Asuga Solder heavy gauge wire easily

[Atomic Skull]

Must read thread, this technique makes soldering large connectors a breeze: https://www.helifreak.com/showthread.php?t=875705

 

[shortround9191]

It’s definitely a skill, I have a weird but effective way I do bullet connectors. Something in the Rc hobby world we have no choice but to learn

 

[Atomic Skull]

It’s definitely a skill, I have a weird but effective way I do bullet connectors. Something in the Rc hobby world we have no choice but to learn

It's become much easier since I learned about bootlace ferrules as detailed in the thread I linked in the OP.

 

[Horatio]

Investing in a decent soldering iron, proper leaded solder and a flux pen really helps. For heavy guage wire, I like a wedge shaped tip.

Since getting a modern, fast, high temperature, digitally controlled soldering iron, no soldering job phases me.

It's also really nice to be able to swiftly replace components, like these capacitors in a sound system, which otherwise would have been discarded.

£700 system saved with £5 of capacitors - the cheapy, swollen offending ones removed and Panasonic ones soldered in.

That's the great thing about RC - you hone skills that you wouldn't otherwise have.

 

[Atomic Skull]

This is what I have, it uses high frequency induction rather than a thermal heating element. Basically it has an isolated coil around the soldering tip socket and the base unit blasts a 450khz RF signal through it. Temperature is controlled by a PID controller in the base unit connected to a temperature probe that inserts into a channel in the back of the tip. Output power is 180 watts and it can easily solder two 6mm copper rods together. I got it because I have 8AWG wire and 8mm connectors on my big helis (12S power) and my old 70W Hakko FX888D wasn't cutting it anymore.

EDIT: The main advantage of the ferrule method is that it prevents solder from wicking up the strands under the insulation which is always problem with fine strand "noodle" wire that can only be solved by being very fast with the iron. The solder cannot get through the crimped ferrule, or at least it would take a long time so you get infinite do-overs if you need to replace the connector someday or if you just screw up and need to redo it.

 

[shortround9191]

I have a small pencil style then my Snap On full size. For bullets I like to use my gas stove to heat the connector then right to my solder iron makes really clean sturdy work