Unsolderable wire?

In article <sNGdnTReYdJz31fLnZ2dnUU7-I-dnZ2d@westnet.com.au>,
John G <john.g@green.com> writes:
Ralph Mowery expressed precisely :
"Steve" <loft@centurylink.net> wrote in message
news:87egc65xql.fsf@centurylink.net...
Bob E. <bespoke@invalid.tv> writes:

I am trying to solder some RG-6 shield to a pcb. The braid won't tin.
It's
almost like it's dissipating the heat faster than I can apply it. With
both a
temp-controlled iron (set as high as 700F) and a mondo 100W stick I
finally
tried. The solder will barely melt when touched to the braid opposite the
iron.

That just sounds like another excuse to the use the butane torch :)


Most of the rg-6 uses aluminum instead of copper or tinned copper. The
normal methods of soldering will not work on it.

I'll believe Aluminium or steel I must admit to only a little actual
experience.
Some Cable guy should give an actual answer.

Ordinary soldering can be used with iron - soldering iron bits are
often copper core for thermal capacity and conduction, with iron
plating which wets well with solder but doesn't oxidise/corrode
as quickly as a bare copper bit does.

As you go to steel and then stainless steal, it gets harder to do.
Stainless steal in particular is protected from corrosion by a very
tough layer of chromium oxide (I don't know if it's possible to
solder stainless steel at all).

Aluminium has a similar problem - a very tough layer of aluminum
oxide which needs a suitable flux to strip through. However, it also
needs a different solder alloy to wet it - it's a long time since I
did it but ISTR using a solder alloy containing silver.

A secondary problem with soldering dissimilar metals is that any
moisture risks causing galvantic action/corrosion of the join, and
in the case of aluminium, this happens even between the aluminium
and the solder used. Selecting a flux which can strip the aluminimum
oxide well whilst not leaving any residue which eventually corrodes
the join is a bit of a challenge.

--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]
 
On Sat, 27 Feb 2016 11:20:43 +0000, Andrew Gabriel wrote:

> As you go to steel and then stainless steal

Engineering schlip?
 
In article <nas0qb$nod$1@dont-email.me>, andrew@cucumber.demon.co.uk
says...
A secondary problem with soldering dissimilar metals is that any
moisture risks causing galvantic action/corrosion of the join, and
in the case of aluminium, this happens even between the aluminium
and the solder used. Selecting a flux which can strip the aluminimum
oxide well whilst not leaving any residue which eventually corrodes
the join is a bit of a challenge.

This reminded me that I once knew about "purple plague". There's an
article about it in Wikipedia.

Mike.
 

Welcome to EDABoard.com

Sponsor

Back
Top