I am trying to solder the ground wire to the claw on my partscaster build. I have never run into this before but my solder will not stick to the claw, it keeps running off.

One difference is instead of my big Weller, I am using a new little cordless to try and protect my curcuits, and things are not hot enough.

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I remember when we were free!

Use a file on the claw were you want to solder.
(The same for pots-it´s way more easy then)

Cheers,
Robin

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http://www.youtube.com/robinstrower
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Use the larger iron and brush some rosin flux onto both the tinned wire and the claw before heating.

HTH

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

As was already mentioned... use a higher wattage iron.
Not enough heat is xfering to the claw.

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-T

"You can't spend what you ain't got, you can't lose what you ain't never had" ~ McKinley Morganfield

Clean the claw with file or sandpaper ; there's some oxydation and solder won't stick on it . Any normal solder pencil iron will work ( not gun, never on a electric guitar because pickups...)

i've used a 2-stage gun on guitars for a long time when I want to get on&off a part quickly.
it's deep transfer, not surface temp that damages pots.

I use a "soldering station" extensively, but still drag the gun out when I have room and the spot isn't too small or hard to get to.
maybe i've just been lucky, but i've never damaged a component, with either.

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You won't hurt its feelings boy, play it like you stole it!
ASPCA We Are Their Voice !
Speaking up for those that can't speak for theirself.....
Proud member of the ASPCA "Guardian Angel" program.

Yes magnetic field from soldering gun can damage guitar's pickups.

Never use that on electric guitars. This does't mean your pickups won't work afteryour gun exposure but their magnetic fiels could be not the same.......

Don't take chance, always use a good work habits

Got my big Weller gun out this morning and it worked like a charm. Thanks all.

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I remember when we were free!

Mission accomplished!

Good to hear, OL.

Most of my work is done with a 40-watt soldering station. But for trem-claw grounds or soldered grounds within an amp chassis I drag out my 100-watt "Marty Robbins" (aka 'the big iron').

Rawk on!



Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

What would Tim "The Tool man" Taylor, say..."More power!!"

Glad it worked for ya.

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-T

"You can't spend what you ain't got, you can't lose what you ain't never had" ~ McKinley Morganfield

100 watts.that's killer. and don't forget the flux...those old joints from the fender factory have that little ring of flux underneath. That stuff that's supposed to be usable w/out flux is junk.

rednefceleb write ; ...."and don't forget the flux...those old joints from the fender factory have that little ring of flux ".....

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red, I hope you don't talk about plumber's solder ? Because The solder you should use for any electronic stuff is "electronic solder" No need to put some flux. Everything is inside the solder wire.

Plumber's solder are corosive for electronic use

It's incredibly hard to damage a pot with a soldering iron. Not impossible, but hard.

I put a pen blowtorch to a open backed 50K audio pot, just to see how much damage I could do before the gas ran out.
Aside from melting the plastic wheel that the shaft attaches to, it didn't do much at all. The pot still worked when I put it back together.





It's good to be careful, but the whole thing has been blown out of proportion. Yeah smaller components (transistors, diodes, resistors and small capacitors) can damage quickly.

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No no and no

NikiNinja:

I completely agree with you... I have heard a lot of stuff on the internet where guys say that you can damage your pots with a soldering iron.. but, I have done a lot of electrical work and I have yet to damage anything (aside from the occasional rubbing against plastic)....

The hotter the iron the better I say...

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In Reference to Blues Legend RL Burnside:
After a heart attack in 2001, Burnside's doctor advised him to stop drinking; Burnside did, but he reported that change left him unable to play.

Quickly on, quickly off!

Thats exactly my thinking too. I like it good and hot.

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No no and no