Advice on wiring/soldering jacks

[mrbrooks]

I'm having a tough time soldering 1/4" jacks to the respective wires. I'm very green to DIY stuff, but I thought I'd see if there is a trick to this. I'm using the "skeleton" type 1/4" jacks and unlike a circuit board which has only a small metal contact ring that solder is actually attracted to-the jacks are all metal and getting solder to behave is making me frustrated. I am also curious if there is a specific wire thickness I should be using-the stuff I've got right now is really, really, really thin. Should I be twisting the wire leads around and through the jacks lug holes prior to soldering?

any help is appreciated...
thanks!
Brooks

[metalmariachi]

I made a holder, just bent sheet metal mounted with holes, to a board.
That allows me to wire both jacks and plugs.

Anyway I heat the tab and melt solder to it prior to attaching wire.
Using a bit of flux really speeds things up.

Oh I use 20 gage stranded wire for most every thing.

Keith

[mrbrooks]

Ok-so sort of like "tinning" but you melt solder onto the lug holes first...rather than tinning the wires?

Is 20 gauge wire pretty standard? You've had good results with it?

Brooks

[metalmariachi]

Yup tinning the lugs.

I’ve seen a lot of 22 and 24-gage wire in things. 22 was used in the fender silver face amps.
I just figured that if I have an expensive 20 or 18-gage instrument cable why not.

Keith

[mrbrooks]

Cool man-thanks for the info!

.b

[23F]

22 or 24... J the wire, hook and melt