Wire Soldering Guide (14 Steps with Pictures)

1. 1

   Shave off 1 inch Remove 1/2 inch (1. 5 cm) of insulation from each wire's end. Get a wire stripper and clamp its jaws shut about two Approximately 2 inches (5 cm) from the end of one of the wires you're splicing together To remove the insulation, firmly squeeze the handles together and pull the jaws toward the wire's end. To splice two wires together, follow the same steps at both ends. [1]

   • Wire strippers can be found at any home improvement center.
   • Utility knife blades can be used in place of wire strippers to remove insulation from wires. Care must be taken to avoid severing the internal wire.
   • You could potentially blow a fuse if you were to accidentally separate strands of a stranded wire. Retry stripping the wire after cutting any remaining strands.

2. 2

   Put some heat-shrink tubing on a wire, and slide it onto the wire. To make sliding the heat-shrink tubing onto the wire easier, get a gauge larger heat-shrink tubing. Remove a 2" (5cm) section of tubing from the roll. One centimeter (or more precisely, enough length to cover the splice and some of the insulation if necessary) Place the heat-shrink tubing over a wire and pull it away from the open end by at least 1 foot (30 cm). [2]

   • Heat-shrink tubing can be purchased at any hardware store or online.
   • Never use heat-shrink tubing that is too big for the wire, or else the connection won't hold.
   • If you're going to be soldering something, keep the heat-shrink tubing away from where you'll be applying heat from the iron.

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3. 3

   The wires can be joined by twisting their terminals together. Center the exposed wires so they form an X. To ensure a solid connection, splay one of the wires and twist it as tightly as you can around the other wire. Avoid having the wire end protrude or point away from the splice as this will result in a less secure connection. If you want your splice to look good on both sides, you should do the same thing with the other wire. [3]

   Note: If your wires are stranded, you can intermesh the strands by separating them and then pushing the two wires together. Connect the wires securely by twisting them together.

   Needle nose pliers or lineman pliers can be used to straighten wires so they are easier to line up with each other. Fix each crooked wire one section at a time until it's back to normal.

4. 4

   Use alligator clips to keep the wires off the desk. Small metal grips called alligator clips are used to secure wires in place. In a vertical position, with the jaws facing up, set the alligator clips on a flat work surface. Fasten each wire into a separate alligator clip, elevating the splice above the desk. [4]

   • Alligator clips can be found at any home improvement center.
   • Soldering irons release toxic fumes, so make sure to do your work somewhere with plenty of ventilation.
   • If you want to catch any solder drips from the alligator clips, place a piece of scrap metal or another non-flammable material underneath them.

5. 5

   To improve solder adhesion, apply rosin flux to the spliced wire. A compound called rosin flux is used to prepare the wires for soldering. Rub a bead of rosin flux over the bare wires with your finger. Apply the flux to the wires in an even layer to prevent oxidation. Remove any surplus flux from the wires by wiping them down with your finger or a piece of paper. [5]

   • The rosin flux is available at any home improvement store.

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1. 1

   In order to work with minimal effort, you should purchase 63/37 leaded solder. For the most part, solder is a mixture of low melting-point metals like tin and lead. The melting point of 63/37 solder, which is composed of 63% tin and 37% lead, is 361 degrees Fahrenheit (183 degrees Celsius). When working with electronics, 63/37 solder is the way to go for a clean connection between wires.

   • Always thoroughly wash your hands after soldering with lead, as ingestion of the metal can be harmful. Since you won't be handling the solder for very long, gloves are optional but not required.
   • Lead-free solder is also available but could be trickier to work with.
   • Avoid silver solder, which is typically only used in plumbing and pipework.

2. 2

   To prevent oxidation, you can melt solder onto the tip of your soldering iron. Wear goggles to shield your eyes from debris. In just a few minutes after turning on the power, your soldering iron will be at the perfect temperature. You can apply a thin layer of solder to your iron by holding the end of your solder directly on the end of the iron until it melts. Fill the soldering iron up until it glows. [6]

   • Tinnying the iron prevents oxidation, which is the root cause of heat inconsistency.
   • Do not risk severe burns by touching the hot tip of the soldering iron.

3. 3

   Put the tip of the soldering iron against the base of the joint to heat the flux. Don't turn off the soldering iron; keep it centered on the wire splice's underside. Since the flux absorbs heat from the iron and transfers it to the wires, it becomes a liquid during the process. Soldering can begin once the flux begins to bubble at the splice. [7]

   • It could take more time for a thicker wire to reach operating temperature than a thinner one.
   • Don't worry if you accidentally burn yourself with the soldering iron or hot solder if you're wearing old clothes.

4. 4

   To solder wires together, simply run the solder's tip along the top of each wire until it melts. To maintain the wire's temperature, keep the soldering iron atop the wire as you work. To ensure the 63/37 solder is fully melted into the wires, tap the end of the solder onto the spliced wires. The solder needs to melt and seep into the voids between the wires, so it must be run over the entire splice. Keep soldering until a thin layer of solder covers the exposed wire. [8]

   • Never inhale the noxious solder vapors; they will irritate your lungs and harm your health. Make sure the area you're working in has adequate ventilation to prevent a buildup of fumes.
   • The use of a face mask is optional but permitted.

   Be careful not to create a "cold solder" by touching the solder directly to the soldering iron before applying it to the wires; doing so will result in a less secure connection and may even cause a fuse to blow.

5. 5

   Wait 1-2 minutes for the solder to cool and harden. Pull the solder and iron away from the splice once you're done so it can cool. Don't touch the wire while it's drying or you might break the bond. Within a minute or two, the solder will harden and be safe to handle again. [9]

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1. 1

   To make a soldered wire watertight, rub silicone paste onto it. Silicone paste, also called dielectric grease, keeps your splice from shorting out and keeps the metal wires from corroding. Spread a small amount of silicone paste (about the size of a bead) over the soldered wire. Protect the wire by applying a thin, even layer of silicone paste. [10]

   • A tube of silicone paste can be purchased from any home improvement store.

2. 2

   Wrap the exposed wires with heat-shrink tubing by sliding it over them. Place the heat-shrink tubing over the soldered wire again after you've removed the tape. When using heat-shrink tubing, make sure its edges hang over the insulation by at 1⁄4 inch (0 So that no wires are visible from any angle (at least 64 cm [11]

   • Even if some silicone escapes from the heat-shrink tubing, there will still be enough to keep the wires safe.

3. 3

   You can shrink the tubing around the soldered wires by heating them with a heat gun. Space the heat gun out about four to five inches (10 to 13 cm) from the tubing. Start heating the tubing's core by switching the heat gun to its lowest setting. Heat the wire from the middle outward until the silicone paste oozes out of the sides, and then repeat this process around the entire wire's circumference. After the heat-shrink tubing has been snugly wrapped around the wire, you can remove it from the heat. [12]

   • A heat gun is readily available for purchase at any hardware store or online.

   In the absence of a heat gun, a lighter can be used to achieve the same effect, though the tubing may not shrink as uniformly.

4. 4

   Use a paper towel to remove any excess silicone paste. Due to the contraction of the tube, some of the silicone paste may escape through the walls. In order to clean the wires, wait until the wires and tubing are no longer hot to the touch, and then use a paper towel to remove the silicone. As soon as the silicone paste is eliminated, the wiring is complete. [13]

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