Why won't solder stick to the wires or melt at the tip?

Question

Why won't solder stick to the wires or melt at the tip?

Answer 1

You need to clean, flux, and tin the iron, and clean and flux the wire.

(Bet you burned the tinning off the tip last night. - Don't let it

over-heat this time.)

If you're using rosin core solder, just clean that tip, heat it up,

and melt some solder and work it onto the tip.

Harder to describe than to do.

Answer 2

The wires you're soldering in all likelihood have a coating on them. many forms of magnet cord have a extreme temp insulating coat. Scrape them sparkling or use emery - then, tin your iron tip, wipe, warmth the wires, then push solder onto the cord - no longer your tip. - some fluxed solder works greater suitable than others. you're able to prefer one greater flux. i take advantage of a plumbing flux - Bakers Blue for puzzling wires - even though it extremely is an acid flux - so desires a wipe with a moist textile afterwards. sparkling the wires first and use a superb flux. - do no longer overheat the wires. - And prepare.

Answer 3

By far the easiest is to use the 60/40 rosin-core solder. It's the easiest way to apply rosin to the work. Wait long enough for the iron to get hot. It should easily melt the solder when you tin the tip (get a coat of fresh solder on it). Use a heat sink on the leads to any temperature-sensitive components like transistors. Put the tip of the iron on the wires. You want to heat the wires and let the wires melt the solder. After the solder is flowing freely, remove the heat and let the joint cool slowly before you let anything move. If the joint looks shiny, you're good. If it looks rough and gray, you likely have an unreliable 'cold' solder joint. Heat it again and let it flow.

Answer 4

wait for the heat to reach the tip,

make sure the solder has the cleaning stuff in it (i think it's called rosin) or get some rosin to clean the wire before soldering

Answer 5

The problem is oxidation of the tip ...



Use an eXacto knife and scrape the tip and immediately apply rosin core solder...



Do this repeatedly...



Periodically clean the tip with a water soaked sponge...



ALWAYS clean off the tip with the water soaked sponge just AFTER turning off the iron...



The water will aid in a quick cool down of the iron...



Never leave the iron on for longer than half an hour unless using the iron...