <(always wanted to put that)

 

[chiefroastbeef]

Let us know if you have other questions, but honestly, nothing concerning gorilla glue again. This ain't a wood working forum you know.

 

[Keithpgdrb]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baird GoW /img/forum/go_quote.gif hahaha of course im joking. except for the part about your guys so called "help". <s> Have Fun with your headphones and thanks you guys. -END THREAD <(always wanted to put that)

hmm, quite an ungrateful little person.

END THREAD.................

 

[chiefroastbeef]

What more do you expect from a little kid like him, just look at his signature...

 

[Keithpgdrb]

I should have checked that in that in the beginning. He just met my ignore list.

 

[Baird GoW]

I'm a jock you will always be hating on me. And no I said thanks at the end so that you would understand I got help so learn to read before you say stuff.
BTW <s>=sarcasim funny how a jock still is a better techy than some.

 

[Keithpgdrb]

funny, I was hating on you before I knew you were a jock. If I was a jock, I would be irritated that you just stereotyped me.

I dont mean to hate, good luck with your audio journey. and your right, you did thank everyone for their so called "help". Class act all the way.

Ignore list edited.. Sigh.. peace has returned.

 

[qusp]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baird GoW /img/forum/go_quote.gif did you know 90 % of the time someone says a joke like that its true. like if i were to say i think they are gay jk, its a 90% chance im telling the truth. thanks alot for the help guys jk. i guess you will have to guess weather you believe me or not.

i'm sure it is true; my portasol would be fantastic for crack

; luckily I have a much more expensive hobby to keep me off the rock (is that what they call it still?? its a scourge we are lucky not to have here in OZ) by keeping my wallet perpetually empty.

oh so you're a jock eh?? hmmmmm that explains a lot; as if the mini-dicks didnt give it away.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keithpgdrb funny, I was hating on you before I knew you were a jock. If I was a jock, I would be irritated that you just stereotyped me.

X2

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baird GoW funny how a jock still is a better techy than some.

maybe so... if anyone actually still used that word. sarcasm is the lowest form of 'wit'

you really know how to turn people off. I know you were serious with the topic; thats what makes it soooo tragic