Damn, pikckup wires won't solder...

[1,2,3, Pull Out!]

So I got a new pickup for my Airline and the wires won't solder, after I heat them up the solder just falls off and if I heat them too much they start coming apart and the plastic melts I'm using electrical solder and a Weller 25 W soldering iron. WTF is
wrong???

[metalmariachi]

Hmmm.

Head scratch.
Is your solder flux core?
Are the wires clean? Oxidation can cause that.
dip the ends in a little vinegar, then water to neutralize the acid.

if all else fails get some flux and put a little on each one, that usually works.

MM

[Scruffie]

That iron is quite a low wattage... might not be hot enough? Tried stripping the ends a bit? What kind of solder is it, leaded or unleaded? Is the end of your iron overly coated in solder, sometimes wiping it off on a damp sponge (while being extremley fucking careful, my arms are covered in burns from doing that and it can spit quite a long way i.e. eyes...) can help

[veteransdaypoppy]

I'd use a heat sync so that you don't burn up all the plastic coating on the wires. If you just take one of your helping hands (the little alligator grippy dudes that hold things for you while you solder) and put one on the wire before it meets the plastic it'll absorb a good amount of heat to allow you a bit of extra time to get the wire hot.

[1,2,3, Pull Out!]

It's lead free.

[Scruffie]

I dunno if i'm eliteist... but lead free never really took for me and the joints always looked cold... I think you need a hotter iron for lead free but lead is better in this case if you can get hold it...

[metalmariachi]

I've never gotten good results from lead free either , the iron almost has to be too hot.
Go with lead or silver bearing if you can get it.

MM

[Wizard]

okay...

if the pickup is newer, what you want to do is take a razorblade to the copper strands and scratch off the coating... twist it up, and then tin the tip.

tinning always works best with me when the iron/gun and solder are on separate sides of the wire, so the heat draws it upwards.

ALSO rosin-core solder is the way to go. if you aren't using that put some rosin on the wire.

I use a soldering gun, it makes life really, really easy. Hold down the trigger, count to 8 tin the tip, and GO. then it's done

i got mine off ebay for 6$ + 8$ shipping. An old Weller.

hopefully that helps!

[Scruffie]

Tinning that's the word I couldn't think of! I prefer using a bit of sandpaper on the end than a razor blade, but that's just me or you could do it the way they did before solder and epoxy the wires together

[1,2,3, Pull Out!]

Okay, thanks for the advice guys, I just bought some solder WITH lead and everything worked fine, my Airline officially sounds (more or less) like the originals. I also soldered my new Telecaster pickups

[Scruffie]

Hooray for leaded solder!

[1,2,3, Pull Out!]

Hooray for leaded solder!

Amen to that!

[metalmariachi]

Hooray for leaded solder!

Amen to that!

Deadly toxins once again save the day.

The Toxic Avenger to the rescue.

MM