Is my crappy soldering satisfactory?

wixy · 17th August 2007, 10:25 AM

I've just had my first attempt at soldering, attempting to solder my speaker cable to the terminals of my full range driver.

However, I didn't exactly do a fantastic job.

Could someone take a look at these pics and tell me if these solder joints are adequate enough?

http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/5...stex006xi3.jpg
http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/5...stex011ko8.jpg

richie00boy · 17th August 2007, 10:34 AM

Not great but I've seen worse. It should survive. It looks like a combination of technique and not enough power/tip area on the soldering iron.

chipco3434 · 17th August 2007, 10:35 AM

It will be fine. A lot of the full range gurus prefer much smaller wire size. Some have concluded that "Thin is in."

acid_k2 · 17th August 2007, 11:48 AM

IMHO, soldering joints are not so good.

You need more heating!.

If you want, you could:

-use a more powerful soldering iron
-use more solder
-try heating the joints for 30 seconds or so... paying attention at the cables melting!

You have to consider a speaker like a souce of vibration, bad soldering joints usually breaks in a short time.

Foxx510 · 17th August 2007, 12:04 PM

I'd have to say "just". With that rigid cable and not quite enough heat you might find you have a dry joint there soon. I would consider less cable if you can't get a hotter iron.

myhrrhleine · 17th August 2007, 04:13 PM

The soldering job really doesn't look that bad

Gently tug/pry on the joint.
Does it break loose?
It shouldn't
Next time, heat the wires and apply solder on them alone until the wires are covered with solder.
The 'puddles' of solder will curve in when done right (concave).
After the wires have solder on them, then solder to the terminals.
Just practice

Cal Weldon · 17th August 2007, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by myhrrhleine
Next time, heat the wires and apply solder on them alone until the wires are covered with solder. <snip> After the wires have solder on them, then solder to the terminals.

Agreed.

Jeb-D. · 17th August 2007, 04:26 PM

Needs more solder! Copper shouldn't be visible

wixy · 17th August 2007, 09:43 PM

Thanks guys! I'll give it another shot.

ShinOBIWAN · 18th August 2007, 12:05 AM

That looks a hell of a lot better than my soldering jobs. I don't have an excuse either because I've been bodging soldering for a couple of years now

I'd be happy with that wixy.

17th August 2007, 10:25 AM	#1
wixy diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Melbourne, Australia	Is my crappy soldering satisfactory? I've just had my first attempt at soldering, attempting to solder my speaker cable to the terminals of my full range driver. However, I didn't exactly do a fantastic job. Could someone take a look at these pics and tell me if these solder joints are adequate enough? http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/5...stex006xi3.jpg http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/5...stex011ko8.jpg

17th August 2007, 10:34 AM	#2
richie00boy Did it Himself diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Gloucestershire, England, UK	Not great but I've seen worse. It should survive. It looks like a combination of technique and not enough power/tip area on the soldering iron. __________________ www.readresearch.co.uk my website for UK diy audio people - designs, PCBs, kits and more

17th August 2007, 04:13 PM	#6
myhrrhleine diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Avalon Island	The soldering job really doesn't look that bad Gently tug/pry on the joint. Does it break loose? It shouldn't Next time, heat the wires and apply solder on them alone until the wires are covered with solder. The 'puddles' of solder will curve in when done right (concave). After the wires have solder on them, then solder to the terminals. Just practice __________________ Just because you can't hear it doesn't mean no one can.

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17th August 2007, 10:35 AM	#3
chipco3434 diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Racine, Wisconsin	It will be fine. A lot of the full range gurus prefer much smaller wire size. Some have concluded that "Thin is in."

17th August 2007, 11:48 AM	#4
acid_k2 diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2006	IMHO, soldering joints are not so good. You need more heating!. If you want, you could: -use a more powerful soldering iron -use more solder -try heating the joints for 30 seconds or so... paying attention at the cables melting! You have to consider a speaker like a souce of vibration, bad soldering joints usually breaks in a short time.

17th August 2007, 12:04 PM	#5
Foxx510 diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2006	I'd have to say "just". With that rigid cable and not quite enough heat you might find you have a dry joint there soon. I would consider less cable if you can't get a hotter iron.

17th August 2007, 04:26 PM	#8
Jeb-D. diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: SoCal	Needs more solder! Copper shouldn't be visible

17th August 2007, 09:43 PM	#9
wixy diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Melbourne, Australia	Thanks guys! I'll give it another shot.

18th August 2007, 12:05 AM	#10
ShinOBIWAN diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: UK	That looks a hell of a lot better than my soldering jobs. I don't have an excuse either because I've been bodging soldering for a couple of years now I'd be happy with that wixy.

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