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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

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

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

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

Cool man-thanks for the info!

.b

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