I have finally started my layout. But I was wondering if anyone had pictures of the joints were two peices of track were soldered? Seeing as this would be a great help as this is the first layout I will be building.
There is an article in the current issue of the Gauge eMag about soldering track including pictures. You can find the magazine right here.Gauge Mag Jan 08I have finally started my layout. But I was wondering if anyone had pictures of the joints were two peices of track were soldered? Seeing as this would be a great help as this is the first layout I will be building.
Tinning the track and wire is the best way. I also pick up a bit of solder on the end of the soldering iron. One thing I have learned over the years of soldering is to hold onto the wire. You should be able to solder the joint quickly, so if the wire starts to burn your fingers, you are using too much heat or you're holding the iron on the joint too long. The insulation will melt or you'll wind up with a bad or "cold" solder joint.Pardon me if I am "hijacking this thread". When soldering wire to track how do you hold the wire, the iron & the solder at the same time? I seem to be one hand short.
I hear ya. I have severe neuropathy in my hands, worse in the right one. It makes it difficult sometimes to hold onto things and can be a bit dicey when picking up fragile things.Iwould love to learn to solder with one hand. My left hand is not very steady since the stroke.
Les
The make soldering helpers, some have an alligator clip on the end of a metal snake which is mounted on a weighted platform. The clip can be moved in any plane and can be used to hold the wire or one of the pieces to be soldered in just about any position. The clip also serves as a heat sink. That might make things a little easier for both one or two-handed soldering.Iwould love to learn to solder with one hand. My left hand is not very steady since the stroke.
Les
No, that's the original statement. It takes practice, but I've solder so much in our business that I used to hold the wire between two fingers, wrap the solder around my thumb and feed it to the joint. Things went a lot faster and easier if I had someone to feed the solder though... Better yet, if I could get my wife to do the whole job, that worked even better.:mrgreen: :mrgreen:I use the helping hands all the time but that is not useing on hand to hold solder and Iron in one hand. wait a minute here . Easy Days/ Don did you edit your original post to make it say hold WIRE and solder in one hand or am I mis reading things.
Les