G12atlast wrote: Fri Feb 28, 2025 10:55 pm
22mm copper pipe end cap makes an excellent solder pot. Mine is secured in an old wire coat hanger contraption that itself is held in the vice. Dip the fluxed, completed cable/nipple in the pot after hearing it until the solder has melted.
Yes indeed, very handy!
I use a not-dissimilar-looking pot I made with a deep hollow spigot on the base to mount it directly on a soldering iron. Switch on, hold iron gently in a vice, and wait for the solder to melt. Very effective. Used in conjunction with little 'bird-cage' tools to do a nice job of balling the strands of the inner cable, good results are almost guaranteed.
I have an old Lucas flasher unit case for my bakers bath and a piece of 22mm tube that I’ve flattened and folded to go in the end of an old soldering iron, it’s not enough power to keep it molten but I tell myself it gives me more time
I bought plenty of bits from Venhill and make my own. I de-soldered some bits as they are no longer available. I use a gas soldering iron and I have some leaded solder so I am good, also have some MG Chemicals 8342-50G Rosin Flux Paste
Get some decent cutters for cutting the wire, I tend to tape the end up and use the Angry Grinder to cut some cables as they are rather tough.
Only downside I have now is I no longer have the poorman cruise control where the throttle would just stick where I left it.
A tip: don't use Bakers fluid. Its an acid and while it works great for soldering it gets up the cable by capillary action. After a year or two the able will break about 1/2 up from the new end. Had it happen few times before i realized my mistake.
I like it as you are actively cleaning between the strands and you dont seem to need as much heat,so I can do the large barrel ones with a big electric Iron (1" dia bit). If i do them with a flame (no matter how careful i am) the cable seems harder and can take the life out of the cable and as you say even break 1/2" into cable.
I'm happy with the solder bath for smaller pear shape etc, but if I'm doing a larger barrel type nipple or bigger seem to have more control with the big iron and keep the solder near the nipple, then the cable is flexible closer to the nipple rather than solid.
Suppose I could do with another bath for last dunk in something, to neutralise the acid never really thought of it
