Permanent alternatives to solder? Super glue?

[michaelo1010]

This is not a joke question.  This is my 1st post here because I registered in order to ask this serious question.

I'm wiring a typical HSS strat style pickguard (for my own guitar) but something bizarre has happened.  One wire absolutely will not solder to one of the switch terminals.  I've done everything correctly, but it will not solder.  Everything else is all ready to go, but I have now spent 3 1/3 hours (seriously, not hyperbole) on this one wire-to-switch connection.  It is a standard guitar hookup wire.  The switch is standard.  The solder is standard.  The iron is a pencil type, 30 watts, brand new.  I have cleaned the surfaces multiple times with Everclear.  I have tinned and retinned the surfaces multiple times.  I have tinned and retinned the iron tip multiple times.  I have replaced the tip with a new one on this new iron.  Nothing works.

So after 3 1/2 hours of frustration, I am planning to use an alternate method to connect it.  Is super glue conductive?  Epoxy? If no adhesive will work, has anyone ever tried using some sort of clamp for a permanent connection inside a guitar?

Thanks much,

Michael

[JohnH]

Sounds very odd, if it is a normal switch lug. It's common to have problems soldering to the back of pots etc, but lugs are normally ok. Can you post a picture? And before bringing wire to switch, are you able to 'tin' each of them, with a nice smooth flow of solder?

No type of glue is any good for this. Speakers often have a crimped push-on fitting, but better to solve the soldering issues.

[frets]

Perhaps buying a higher wattage soldering iron? It sounds like the soldering iron may not have enough horsepower.

[thetragichero]

time to get the fine sandpaper out for both switch lug and wire. then use a TINY amount of paste flux (you don't want it getting up into the switch terminals). maybe you should be cleaning your soldering tip better? i use a cellulose sponge soaked in water (some folks say this isn't good but i don't have any problems)

i use a 35w soldering iron for everything but soldering to a steel amp chassis

[michaelo1010]

I have successfully (I thought) tinned the lug and the wire.  I don't solder often, but I always have read to do that first. My soldering iron seems to be hotter than the old one it replaced, which was also 30 watt. Once it is hot, it liquifies the solder very quickly and the few solder joints I've already used it for look nice and shiny. It is an off-brand. I use a damp sponge to clean the tip.  I misplaced my solder-sucker, but I have decent luck removing excess solder onto the iron tip and then wiping it on the sponge.

I have not sandpapered the lug.  I will try that.  I will also try flux if I have any.  I'll have to look in my guitar tools and supplies stuff.

This is simply the weirdest thing.  Not only have I never had this specific problem soldering (I am a clumsy solderer, I admit), but I don't recall ever reading of it.

Thanks very much for your thoughts.

Michael

[gckelloch]

Could be the tip is not tightened enough to make good contact in the Iron socket. I have to tighten mine with pliers every time I solder or it can come loose and not heat up enough. It's just become part of the process at this point.

[reTrEaD]

michaelo1010 , solder won't bond with surfaces that are coated with oxides or polymers. The rosin flux in solder meant for electronic use does a decent job of cleaning minor contaminants but there's definitely a limit to what it can accomplish. Also, save your everclear for sippin'. Isopropanol is cheaper and more effective at removing oils but neither will have any effect at removing oxides or hydrocarbons that have already been polymerized by heat.

I tend to agree with thetragichero that mechanical cleaning (fine sandpaper or perhaps scraping with a knife) may be in order. If you can post a pic, as JohnH suggested, that might give us a better clue as to the root cause.

[thetragichero]

i once read that the difference between a luthier/tech and a musician is that the luthier uses denatured alcohol while the musician uses grain alcohol

[ashcatlt]

Apr 8, 2022 17:04:51 GMT -5 thetragichero said:

…luthier uses denatured alcohol while the musician uses grain alcohol

Back when my live rack weighed more than I was willing to lift alone, we had a joke that we would add wheels and a motor/generator that used ethanol for fuel so we could buy our drummer drinks with the rest of the band.