Coincidentaly I have just spent the day soldering for my garage 12volt system, I would recommend using a flat tip for soldering wires it takes a lot less time and you dont get so much melting of the insulation. The pointed tips are better for soldering stuff onto circuit boards and such like. I use flux even if I am using flux core, it helps make the solder flow better, plus I still have a stock of proper lead solder which is better again. I also tend to give the joint a wipe over with a clean wet cloth not long afterwards to clean off the crud.
This is a very good instructional video on basic soldering. My trade is an electrician and when I did my apprenticeship (with Michael Farraday I think it was - long time ago!) we used to older all sorts of things, Tee joints, married joints, fitting welding cables to clamps and so on. It is a skill that does not get used as much now which is a shame. On a motorbike crimp joints are normally used but good old solder gives a superior joint as crimps can be affected by wet weather causing oxidisation of the conductor and the monkey metal the crimp is made of . As you say a solder joint is as good as the wire itself, an excellent guide for the beginner., well done.
Hi there, my word, thank you so much, it's an honour to receive such kindly praise from a qualified tradesman, I'm nothing of the sort, I just get by and do these things for myself, most of us don't get the chance to learn things like this unless we do it for a job, so it's great to know we got the message across halfway right!
So glad you did this. Thank you! I learnt this in 5th grade and needed a refresher. That's nearly 28 years ago. I did some work on the bike recently and I was close but this really helped. May the force always be with both of you.
Another little job demystified! I'm the guy that drops blobs of solder onto the wire and wonders why it doesn't work. This is one of those things I've wanted to learn but don't know who to ask.Thanks for these vids Del and Penny I,ve learned so much since this lock down began.
Interesting to see how different people do this, if I'm joining wires I hold the soldering iron (with a flat tip) gently in the jaws of a vice (which becomes my "helping hand"), I then tin each wire separately, then it's super easy to just hold the two pieces of wire together on the tip of the iron and the two join in moments with none of that burning of the plastic on the wire and because you have already tinned the wires you don't need to use another hand to put more solder on the joint. I'm sure your way is fine Del but when I was studying for my electronics degree, this is how we were taught to do it.....great vid as ever - loving your work! - TMF
Stripping wire with a lighter was my favorite approach since it is really fast once you get the hang of it, I used to have a scar on the right thumb from the hot insulation. :) Your disclaimer 'I'm no electrician' is spot on since this method can only be used on thick wires that can handle all that heat. Awesome video for someone who wants to start learning the craft, but don't try this with thin wire and sensitive electronics.
If you burned your thumb with the insulation melt then you're doing it wrong buddy...lol.. you probably pulled off the melted wire like it was cold, and just thought that doing it quick was enough.. but as you found, it burns lol.... turn your thumb round and "flick" it off with your nails....the hot bit doesn't touch any skin that way... Duh, you'd never make a street hacker..lol..!
can't get it right every time and as the workload increases so does the chance to burn just below the nail, over time you get used to it, like woodworkers are used to splinters in their hands i guess. :)
Great vid as usual you two. What can I add to the pool of knowledge here? Maybe this: I was taught to solder using a gas soldering stove and a copper soldering Iron, (basically a lump of copper on a rod) - we were shown that solder always travels towards the heat, we had to practise by drawing with solder on a copper sheet, by holding the iron beneath the sheet and leading the molten solder on top along a path, some of the better ones could even write their signatures that way. Haven't done much plate soldering recently, but understanding that solder travels towards the heat can make difficult joints much easier. Thanks for all your hard work btw.
Learned a lot from your video !! Very thorough and no fluff talk about this and that!! You could be a teacher as you explain well and keep the subject tight and the student engrossed. good work! Cheers from Vancouver Island!!
Thank you for your kind words, and welcome aboard, we appreciate your subscription and hope that future videos can help you, plenty on the Channel to enjoy!
When I was taught to solder at school at gcse metal work or what ever it was. Cold soldering you refereed to is how they taught us to do it. Glad to know the teachers knew what they were on about.
I swear I am not a know it all but I do it like Delboy only heat the wire a bit hotter and it melts like butter and you will see the wire absorb the solder and no lumps in the solder. It is all one . You sir are one awesome mechanic and I love these videos. Most stuff I would not say anything but I promise, just heat the wire hotter and works prefect every time and you can see the copper absorb the solder.
Hi Del- this was really a great session. It actually brought back great memories of my dad teaching me as a youngster how to repair my transistor radio on his workbench. Dad’s passed on now, but he was an engineer in the early days of television. We used his vise to steady wires and I can still smell that special smell of the solder on the iron doing its job. Haven’t thought about those moments back then for a long time, so thanks for that. Funny how he had me practice over and over before doing the actual repair. He was quite the perfectionist. Oddly, he called it “soddering” and never pronounced the L. We didn’t have shrink wrap in those days so the soldering job had to be really tight and I guess we used tape on exposed parts. I’m a bit fuzzy on that bit. In any event, thanks again for the trip down memory lane. Good info for me too. Off to Hong Kong in the morning to see some Kiwi friends and then home Friday. Yahoo! Regards to both of you...
Hi Gary, my word, I bet that took you back... I've never really understood the 'soddering' thing, I understand that with the more common one where you guys say 'aloominum' is actually spelt differently, you don't put an 'i' next to the 'u' at the end, so is it the same, do you spelt 'soldering' as 'soddering'?? Or is is soldering, and you gyts just pronounce it that way?? Silly questions I know, but I just have always loved the pan-Atlantic differences we share... like the saying goes, two nations separated by a common language lol ... and I have to also admit to have always been a bit of an Ameri-phile, love all things American, specially from the south, or should I say of a southern mentality, if I was American I'd have a pick-up truck with a shotgun across the back window rather than a Prius and a sharp suit and an apartment in New York, I envy the life of a country boy... I guess it's because we grew up on a diet of Starsky and Hutch, Dukes of Hazzard, Columbo and, of course, Dirty Harry, so it kinda sticks I guess...! Envy your jet set life, safe travels... bet you'll be glad to be home!
Moonfleet41 Up early here now 425 am to pack and run to the airport. No jet set life for me. I’m a middle seat economy guy who buys used bikes and gets the bills paid LOL. Yes it’s soldering here too so the spelling the same. I remember back living In Pimlico and working in Potters Bar I’d get in trouble for using American words like pants and fanny that meant entirely different things to us and you folks. Have plenty of self deprecating stories to share should we get a chance to meet some day. Delaware is actually below the Mason Dixon line, so I suppose we qualify as southerners, despite the New York upbringing. No guns no pick up here yet, but there’s always time! Hehe. See ya, my friend, and thanks again. Happy Chinese New Year, too.
Nicely done del I've done quite a bit of soldering over the past few years and still got a few tips, this is 1 of those things that the 60s had almost nothing to do with but with more and more electrics becomes more n more soldering (hopefully not twisted joints)
Several great tips there, thanks -especially for someone who always says his soldering skills are poor (not as poor as mine, I promise you!) I’ve got some soldering to do, soon, and this was immensely helpful in showing me why I usually make such a cock of it. I don’t want a perfect electrician showing me this, I want real-world “what you’re likely to encounter” stuff, and that’s why your videos are so bloody brilliant. 👍
(P) Hi Del, got a soldering iron for Xmas to do repairs to my bass guitar electrics and amps. I was sure that I saw a Simple Skills soldering video of yours a year or so ago and lo and behold, I did! Thanks for creating this. The connections and wires are different but the application and skills are the same.
Hi Lewis, very much so mate, I'm no expert at this by any means, but with all things like this, I practice on scrap first and build up some skills and practice, then attack the real job, safer than buggering it up... good luck with your projects mate, and have a Happy new Year, thank you for your kind support, Del
I built a wiring harness from scratch for my old car, that electrical system was bomb proof and I was finished, I don't know why, but Suzukis from the 80's were plagued with electrical gremlins and the gauge wire used wasn't sufficient enough, connectors were all oxidized. I'm about to do the same with my Honda CB350F, got the wires, new connectors, etc. I'm finally going to upgrade to soldering station
Thanks Delboy...yet again another mystery unravelled..my soldering has always been hit and miss despite having one of those soldering stations and all the rest ...I certainly will try again
This is a skill for many jobs. Making custom length cables for my guitars etc is something I will be trying, also, dry joints are a constant problem with stage cables.
Ahhh takes me back to the good old days when I built my own project recording studio. I decided to hand wire the looms from the mixing desk to the patchbay rack (think GPO telephone exchange and you'll get the idea). Four looms of differing lengths all heatshrunk and soldered, over 1200 individual solder joints some on foil insulated stereo cable. It took quite a few days and evenings and saved me literally hundreds of pounds. Worked perfectly for years. Turned out I was a better at soldering than I was at songwriting haha! Still play a wicked lead guitar though!
you know at first I was thinking, "oh man I was expecting a better job", "that's not how you do it right", "del, the insulation is melting!" but then I realize all the help this'll be for the ppl that don't know how to solder and think "it's better than taking it to the dealer" awesome job!
I could have done a better job, and i did melt the insulation... and that was all down to having a low wattage soldering iron designed for circuit boards.... if i bought myself a 140W soldering gun.. it would have heated that wire in six seconds, so no heat transfer to the insulation..and if i could have found some Rosin flux over the counter i also could have used the much thinner fluxless solder i have, and that would have melted far sooner too.. so due to the lousy 40W cheap iron i have, and the fact i had to use the thicker flux core solder, it too ages to met in and that leas to the insulation melt... but i wanted to get just one main point over... to heat thew wire, and not the solder... once you have the principle.. all you need to do is practice aye..1 cheers mate.. Del.
just bought myself a gas powered soldering iron heats up in no time and you can use it anywhere. spot on with your tips del the simple skills are always a good watch remind me of my school days in the 70s
Good thorough and well put together video. It shows everyone a very simple, clear and factual basics of soldering. I forgot about the different solder. I always get the flux core, I thought the flux less stuff was just cheap crap that didn't work lol. I wish I listened more at school instead of burning holes in anything I could with the soldering iron lol. Take it easy and Ride safe bruv.
drain the non twisted wires in fluxpaste, now push them into each other like this movie and tin the point of the solderpen and after that hold the pen and heat up the wire, the fluxpaste sucks the tin from the pen very fast into the wire... thats an easy way to do it. When you do this the wire/silicone protection will not melt away because the heat build up will be fast and short... second tip: use a solderpen with a minimum of 25watts. Everything below that will take the heating process too long. Using normal 12v wire, i like 16awg wire or so.
A trick i sometimes use, is to clamp the iron in a vice, and tin the two wires and let the solder attach to the wire, and snip the solder to leave the desired amount for the job and then, press the two wires to the iron, that way, the solder and the iron takes care of themselves.
The soldering iron and some solder are the cheapest tools in my shed. I've probably only used it a dozen times on various jobs but when you need one it's a life saver. I'm grateful we got to learn this skill at college on one of my electronics modules.
(P) Well explained! Love a bit of soldering, also learnt it at school and from the old man. Had to extend the wires on the new led indicators when fitting to the Bonnie.
Great video. Just one little thing newbies might like to know; don't touch the lead with your fingers, it's toxic. the fumes are toxic as well, I suggest you solder in a well ventilated area.
David, its so common that some people here have even said they were taught that way in apprenticeships... no shame there buddy... now you know the right principles at least..
Thanks Byron, good to hear from you... it make a neat job that's all, nothing special.. Hope you're well and getting out on the bike already..! hope spring comes early for you buddy.
P...i consider myself able to solder wires done loads of little projects with this skill but watched the video any way turns i know squat about soldering but now i have seen the error of my ways and will be a better solderer in the future. top job derek thanks
Its so common to just blob the solder on the cold wires.. and it does kinda work most of the time.. but try some heat through soldering, maybe with a better iron than my cheap crappy item.. the quicker it heats through, the less heat transfer to the insulation you get.!
Fanning your joint makes a cleaner Connection which also makes heat shrinking look clean..fyi it also allows the solder to wick in with less heat..... Too much heat is never good for wire tends to fatigue, or turn brittle.... Good video
Sure thing buddy, I know it sounds a weird term, but cold soldering actually works most of the time, but it's not half as good of draining the solder through the joint completely... give it a go and have some fun!
I use a soldering iron tip cleaner (similar to flux coated pan scourer) to clean the tips of soldering iron, that way you don't loose heat by using wet sponge - I also use silicone grease on solder before heat shrink, helps with the water proofing - good video
those Wiha insulated screwdrivers are awesome. i like using them even when not working on electrical stuff just because of how damn comfortable and grippy that insulation is.
i still use flux got my second tin last year the first one lasted me about 35 years you always learn something from your vids even if you have done a bit of it yourself dont try it with a petrol lighter it soots up the joint i once spent 2 hours on a pub car park trying to solder with a petrol lighter
One of my top four subjects in school was electronics. Art was number one and number three was athletics and four was metalwork, I especially liked smelting/ I do however remember when we were given subjects to learn we had no choice. I did like electronics but with my bench being near a window I was frustrated with not being in the vehicle technology class as you would see the other kids going up and down the playground on homemade go-karts with RD 250 engines in lol
Hi Del and Penny Wow the value of a top rate electrical apprenticeship (Notwork Fail) - I was taught to drip hot solder onto a cold wire. I must say your job is a thousand times neater than my previous jobs so guess which way I'll be doing it now lol BTW the RT1200 I'm using as a blood bike, broke its shaft the other week after blowing a seal, plus a brake overhaul (not comfortable doing it myself on a BMW) £1400, OUCH Well ride safe and speak soon Mark
Hi Mark,.. bloody hell, OUCH on the shaft.. what a bummer.. they have a really reliable reputation until they finally do go wrong then they do it in style... Time for an FJR then id say..? and yeah, cant believe how many people were actually taught to cold solder.. it amazing..!
I'd expect better from that company though, explains all the delays though lol. And not a chance, not giving up on her yet, not now I'm getting it fixed, and the 3 headlights changed for proper LED Projector units so it's still legal...but it has put me off shaft drives a bit, next bike I think will be a ZZR1400 2nd gen, just because I can lol (and they look sooo mean), would be nice to walk out to an RT and ZZR14 in the morning lol
Nice vlog Del Boy. It's simple tips such as those that you've just shown that make things easier for us. I thought I was good at soldering but I've learnt a few things tonight that I didn't know. Keep the Simple Skills vlogs coming because they really are so helpful.
Hi Roy... Gonna do an FRO video soon on the misuse of the word vlog.... not being contrary.. but i SOOO hate that word.. it conjours up teenagers who waffle on about their breakfast and their latest gaming experience.... its not a "vlog" and im not a "Vlogger"... AAarrggh i hate that word...lol We are about producing educational and beneficial high quality video...which is long way from a video/blog... sorry,,,but it so rubs me up the wrong way mate..
I used to use a technique similar to yours until I stumbled across the technique NASA developed to use on their shuttles which deals with more substantial vibrations than what we would see. They separately tin the two wires and then lay them against each other parallel and then heat them together.
Thanks Paul.. if you're gonna buy a new soldering iron... get the highest wattage you can.. this 40W iron takes a bit too long to heat the wire, meaning the insulation gets a bit too hot for too long.. if you can buy a 100W sildering iron, ten it will heat the wire in seconds..and make the job a lot easier... its all practice mate.. so get stuck in.. thanks for watching... Del.
Yeah, its the single most common problem when we first do it.. the secret it a punch 100W soldering iron.. then it heats the wire so fast it will make a good sound solder every time.. buyt thewy are pricey and we never do it enough to make it worth the investment aye..!!
ideal way to do it BUT i put some flux on my wires before the heat them once the fluxed solder contacts with the hot wire the solder runs into the cable more quickly.. so no need to hold the heat on for so long.. and ending up in near on baking the existing outer sheathing... i use to fly model helicopters & soldered lots of ends onto lipo batterys so quickness is of the must.. or BANG LOL..
good video, i struggled with soldering for quite a while until i watched someone who knows what there doing.my shakey hands dont help though lol, good job del,
That was great ! The tips and tricks is the most important in this skills that as you said we are not going to do it everyday, the rest is practice. thanks a lot, Gus
very good tip delboy thats what iam doing wrong is cold wire more on the floor lol well i needed to watch this got some work on my 1982 yamaha xt i feel more convenient in doing the work now
Excellent tutorial Del as always. Accompanied by outstanding camera work by Penny Pitstop. I inherited a Soldering Iron from my Dad and I've been staring at it for years. I had no idea how to go about it and would never have thought about flux. I will give it a whirl and let you know. I have been using crush connectors till now and never really liked them. Seen them fail too many times.
Thanks for kind words Shannon on the videos...! If the soldering doesn't go well for you, then there are some more professional style crimp connectors that fold in on the wire and they're used by factories for OEM loom, and you need a special crimp tool and the crimps to go with it, and they will not fail... the straight forward flat crush connectors are a little unreliable and soldering? You must be good at it to make it secure, so practice makes perfect aye?!
not bad del good for the guys that dont no i have been soldering for 20 years now and can i tell you a bit about flux it not just for the flow of solder its a cleaner as well the bad thing about soldering is oxidation as you will no and the flux clean's the oxidation off to make the solder stick would like to recommend one flux that I use its AMTECH 559 its awsome thanks del
Very clearly explained bud, I leave my dad to do any electrical stuff I need doing that's his field! I have done the odd solder job but not a fan! Like yourself I would much rather be holding a spanner :D
Now if only I could find some advice on how to solder to a 'ring' connector - I find it really difficult to get the ring thing hot enough on a wire already on the bike. By ring adapter I mean one of those things you might use for an earth or battery connection
you can put up with the comments from the experts as long as they don't give you the cold solder !! sorry cold shoulder ! I'll get my coat.. xxxxxxxxxxxx😭xxxxxxxxxxx
Many thanks for another top video. Soldering is to only way to join wires. Tape, crimped fittings, twisted wires, block connectors, snap fit all work initially, but invariably fail when you least expect it. Soldering and a bit of heatshrink doesn't take any longer than nasty crimped fittings.
You are theMan , and let's not forget Penny of course. Love your channel, it's a normal working peoples channel, not some fancy **** , and very well explained, thumbs up for that. Have practically all your vids saved but one (skills) is missing to me. One question for you , if possible: I would like to see you, explain what wire we need to use, if we want to clean up, simplify, our wiring, from battery to ignition , coils , startmotor , cdi , blinkers , brakes and so on. I am rebuilding 2 older bikes i still own ( 25 - 35 years old), (suzuki intruder 1400 + CB 750 F). I want to simplify the wiring , but i am not sure what kind of gauge wire i schould use from beginning to end ? Maybe you could do an explanation on a wiring diagram and how everything works together , what thickness the wiring should be at least in differend cases. (i am Belgian, european, so in mm2), if this could ever happen. And if it should ever happen , an explanation on how to clean , rebuild carburetors. Keep this up man , this is my favorite channel , and i'm telling this to all my buddy's. Greetz from Kurt.
Like i said in the video, i couldn't find any Rosin flux in time... if i could have, then id have used the non fluxed wire which is thinner and melts sooner... used what i have buddy.
I'm fair at soldering, but I love your splice technique! Never thought of trying it that way. I'll also have to give a look to the NASA techniques mentioned in one of the other comments. Good stuff as always!
Nice video mate.. I used the same method, more or less, to solder the extension wires to apply on my apehangers. They are not looking so good as your but they do the job hehe R.I.P. \m/ Ride in peace
Ho.. this is not about someone who pass away, is a catchy word that I use to wish good rides.. I just used the rip with other meaning! ;) Ride in peace Thanks again for your awesome videos and all kind of tips, I have learned a lot with you man. I have a Suzuki Volusia 800 and a just bought a CBR 600 f2 that I am recovering, and thanks to you I am able to do it!
Hi Del, ever had a go at flow drilling (friction drilling)? More specialist i know but thought it could prove useful in the custom building scene, as your able to double the tapping lenghts/ thread count in thin profile metals. Apologies if this has been covered.
Just came across your vids and can i just say thankyou , at last ive found someone who tells it in plain simple terms , like you say were not all mechanics . PS i think Penny deserves a pay rise
I think you struggled because you contaminated the wires with grease/oil from your fingers when you were twisting. You should have cleaned them before soldering with an alcohol - ideally, isopropyl. A contact/brake cleaner would probably suffice.
(P) Thanks Del, I have watched 'how to' videos on soldering before but none of them ever said it takes up to a minute to get the wire hot enough before - I guess I am impatient and every previous joint I have made was a cold solder (oops). Time to learn some patience grasshopper...
Most soldering irons will take a full ten minutes to get up to temp before you can use them... if you used a 140 Watt soldering gun, or a gas torch..then they will get thew wire up to heat in an instant.. but this was a wimpy 40W iron for circuit boards..and they take way longer..
Also may mention that some Irons have hot spots(more commonly on cheap ones).. so you can rotate the Iron around till you find it, to get best results.. as you should not really be needing to burn the insulation as heat was there but not enough to get the solder to melt.
I didnt know about iron hot spots.. but i guess its possible.. TBH this was the wrong tip.. i usually use a "screwdriver" style tip that has a large flat area to transfer the heat better.... but the real issue was tha fact i was using a circuit board iron...40W is too low for soldering regular copper wires, if i had a 140W soldering gun.. it heats the wire to critical in about 6 seconds, and then the insulation doesnt melt..! use what you have aye..!!
Indeed, flat tip style does a nicer job.. but you can only do so much with the parts at hand.. And every one should be able to find one of the cheap styles anywhere.
Hi Del and Penny everyones a critic .... the clue is in the title .... Simple Skills ... ie, if you didn't know how to do it .... you do now .... The more you Practice ... the better you will become .... the more you Need it .. the more extensive kit you'll buy, etc,etc.
love the video, I am catching up on your videos slowly but surely. my neighbor God Rest his soul .had the same set up like yours but his clamp wire holder was bigger... I got a different soldering gun and I am going to start practicing I like your method a lot.
Moonfleet41 but isn't the thickness of wire doubled in the joint? I am a total amateur I hope I don't sound like a troll. But aren't there double the amount of wires in the joint not including the solder. Sorry I'm just curious not meaning to be a pain! I am a new subscriber too you and I loved your plastic weld video! Very grateful for the advise! 👍🏻
Hi Dom.. please done apologise., the only stupid question is the one you dont ask, just before you bugger it up...lol Ok, you make a valid point, but the "doubling" of the wire will not cover the point where you have cut the insulation.. and that is the point that will remain thinner.. you do entwine the wires, and yes that makes them double.. but you dont wrap that wire over the insulation, and thats where the cut wires are.. so thats the exact point that will heat up and burn the insulation, causing a fire... so just be careful buddy, no cut strands aye..Lol Thanks for your sub, welcome aboard, and enjoy the videos... Del.
Hi Del, I have a question and need your opinion about this: I have an Sportster 1200, year 09, 6,000 miles on it, I have been running this bike on SAE 60 according to the recommendations of the Harley dealer here in Miami, where the average temp. all year is 85 degrees . I want to switch to a Synthetic oil. Should I go to 20-50 W, or keep the grade SAE 60 Synthetic ? I'll appreciate your opinion. Best regards Pedro Bernal
Hi Pedro, you are using what is known as a 'mono grade' '60' refers to the thickness of the oil, I'm sure you realise that. If you switch to a 20W/50 - you then have a multi-grade, and just in case you don't know, this means in super cold weather you have a 20 weight oil that will be thin enough to run through the oil ways fast and efficiently, but in super hot weather, you have a 50 weight oil, which is perfectly fine for even up to 100degrees... 60w is really too thick for anything other than Arizona temperatures. The reason multi-grades are good is that your oil has the ability to protect your engine in fluctuating temperatures, and I know you said Miami, but I bet it gets cold there at night in winter, just like it does in Arizona... so for all my Harleys, I use a multi-grade fully synthetic oil, this gives me great protection for all weathers, and the best oil for any Harley is 'Screamin' Eagle Syn3'... not only can you use this in the oil tank under the seat to protect your engine, but also you can use it in your primary transmission case on the left hand side to protect your primary chain and clutch, it's one oil for your whole bike and recommended for Harleys... that's what I use, hope that helps you Sir....
(p) Re soldered my aged heated waistcoat using the small blow torch / lighter thing and got a great result, really smooth. Then it stopped working and my 8 year old stepped on it. NEVER let a bored child into your man cave.
(P) Hi Del... Good video as always... One "tip" when using soldering irons: Once you've soldered a joint or wire etc, wipe the tip on the sponge, and then tin the soldering iron tip and leave it on there...especially before you turn the iron off... This will stop the tip from corroding.... A corroded tip will not solder anything. Also...when soldering wires, if possible, bend the wire so the exposed part being soldered is higher than the rest of the wire....heat rises, so it stops the insulation from melting. As others have said, you can tin each wire, then lay them together, heat them and let them melt together, and this does work...Though my old college teacher said to make a good mechanical joint first by twisting the wires, and then solder them.
I ended up having to use flux paste on my Aprilia wires... they were too thin to take much heating without melting the insulation down the wire. I was taking out the brown connector pugs that go high resistance due to corrosion from the charging system. I also had a go with some old lead solder I found... Much better; but of course naughty these days.
A flat tipped soldering iron would make this easier as it distributes heat better to the wire. Good advice but you held the iron too long on the wires so the insulation melted back. 10 seconds and you can make a good joint with a broader iron tip. Just saying but still good advice for novices.
Thumbs up for a decent video, but you should be able to get the wires hot enough in 3-4 seconds....your soldering iron is not hot enough, or too low a wattage....otherwise.....great job.....oh, by the way....I've been doing this stuff for over 60 years.....My Dad was electronics engineer, taught me to solder when I was about 5......no heatshrink then, it was friction tape......
Hi Doug.. yes indeed.. its 40W iron, took too long to heat through... typically i should have got an 80W or even 100W iron.. but i bought it for the video only, and it was cheap enough to make the point and not brake the bank.. ! Thanks for your insight my friend.. Del.
Yes mate... once in regular use the "Tin" will always be there, so just wipe it on the damp sponge to get rid of any carbon ,and all a little more.. then ad some at the point you touch the tip under the wire so you have a wet joint..!
Hi Tony... yeah, there's always an easy product that gets us out of the mire aye... hope you and Miss Glam are all well and working hard... see you out and about this season aye matey.. ?!
(p) Three hands and extra appendages are as common as muck out on Romney Marsh in sunny Kent. I blame the organo phosphates and families being wayyy too close.
Coincidentaly I have just spent the day soldering for my garage 12volt system, I would recommend using a flat tip for soldering wires it takes a lot less time and you dont get so much melting of the insulation. The pointed tips are better for soldering stuff onto circuit boards and such like. I use flux even if I am using flux core, it helps make the solder flow better, plus I still have a stock of proper lead solder which is better again. I also tend to give the joint a wipe over with a clean wet cloth not long afterwards to clean off the crud.
This is a very good instructional video on basic soldering. My trade is an electrician and when I did my apprenticeship (with Michael Farraday I think it was - long time ago!) we used to older all sorts of things, Tee joints, married joints, fitting welding cables to clamps and so on. It is a skill that does not get used as much now which is a shame. On a motorbike crimp joints are normally used but good old solder gives a superior joint as crimps can be affected by wet weather causing oxidisation of the conductor and the monkey metal the crimp is made of . As you say a solder joint is as good as the wire itself, an excellent guide for the beginner., well done.
Hi there, my word, thank you so much, it's an honour to receive such kindly praise from a qualified tradesman, I'm nothing of the sort, I just get by and do these things for myself, most of us don't get the chance to learn things like this unless we do it for a job, so it's great to know we got the message across halfway right!
So glad you did this. Thank you!
I learnt this in 5th grade and needed a refresher. That's nearly 28 years ago. I did some work on the bike recently and I was close but this really helped.
May the force always be with both of you.
Thanks buddy... dont you mean "May the force not catch you"...!!? lol
Haha... Touché
Another little job demystified! I'm the guy that drops blobs of solder onto the wire and wonders why it doesn't work. This is one of those things I've wanted to learn but don't know who to ask.Thanks for these vids Del and Penny I,ve learned so much since this lock down began.
Thanks Chris, glad you enjoy the videos, and that they've been helpful, it's great to know, be safe and keep well, D&Px
Interesting to see how different people do this, if I'm joining wires I hold the soldering iron (with a flat tip) gently in the jaws of a vice (which becomes my "helping hand"), I then tin each wire separately, then it's super easy to just hold the two pieces of wire together on the tip of the iron and the two join in moments with none of that burning of the plastic on the wire and because you have already tinned the wires you don't need to use another hand to put more solder on the joint. I'm sure your way is fine Del but when I was studying for my electronics degree, this is how we were taught to do it.....great vid as ever - loving your work! - TMF
Yeah, two other people have described this method... so it must be a legitimate and respected method for sure..! thanks mate.
TMF, it would be nice if you posted a video demonstrating your method. I'm a subscriber so I'd see it when posted.
Stripping wire with a lighter was my favorite approach since it is really fast once you get the hang of it, I used to have a scar on the right thumb from the hot insulation. :)
Your disclaimer 'I'm no electrician' is spot on since this method can only be used on thick wires that can handle all that heat. Awesome video for someone who wants to start learning the craft, but don't try this with thin wire and sensitive electronics.
If you burned your thumb with the insulation melt then you're doing it wrong buddy...lol.. you probably pulled off the melted wire like it was cold, and just thought that doing it quick was enough.. but as you found, it burns lol.... turn your thumb round and "flick" it off with your nails....the hot bit doesn't touch any skin that way... Duh, you'd never make a street hacker..lol..!
can't get it right every time and as the workload increases so does the chance to burn just below the nail, over time you get used to it, like woodworkers are used to splinters in their hands i guess. :)
Great vid as usual you two. What can I add to the pool of knowledge here?
Maybe this: I was taught to solder using a gas soldering stove and a copper soldering Iron, (basically a lump of copper on a rod) - we were shown that solder always travels towards the heat, we had to practise by drawing with solder on a copper sheet, by holding the iron beneath the sheet and leading the molten solder on top along a path, some of the better ones could even write their signatures that way.
Haven't done much plate soldering recently, but understanding that solder travels towards the heat can make difficult joints much easier.
Thanks for all your hard work btw.
Nice info David... thanks for your input buddy.
Learned a lot from your video !! Very thorough and no fluff talk about this and that!! You could be a teacher as you explain well and keep the subject tight and the student engrossed. good work! Cheers from Vancouver Island!!
Thank you for your kind words, and welcome aboard, we appreciate your subscription and hope that future videos can help you, plenty on the Channel to enjoy!
When I was taught to solder at school at gcse metal work or what ever it was. Cold soldering you refereed to is how they taught us to do it. Glad to know the teachers knew what they were on about.
Ha ha... well ,not all teachers know everything aye..!
I swear I am not a know it all but I do it like Delboy only heat the wire a bit hotter and it melts like butter and you will see the wire absorb the solder and no lumps in the solder. It is all one . You sir are one awesome mechanic and I love these videos. Most stuff I would not say anything but I promise, just heat the wire hotter and works prefect every time and you can see the copper absorb the solder.
Hi Del- this was really a great session. It actually brought back great memories of my dad teaching me as a youngster how to repair my transistor radio on his workbench. Dad’s passed on now, but he was an engineer in the early days of television. We used his vise to steady wires and I can still smell that special smell of the solder on the iron doing its job. Haven’t thought about those moments back then for a long time, so thanks for that. Funny how he had me practice over and over before doing the actual repair. He was quite the perfectionist. Oddly, he called it “soddering” and never pronounced the L. We didn’t have shrink wrap in those days so the soldering job had to be really tight and I guess we used tape on exposed parts. I’m a bit fuzzy on that bit. In any event, thanks again for the trip down memory lane. Good info for me too. Off to Hong Kong in the morning to see some Kiwi friends and then home Friday. Yahoo! Regards to both of you...
Hi Gary, my word, I bet that took you back... I've never really understood the 'soddering' thing, I understand that with the more common one where you guys say 'aloominum' is actually spelt differently, you don't put an 'i' next to the 'u' at the end, so is it the same, do you spelt 'soldering' as 'soddering'?? Or is is soldering, and you gyts just pronounce it that way?? Silly questions I know, but I just have always loved the pan-Atlantic differences we share... like the saying goes, two nations separated by a common language lol ... and I have to also admit to have always been a bit of an Ameri-phile, love all things American, specially from the south, or should I say of a southern mentality, if I was American I'd have a pick-up truck with a shotgun across the back window rather than a Prius and a sharp suit and an apartment in New York, I envy the life of a country boy... I guess it's because we grew up on a diet of Starsky and Hutch, Dukes of Hazzard, Columbo and, of course, Dirty Harry, so it kinda sticks I guess...! Envy your jet set life, safe travels... bet you'll be glad to be home!
Moonfleet41 Up early here now 425 am to pack and run to the airport. No jet set life for me. I’m a middle seat economy guy who buys used bikes and gets the bills paid LOL. Yes it’s soldering here too so the spelling the same. I remember back living In Pimlico and working in Potters Bar I’d get in trouble for using American words like pants and fanny that meant entirely different things to us and you folks. Have plenty of self deprecating stories to share should we get a chance to meet some day. Delaware is actually below the Mason Dixon line, so I suppose we qualify as southerners, despite the New York upbringing. No guns no pick up here yet, but there’s always time! Hehe. See ya, my friend, and thanks again. Happy Chinese New Year, too.
Nicely done del I've done quite a bit of soldering over the past few years and still got a few tips, this is 1 of those things that the 60s had almost nothing to do with but with more and more electrics becomes more n more soldering (hopefully not twisted joints)
Several great tips there, thanks -especially for someone who always says his soldering skills are poor (not as poor as mine, I promise you!) I’ve got some soldering to do, soon, and this was immensely helpful in showing me why I usually make such a cock of it. I don’t want a perfect electrician showing me this, I want real-world “what you’re likely to encounter” stuff, and that’s why your videos are so bloody brilliant. 👍
Thank you buddy, it is certainly an acquired skill and benefits from practice, but once you've got the basics nailed down, you'll soon get good at it!
(P) Hi Del, got a soldering iron for Xmas to do repairs to my bass guitar electrics and amps. I was sure that I saw a Simple Skills soldering video of yours a year or so ago and lo and behold, I did! Thanks for creating this. The connections and wires are different but the application and skills are the same.
Hi Lewis, very much so mate, I'm no expert at this by any means, but with all things like this, I practice on scrap first and build up some skills and practice, then attack the real job, safer than buggering it up... good luck with your projects mate, and have a Happy new Year, thank you for your kind support, Del
I built a wiring harness from scratch for my old car, that electrical system was bomb proof and I was finished, I don't know why, but Suzukis from the 80's were plagued with electrical gremlins and the gauge wire used wasn't sufficient enough, connectors were all oxidized. I'm about to do the same with my Honda CB350F, got the wires, new connectors, etc. I'm finally going to upgrade to soldering station
Thanks Delboy...yet again another mystery unravelled..my soldering has always been hit and miss despite having one of those soldering stations and all the rest ...I certainly will try again
Thnaks Del & Penny! I asked for soldering because I expected and watched a clear well presented video. Good stuff guys.
Thanks buddy.. happy you like it.. D&Px
This is a skill for many jobs. Making custom length cables for my guitars etc is something I will be trying, also, dry joints are a constant problem with stage cables.
Ahhh takes me back to the good old days when I built my own project recording studio. I decided to hand wire the looms from the mixing desk to the patchbay rack (think GPO telephone exchange and you'll get the idea). Four looms of differing lengths all heatshrunk and soldered, over 1200 individual solder joints some on foil insulated stereo cable. It took quite a few days and evenings and saved me literally hundreds of pounds. Worked perfectly for years. Turned out I was a better at soldering than I was at songwriting haha! Still play a wicked lead guitar though!
Well thats the skill i woyukd swap all my bike skills for.. to play a mean guitar is a thing to envy mate..!
you know at first I was thinking, "oh man I was expecting a better job", "that's not how you do it right", "del, the insulation is melting!"
but then I realize all the help this'll be for the ppl that don't know how to solder and think "it's better than taking it to the dealer"
awesome job!
I could have done a better job, and i did melt the insulation... and that was all down to having a low wattage soldering iron designed for circuit boards.... if i bought myself a 140W soldering gun.. it would have heated that wire in six seconds, so no heat transfer to the insulation..and if i could have found some Rosin flux over the counter i also could have used the much thinner fluxless solder i have, and that would have melted far sooner too.. so due to the lousy 40W cheap iron i have, and the fact i had to use the thicker flux core solder, it too ages to met in and that leas to the insulation melt... but i wanted to get just one main point over... to heat thew wire, and not the solder... once you have the principle.. all you need to do is practice aye..1 cheers mate.. Del.
Very true my friend, You guys do an amazing job, keep up the good work please. :)
just bought myself a gas powered soldering iron heats up in no time and you can use it anywhere. spot on with your tips del the simple skills are always a good watch remind me of my school days in the 70s
Adhesive lined heat shrink is also huge. Makes weatherproof joints.
Good thorough and well put together video. It shows everyone a very simple, clear and factual basics of soldering. I forgot about the different solder. I always get the flux core, I thought the flux less stuff was just cheap crap that didn't work lol. I wish I listened more at school instead of burning holes in anything I could with the soldering iron lol. Take it easy and Ride safe bruv.
Ha ha... remember what a soldering iron did to an ant... we was wicked we was...lol
And beetles lol
Always tin the wires first, the cables join a lot quicker.
Difficult to twist low gauge wire after tinning. Therefore use a lash splice joint
You don't need to twist them.
drain the non twisted wires in fluxpaste, now push them into each other like this movie and tin the point of the solderpen and after that hold the pen and heat up the wire, the fluxpaste sucks the tin from the pen very fast into the wire... thats an easy way to do it. When you do this the wire/silicone protection will not melt away because the heat build up will be fast and short... second tip: use a solderpen with a minimum of 25watts. Everything below that will take the heating process too long. Using normal 12v wire, i like 16awg wire or so.
Brilliant video and some fantastic camera work to, well done both of you, regards Stu
Thanks Stu.. she is my little Princess... !
A trick i sometimes use, is to clamp the iron in a vice, and tin the two wires and let the solder attach to the wire, and snip the solder to leave the desired amount for the job and then, press the two wires to the iron, that way, the solder and the iron takes care of themselves.
Genius... see, now that's why i love TH-cam.. im actually gonna try that to.. nice one mate.!
The soldering iron and some solder are the cheapest tools in my shed. I've probably only used it a dozen times on various jobs but when you need one it's a life saver. I'm grateful we got to learn this skill at college on one of my electronics modules.
Yeah, i learned it at school too... but i still need to practice every time i do it..lol Good you hear from you buddy. .!
(P) Well explained! Love a bit of soldering, also learnt it at school and from the old man. Had to extend the wires on the new led indicators when fitting to the Bonnie.
I guess you had to extend them so you could fit them indicators long enough to wind that massive single bungee round when we go camping right...?
Great video. Just one little thing newbies might like to know; don't touch the lead with your fingers, it's toxic. the fumes are toxic as well, I suggest you solder in a well ventilated area.
Most solder is "lead free" now buddy.. its almost impossible to buy lead solder now..! it was better because it melts and flows cooler...
Great video Del and Penny, feel like a right wally now as I was doing the cold soldering technique, found this very useful thankyou :)
David, its so common that some people here have even said they were taught that way in apprenticeships... no shame there buddy... now you know the right principles at least..
Oh, I like that "Mesh" style of joining wires... Never seen that before. Well done mate! Really appreciate the "Simple Skills" vids. Hi to Penny!
Thanks Byron, good to hear from you... it make a neat job that's all, nothing special.. Hope you're well and getting out on the bike already..! hope spring comes early for you buddy.
P...i consider myself able to solder wires done loads of little projects with this skill but watched the video any way turns i know squat about soldering but now i have seen the error of my ways and will be a better solderer in the future. top job derek thanks
Its so common to just blob the solder on the cold wires.. and it does kinda work most of the time.. but try some heat through soldering, maybe with a better iron than my cheap crappy item.. the quicker it heats through, the less heat transfer to the insulation you get.!
Fanning your joint makes a cleaner Connection which also makes heat shrinking look clean..fyi it also allows the solder to wick in with less heat..... Too much heat is never good for wire tends to fatigue, or turn brittle.... Good video
Another great video Del "n" Penny ..many thanks..ive just learned ive been cold soldering for years..time to enhance new skills ..thanks Guys
Sure thing buddy, I know it sounds a weird term, but cold soldering actually works most of the time, but it's not half as good of draining the solder through the joint completely... give it a go and have some fun!
just what I needed a simple guide before I attempt to solder a wire on my bike tomorrow
Good luck with it Laurence.
I use a soldering iron tip cleaner (similar to flux coated pan scourer) to clean the tips of soldering iron, that way you don't loose heat by using wet sponge - I also use silicone grease on solder before heat shrink, helps with the water proofing - good video
Thanks for the info!
those Wiha insulated screwdrivers are awesome. i like using them even when not working on electrical stuff just because of how damn comfortable and grippy that insulation is.
Great tips Thanks. Keep the videos coming 👍👍
Thanks, will do!
i still use flux got my second tin last year the first one lasted me about 35 years you always learn something from your vids even if you have done a bit of it yourself dont try it with a petrol lighter it soots up the joint i once spent 2 hours on a pub car park trying to solder with a petrol lighter
If you use these jet lighter they emit a clean blue flame....!
thanks for the tip baz it was many years ago i had to ride back from the pub with no head light
One of my top four subjects in school was electronics. Art was number one and number three was athletics and four was metalwork, I especially liked smelting/
I do however remember when we were given subjects to learn we had no choice. I did like electronics but with my bench being near a window I was frustrated with not being in the vehicle technology class as you would see the other kids going up and down the playground on homemade go-karts with RD 250 engines in lol
Hi Del and Penny
Wow the value of a top rate electrical apprenticeship (Notwork Fail) - I was taught to drip hot solder onto a cold wire. I must say your job is a thousand times neater than my previous jobs so guess which way I'll be doing it now lol
BTW the RT1200 I'm using as a blood bike, broke its shaft the other week after blowing a seal, plus a brake overhaul (not comfortable doing it myself on a BMW) £1400, OUCH
Well ride safe and speak soon
Mark
Hi Mark,.. bloody hell, OUCH on the shaft.. what a bummer.. they have a really reliable reputation until they finally do go wrong then they do it in style... Time for an FJR then id say..? and yeah, cant believe how many people were actually taught to cold solder.. it amazing..!
I'd expect better from that company though, explains all the delays though lol.
And not a chance, not giving up on her yet, not now I'm getting it fixed, and the 3 headlights changed for proper LED Projector units so it's still legal...but it has put me off shaft drives a bit, next bike I think will be a ZZR1400 2nd gen, just because I can lol (and they look sooo mean), would be nice to walk out to an RT and ZZR14 in the morning lol
Nice vlog Del Boy. It's simple tips such as those that you've just shown that make things easier for us. I thought I was good at soldering but I've learnt a few things tonight that I didn't know. Keep the Simple Skills vlogs coming because they really are so helpful.
Hi Roy... Gonna do an FRO video soon on the misuse of the word vlog.... not being contrary.. but i SOOO hate that word.. it conjours up teenagers who waffle on about their breakfast and their latest gaming experience.... its not a "vlog" and im not a "Vlogger"... AAarrggh i hate that word...lol We are about producing educational and beneficial high quality video...which is long way from a video/blog... sorry,,,but it so rubs me up the wrong way mate..
I used to use a technique similar to yours until I stumbled across the technique NASA developed to use on their shuttles which deals with more substantial vibrations than what we would see. They separately tin the two wires and then lay them against each other parallel and then heat them together.
(AFAIK) Only in conjunction with lashing or solder sleeves. Nasa splice methods are a good read :)
Good point: dont let the solder form the mechanical joint, hence, the use of lashing with SWG.
thanks del and penny I was soldering totally wrong IE not heating the material I'm soldering thank you for putting me right keep up the good work. 😎
Thanks Paul.. if you're gonna buy a new soldering iron... get the highest wattage you can.. this 40W iron takes a bit too long to heat the wire, meaning the insulation gets a bit too hot for too long.. if you can buy a 100W sildering iron, ten it will heat the wire in seconds..and make the job a lot easier... its all practice mate.. so get stuck in.. thanks for watching... Del.
Have soldiered a few time but now I know I've been cold soldering and that's why I've always found it hard to get a secure and neat connection.
Yeah, its the single most common problem when we first do it.. the secret it a punch 100W soldering iron.. then it heats the wire so fast it will make a good sound solder every time.. buyt thewy are pricey and we never do it enough to make it worth the investment aye..!!
ideal way to do it BUT i put some flux on my wires before the heat them once the fluxed solder contacts with the hot wire the solder runs into the cable more quickly.. so no need to hold the heat on for so long.. and ending up in near on baking the existing outer sheathing... i use to fly model helicopters & soldered lots of ends onto lipo batterys so quickness is of the must.. or BANG LOL..
good video, i struggled with soldering for quite a while until i watched someone who knows what there doing.my shakey hands dont help though lol, good job del,
Its not as simple as it seems aye.. a bit like TIG welding, the principles are easy.. but mastering it takes a lot of practice..
Very similar to what my 'late' father taught me and some extra good tips :)Penny, Great camera work.
Brilliant.....now I understand what I was doing wrong! Many thanks.
Thanks for your kind words Paul, hope it helped!
That was great ! The tips and tricks is the most important in this skills that as you said we are not going to do it everyday, the rest is practice. thanks a lot, Gus
Exactly that Gus, watch a few more of the great videos on this that are already on the tube.. then get practicing..
Excellent Demo
I love the practice practice solution to succeed at your work.
very good tip delboy thats what iam doing wrong is cold wire more on the floor lol well i needed to watch this got some work on my 1982 yamaha xt i feel more convenient in doing the work now
Just practice a little Dai, its all in the practice.. good luck matey..
Excellent tutorial Del as always. Accompanied by outstanding camera work by Penny Pitstop. I inherited a Soldering Iron from my Dad and I've been staring at it for years. I had no idea how to go about it and would never have thought about flux. I will give it a whirl and let you know. I have been using crush connectors till now and never really liked them. Seen them fail too many times.
Thanks for kind words Shannon on the videos...! If the soldering doesn't go well for you, then there are some more professional style crimp connectors that fold in on the wire and they're used by factories for OEM loom, and you need a special crimp tool and the crimps to go with it, and they will not fail... the straight forward flat crush connectors are a little unreliable and soldering? You must be good at it to make it secure, so practice makes perfect aye?!
not bad del good for the guys that dont no i have been soldering for 20 years now and can i tell you a bit about flux it not just for the flow of solder its a cleaner as well the bad thing about soldering is oxidation as you will no and the flux clean's the oxidation off to make the solder stick would like to recommend one flux that I use its AMTECH 559 its awsome thanks del
Thanks buddy.. good to hear from those who know...!
Very clearly explained bud, I leave my dad to do any electrical stuff I need doing that's his field! I have done the odd solder job but not a fan! Like yourself I would much rather be holding a spanner :D
Exactly that mate... i do it every chance i get.. but thats still not more then a few times a year..! lol
Now if only I could find some advice on how to solder to a 'ring' connector - I find it really difficult to get the ring thing hot enough on a wire already on the bike. By ring adapter I mean one of those things you might use for an earth or battery connection
Was wondering your opinion on heat shrink solder sleeves as all you do is pop them on and heat them until they shrink
i spent over an hour making joints today too, in fact i`m making one now!
you can put up with the comments from the experts as long as they don't give you the cold solder !!
sorry cold shoulder !
I'll get my coat..
xxxxxxxxxxxx😭xxxxxxxxxxx
ha ha.. trust you to make an intellijunt comnent..! ill get you your hat too mate.!
Many thanks for another top video. Soldering is to only way to join wires. Tape, crimped fittings, twisted wires, block connectors, snap fit all work initially, but invariably fail when you least expect it. Soldering and a bit of heatshrink doesn't take any longer than nasty crimped fittings.
Just fabulous....
You are theMan , and let's not forget Penny of course.
Love your channel, it's a normal working peoples channel, not some fancy **** , and very well explained, thumbs up for that.
Have practically all your vids saved but one (skills) is missing to me.
One question for you , if possible:
I would like to see you, explain what wire we need to use, if we want to clean up, simplify, our wiring, from battery to ignition , coils , startmotor , cdi , blinkers , brakes and so on.
I am rebuilding 2 older bikes i still own ( 25 - 35 years old), (suzuki intruder 1400 + CB 750 F). I want to simplify the wiring , but i am not sure what kind of gauge wire i schould use from beginning to end ?
Maybe you could do an explanation on a wiring diagram and how everything works together , what thickness the wiring should be at least in differend cases. (i am Belgian, european, so in mm2), if this could ever happen.
And if it should ever happen , an explanation on how to clean , rebuild carburetors.
Keep this up man , this is my favorite channel , and i'm telling this to all my buddy's.
Greetz from Kurt.
Another good video Del, I got a few tips off that, but one thing I would say is flux on the wires before heating!! Otherwise 9out of 10 Ha Ha.
Like i said in the video, i couldn't find any Rosin flux in time... if i could have, then id have used the non fluxed wire which is thinner and melts sooner... used what i have buddy.
I'm fair at soldering, but I love your splice technique! Never thought of trying it that way. I'll also have to give a look to the NASA techniques mentioned in one of the other comments. Good stuff as always!
Yeah, its all about the practice mate,, find what works best for you aye..
Nice video mate..
I used the same method, more or less, to solder the extension wires to apply on my apehangers.
They are not looking so good as your but they do the job hehe
R.I.P. \m/ Ride in peace
Thanks buddy... who was the last part of your message for..! ?
Ho.. this is not about someone who pass away, is a catchy word that I use to wish good rides..
I just used the rip with other meaning! ;) Ride in peace
Thanks again for your awesome videos and all kind of tips, I have learned a lot with you man.
I have a Suzuki Volusia 800 and a just bought a CBR 600 f2 that I am recovering, and thanks to you I am able to do it!
Oh I also use thinner solder and maybe that helps.
That was a good basic technique to practice for anyone who want know how to solder.....
thanks D/P ...R.S............
Nice one Del! I make drones in my spare time but every bit of advice helps!
What an awesome toy they are buddy.. envy you.
What a top tip - Soft jaws :) Superb my good Sir.
Thanks for the video D&P, it's something I've always wanted to learn but never got around to it. Cheers!
Fanstanstic video put it my helpful videos
Hi Del, ever had a go at flow drilling (friction drilling)? More specialist i know but thought it could prove useful in the custom building scene, as your able to double the tapping lenghts/ thread count in thin profile metals. Apologies if this has been covered.
Hi Ronnie, no mate, not done that before..!
Maybe worth a look. Tools ain't the cheapest but results look advantageous.
Just came across your vids and can i just say thankyou , at last ive found someone who tells it in plain simple terms , like you say were not all mechanics . PS i think Penny deserves a pay rise
Thanks Mike, Thats very kind of you my friend, simple stuff aye. ! and yes, Penny is priceless.
I think you struggled because you contaminated the wires with grease/oil from your fingers when you were twisting. You should have cleaned them before soldering with an alcohol - ideally, isopropyl. A contact/brake cleaner would probably suffice.
(P) Thanks Del, I have watched 'how to' videos on soldering before but none of them ever said it takes up to a minute to get the wire hot enough before - I guess I am impatient and every previous joint I have made was a cold solder (oops). Time to learn some patience grasshopper...
oh and about how long does it take for the iron to get totally up to temp before trying to use it?
Most soldering irons will take a full ten minutes to get up to temp before you can use them... if you used a 140 Watt soldering gun, or a gas torch..then they will get thew wire up to heat in an instant.. but this was a wimpy 40W iron for circuit boards..and they take way longer..
Also may mention that some Irons have hot spots(more commonly on cheap ones).. so you can rotate the Iron around till you find it, to get best results.. as you should not really be needing to burn the insulation as heat was there but not enough to get the solder to melt.
I didnt know about iron hot spots.. but i guess its possible.. TBH this was the wrong tip.. i usually use a "screwdriver" style tip that has a large flat area to transfer the heat better.... but the real issue was tha fact i was using a circuit board iron...40W is too low for soldering regular copper wires, if i had a 140W soldering gun.. it heats the wire to critical in about 6 seconds, and then the insulation doesnt melt..! use what you have aye..!!
Indeed, flat tip style does a nicer job.. but you can only do so much with the parts at hand..
And every one should be able to find one of the cheap styles anywhere.
Hi Del and Penny
everyones a critic .... the clue is in the title .... Simple Skills ... ie, if you didn't know how to do it .... you do now .... The more you Practice ... the better you will become .... the more you Need it .. the more extensive kit you'll buy, etc,etc.
s39 !! every time, works quick an clean.
Thanks for this video! Time to buy big bars for my Harley :)
love the video, I am catching up on your videos slowly but surely. my neighbor God Rest his soul .had the same set up like yours but his clamp wire holder was bigger... I got a different soldering gun and I am going to start practicing I like your method a lot.
Thanks Paul, really appreciate you catching up, good luck with the soldering, it can be really useful when you need it...!
If you lose a few strands of wire or even half the strands when stripping them, does it actually matter? as you are doubling them where the joint is.
Yes it matters buddy.. any point where there are less strands will build up electrical resistance and heat..!
Moonfleet41 but isn't the thickness of wire doubled in the joint? I am a total amateur I hope I don't sound like a troll. But aren't there double the amount of wires in the joint not including the solder. Sorry I'm just curious not meaning to be a pain! I am a new subscriber too you and I loved your plastic weld video! Very grateful for the advise! 👍🏻
Hi Dom.. please done apologise., the only stupid question is the one you dont ask, just before you bugger it up...lol
Ok, you make a valid point, but the "doubling" of the wire will not cover the point where you have cut the insulation.. and that is the point that will remain thinner.. you do entwine the wires, and yes that makes them double.. but you dont wrap that wire over the insulation, and thats where the cut wires are.. so thats the exact point that will heat up and burn the insulation, causing a fire... so just be careful buddy, no cut strands aye..Lol
Thanks for your sub, welcome aboard, and enjoy the videos...
Del.
Moonfleet41 thanks for your videos! And thanks for explaining! Keep up the good work! It really does help! Especially for newbies like me! 😊
Hi Del, I have a question and need your opinion about this:
I have an Sportster 1200, year 09, 6,000 miles on it, I have been running this bike on SAE 60 according to the recommendations of the Harley dealer here in Miami, where the average temp. all year is 85 degrees .
I want to switch to a Synthetic oil.
Should I go to 20-50 W, or keep the grade SAE 60 Synthetic ?
I'll appreciate your opinion.
Best regards
Pedro Bernal
Hi Pedro, you are using what is known as a 'mono grade' '60' refers to the thickness of the oil, I'm sure you realise that. If you switch to a 20W/50 - you then have a multi-grade, and just in case you don't know, this means in super cold weather you have a 20 weight oil that will be thin enough to run through the oil ways fast and efficiently, but in super hot weather, you have a 50 weight oil, which is perfectly fine for even up to 100degrees... 60w is really too thick for anything other than Arizona temperatures.
The reason multi-grades are good is that your oil has the ability to protect your engine in fluctuating temperatures, and I know you said Miami, but I bet it gets cold there at night in winter, just like it does in Arizona... so for all my Harleys, I use a multi-grade fully synthetic oil, this gives me great protection for all weathers, and the best oil for any Harley is 'Screamin' Eagle Syn3'... not only can you use this in the oil tank under the seat to protect your engine, but also you can use it in your primary transmission case on the left hand side to protect your primary chain and clutch, it's one oil for your whole bike and recommended for Harleys... that's what I use, hope that helps you Sir....
Thanks for your prompt and helpful response.
best regards
P. Bernal
great little vid cheers delboy n penny you got me nipping out for a soldering kit lol
(p) Re soldered my aged heated waistcoat using the small blow torch / lighter thing and got a great result, really smooth. Then it stopped working and my 8 year old stepped on it. NEVER let a bored child into your man cave.
I was gonna do a solder with the lighter, it always works really well for me.. just ran out of time..!
(P) Hi Del... Good video as always... One "tip" when using soldering irons: Once you've soldered a joint or wire etc, wipe the tip on the sponge, and then tin the soldering iron tip and leave it on there...especially before you turn the iron off... This will stop the tip from corroding.... A corroded tip will not solder anything.
Also...when soldering wires, if possible, bend the wire so the exposed part being soldered is higher than the rest of the wire....heat rises, so it stops the insulation from melting.
As others have said, you can tin each wire, then lay them together, heat them and let them melt together, and this does work...Though my old college teacher said to make a good mechanical joint first by twisting the wires, and then solder them.
love these simple tip vids the stuff you pick up is great cheers del
simple stuff aye.. thanks for watching buddy.
I ended up having to use flux paste on my Aprilia wires... they were too thin to take much heating without melting the insulation down the wire. I was taking out the brown connector pugs that go high resistance due to corrosion from the charging system. I also had a go with some old lead solder I found... Much better; but of course naughty these days.
A flat tipped soldering iron would make this easier as it distributes heat better to the wire. Good advice but you held the iron too long on the wires so the insulation melted back. 10 seconds and you can make a good joint with a broader iron tip. Just saying but still good advice for novices.
Thumbs up for a decent video, but you should be able to get the wires hot enough in 3-4 seconds....your soldering iron is not hot enough, or too low a wattage....otherwise.....great job.....oh, by the way....I've been doing this stuff for over 60 years.....My Dad was electronics engineer, taught me to solder when I was about 5......no heatshrink then, it was friction tape......
Hi Doug.. yes indeed.. its 40W iron, took too long to heat through... typically i should have got an 80W or even 100W iron.. but i bought it for the video only, and it was cheap enough to make the point and not brake the bank.. ! Thanks for your insight my friend.. Del.
Doug Ankrum look up... just recounted a similar memory! I’m not that crazy after all. Cheers.
Clever stuff once again 👍😎
I'm glad I watched this. I would of monkeyed it up. good video Del, Thank you.
{p} Well explained and shown Del . Do you tin the iron tip everytime you use the iron .
Cheers Pete.
Yes mate... once in regular use the "Tin" will always be there, so just wipe it on the damp sponge to get rid of any carbon ,and all a little more.. then ad some at the point you touch the tip under the wire so you have a wet joint..!
Thanks Del . Never shown that at school , Must have been bad teachers or was not listening .
Thanks for that... and you Americans it is soldering not soddering :-)
Ha ha.. now now, be nice...! lol
isn't soddering when you roll out the new grass?
haaaa - and down south in America we buther the English language bad.
Alligator clips here in the states.
Well after a few failed attempts I resorted to Del's guide again and I think after a week or so of botched attempts ill get there 😂
Good luck with it Gav, little by little you'll get it, and it feels epic when you make a good result.
Hi Del , great vid as per usual, could I make a suggestion for a future simple skills , how to make your own gaskets .....
yeah, that'd be a good one, maybe see if i can fit it in some time.... made this one though.. th-cam.com/video/Gyo-_DGUaJ8/w-d-xo.html
deeellll!!!
it's always the same! i do a job - and one week later you make your simple skills vid. and i start the job again..!
ha ha, sorry buddy.. must try harder..
I struggle soldering so I just use solder splice and a heat gun I have no patients
Hi Tony... yeah, there's always an easy product that gets us out of the mire aye... hope you and Miss Glam are all well and working hard... see you out and about this season aye matey.. ?!
(p) Three hands and extra appendages are as common as muck out on Romney Marsh in sunny Kent. I blame the organo phosphates and families being wayyy too close.
ha ha ha... like that.!
I have been guilty of 'cold soldering ' in the past :( .. No excuse now :)
Awesome video dude! You really know your shit ..thanks for the tips