How to solder wires?

Soldering is the process of connecting electronic components, allowing for electric current to flow from one conductor to the other. This is accomplished by melting a metal alloy over a joint. You can easily use solder to join two wires and create a long-lasting connection.

Soldering wires requires no special skills. All you need is basic equipment and some practice.

What do I need to solder wires together?

• Soldering iron: The basic soldering tool.
• Heat gun: A device used to blow a stream of hot air.
• Wire stripper: A tool for removing the coating of a wire.
• Solder: 63/37 solder (63% tin, 37% lead alloy) is the easiest to work with.
• Rosin flux paste: Flux helps clean the wires and improves solder adhesion.
• Heat shrink tubing: This tubing shrinks when heated, creating a protective layer around the wire.

Always remember that lead and lead vapours are harmful. Make sure to wash your hands after working with leaded solder, or wear gloves. Work in a well-ventilated area and use eye protection.

You can use lead-free solder instead, but it has a higher melting point. This makes it more difficult to work with.

Join the wires

Use your wire stripper to remove 1.5-2.5 cm of plastic coating from the wires. Be careful not to cut any strands off the wire.

Slide a piece of heat-shrink tubing onto one of the wires. Use the smallest diameter that will fit. If the tubing is too wide, it will not shrink down to the right size. Cut a piece of tubing that’s at least 5 cm long. Slide the tubing onto one of the wires and move it 30 cm away from the splice.

Cross the centers of the exposed wires. Bend one wire down and twist it around the other as tightly as you can. Repeat the process with the other wire. The turns of the wrap should sit next to each other and not overlap.

Prepare the wires for soldering

Wires that lay flat may get stuck to the work surface by the solder. Clamp the wires in alligator clips to keep them elevated.

Rub some rosin flux paste on the joined wires. Make sure all of the copper is covered. The flux will help draw the solder into the connected strands. Then, turn your iron on. When it’s fully heated, hold the tip against the bottom of the splice. The heat will melt the flux paste.

Solder the wires

Apply the heated tip of the soldering iron to the wire joint. Hold the tip in place for a few seconds. Then, touch the end of the solder to the wire joint. The heat will cause the solder to melt down into the meshed strands.

Leave the solder to cool for 1-2 minutes. When it has solidified, move the heat shrink tubing over the joint. Make sure that it is evenly positioned and there is no exposed wire showing through. Then, use the heat gun to blow hot air on the tubing. This will constrict it over the wires.

Conro Electronics offers a wide choice of solder paste and soldering tools from major manufacturers such as Indium and Metcal.

We’ll show you how to improve product reliability while increasing performance and lowering costs. Our team of technical support specialists will provide your company with dependable global supply, unrivalled efficiency, and superior technical support.

Feel free to contact us on 0208 953 1211 or send us an email to info@conro.com

Epoxy glues are high-performance adhesives with a wide range of applications. They are used in  the construction of vehicles, as a coating or sealant, and for creative uses. They are common in the electronics industry, thanks to their insulating properties. Epoxies are effective on different materials, including wood, fabric, glass, or metal.

What are the properties of epoxy glue?

Epoxy glue consists of two separate components. The first part is epoxy. The other is a hardener. When the two mix together, a reaction causes the epoxy to dry. Once hardened (“cured”), epoxy glue assures a strong bond that is difficult to break.

Epoxies come in many types, with distinct properties: flexible or rigid, transparent or opaque, fast or slow setting. They also offer high resistance to heat and chemicals.

Added advantages of two-part epoxies are that they adhere to many substrates and cure at room temperature. They even bond many types of plastic. To de-bond, epoxies must be heated above 250°C to soften. Parts should be separated while the adhesive is still hot.

How strong is epoxy glue?

The tensile strength of a bond is measured in psi (pound per square inch). Tensile strength tells how strong an adhesive is. Epoxy glue has an average strength of 2900-4400 psi. It is not enough, however, to know the strength of an adhesive. You will also need to understand the specific type of strength.

An epoxy glue has great structural strength. This makes it a good choice for bonding gaps between two parts. Compared to a different kind of high-strength glue, like cyanoacrylate (Super Glue), epoxy offers better shear, impact and peel strength. This means that epoxy glue will resist off-angle stress. Super Glue, on the other hand, will hold best when the bonded parts are directly pulled apart.

Epoxy can work as a filler as well as an adhesive. It is suitable for gaps, holes, and cracks. When used on metal, it is strong enough to provide an alternative to welding. Epoxies can hold moving parts and load-supporting parts.

What is the strongest epoxy glue?

On July 12, 2019, DELO Adhesives lifted a 17.5 tons truck with a crane held by 3 grams of glue. This world record was obtained by using DELO MONOPOX VE403728. However, this adhesive is not commercially available.

The strongest epoxy glue you can purchase is probably Systemthree’s T-88. This two-part adhesive has a tensile strength of 7000 psi. It is well above the average strength for epoxies. T-88 exhibits outstanding adhesion and permanence on a wide variety of materials and is designed to resist adverse conditions. T-88 is endorsed by leading designers, builders and organizations.

Other strong epoxies you can consider are PC Products’ PC-7 Adhesive Paste and Loctite EA 109 High Temperature & Toughened. They are both designed to provide maximum resistance to impact, shear, cleavage and tensile loads. Both will bond to a wide range of surfaces.

Conro Electronics offers a wide choice of epoxy glues from major manufacturers.

We’ll show you how to improve product reliability while increasing performance and lowering costs. Our team of technical support specialists will provide your company with dependable global supply, unrivalled efficiency, and superior technical support.

Feel free to contact us on 0208 953 1211 or send us an email to info@conro.com