How to tin a wire

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How to tin a wire
In this video we look how i tin a wire. Tinning wires before soldering is always good practice. This is the method I was taught 30 odd years ago at the US Navy Basic Electricity & Electronics School in San Diego.
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FAQ:
Me: Paul, 49 from USA
Education: United States Navy, University of California at San Diego B.S. E.E., University of Pittsburgh M.S. E.E.
Experience: United States Navy STS, Bayer Intnl Process Engineer
Current: Teaching college freshmen electrical engineering at a small community college in the Pittsburgh Area.
Health: BAD (Congestive Heart Failure)
Hobbies: Electronics, flying, amateur radio, music (classic rock)

[@vincentpotenza3432]

That little spot of solder on the tip to for heat transfer was a complete game changer. Thanks.

[@jackpijjin4088]

"Just a TOUCH of solder, for thermal transfer." Huge 'lightbulb' monent right there.

[@learnelectronics]

Makes a difference

[@aragorndedolor4171]

@@learnelectronics u

[@browwiw]

For me it was "thermal transfer" and "capillary effect". I have a large vocabulary, but little common sense. Just let the heat do its job.

[@jackpijjin4088]

@@browwiw Same I guess, I tend to overthink or overcomplicate things but for some reason this concept just didn't click.

[@techtye2471]

The drop of solder for thermal transfer... this is the step i've been missing! makes so much sense, thank you!

[@drsaravananr]

Solder flows where solder's been...thank you so much for this. Things make more sense now. Keep up the good job.

[@bassbro1]

I learned more in 5 minutes than I ever had from 10 - 15 minute videos on you tube

[@georgechambers3197]

Another great tip from the Naval archives. Thanks for this one!

[@sombrastudios]

really a thing of beauty this video right here. These days I perceive s such an intense need to talk and talk and talk in videos, as if it's an embarrasement to not reach the 10 minute mark. This was really lovely, just right. Thanks a lot

[@mtayseer82]

I love the soldering videos. Short & to the point.

[@pvillez]

Interesting, thank you. My father was an electronics engineer at the GE and the British Post Office back in the 60s. He taught me another method. You fan out the fray of wire strands on each wire like a spanish fan. You then cross the two fanned wires into each other so that the individual strands cross each other. Then you twist the result which makes the two wires mesh together, then you solder using your very nice method. And shrink sleeve them. Super mechanical strength.

[@YHYHHUH]

Very crucial question, should you use flux paste?

[@aaron1shmim]

@@YHYHHUH If you are using solder with flux included you shouldn't need it. However, not all solder is equal. So if you find your solder isn't flowing appropriately check the temp of your iron and if that is good put a small bit a flux on the wire before starting .

[@mike_t_007]

@@aaron1shmim What this guy said!

[@lostinthedesert3788]

That's how I've done it, especially when soldering connectors to harnesses on vehicles. Seems stronger, I did learn what is presented in the video, have done it that way too when there is little chance of stress on the splice.

[@Razanur]

That was so clear and easy; really nice sharp and stable video too. Thank you!

[@dirkwauters957]

Thanks for sharing! Clear and no nonsense video, just the way i like them!

[@davidmg1925]

I went from no 1 skill to the better way in 5 mins. Nice job. Good video.

[@decoryder]

Fantastic video, just the essentials, but done right - thank you very much for making this.

[@zacksrandomprojects9698]

Thank you for the vid. Soldering is my weak spot and Im trying to learn how. I was in the Navy also from 99 to 03. I got out as an HT2. Thank you for serving.

[@n74jw]

Exactly what I was looking for. Thanks!

[@TopJewShalom]

Just tried this and was surprised how much quicker/easier it was. Thank you my tinned wires no longer look like garbage!

[@markb.1259]

I don't recall my Navy electronics school teaching an overlap joint like this... but then again, I went through that school in 1985, so I could be wrong... :-) Thanks for your video!

[@thesublimeprince2192]

OK....I'm impressed and I would personally like to thank the U.S. Navy for your fine training. I thought that after you tinned the wires and then cut off the ends, you were going to "butt join" the wires and then solder them together but then I said " Impossible, because I'm the only one who can pull off that trick." The Sublime Prince of Humility" Toronto

[@violinogirl]

Translating a file into Spanish about electronics, I found your video and got a pretty good idea of what tin the wire or cable is about. Thank you!

[@BionicRusty]

Nice one dude. Quick, concise and helped a lot. 👍👍

[@djmorrylive9678]

A very good example of how to do the tinning right and the video right!

[@savannabenzel6782]

Awesome! Thank you so much. You wouldn’t believe the videos and such I’ve watched that just didn’t work for me whatsoever lol. Nobody ever pointed out that the solder just flows where it needs to. Just that info helped me out quite a bit. Also I could actually see what was going on in your video which helped. Thank you again for your time and lesson!

[@Nutshell_In_Chains]

Very useful video! thanks.

[@HeelBJC]

Holy crap. I've been getting into guitar modifications and this video is a godsend. Thank you.

[@valegreg]

I kept asking myself wtf are people soldering on a guitar, the strings? Then it struck me: an electric guitar 😂

[@WillMurphy275]

25 years since I was taught in the Army. Never really used it that much. I am building a diy CNC router and for my life I couldn't figure out what I was doing wrong couldn't get solder to stick or flow. Thank you. Clean and properly tinned iron and solder flows where it has been! Army didn't teach me shiznit! You though me more in less than 10 minutes than they did in two weeks. Just because you learn something doesn't mean you learned it right.

[@learnelectronics]

Glad to help

[@Dtag1971]

Yea.... Thats sweet. Im just getring into this. Very helpful. Thanks.

[@samking4179]

Nice video! Very helpful!

[@supercobrapro7470]

Nice & Clean. Man you Rock🤘🤘

[@redmikekite]

finally thanks so much for this i have been doing wrong all this time and struggling but no more thanks to you

[@edhuckle]

This is why youtube is awesome. Thanks

[@PatriciaSpayd]

Thank you! Now to practice, practice!

[@jonathandcc23]

earned a sub by adding in the part where you tinned two wires and joined them together!!! 🤩🤩

[@GuitarosaurusRex]

Thanks for the helpful tutorial... subbed....

[@mrequi1]

Love your soft, down-holmsy yet professional style. Great close ups & basic instruction w/o talking down. Nice radio voice too. I'll talk you up on my blog & socials. You'll see a Lil bump in subscribers (esp in CA & EU mkts. Keep it up.

[@learnelectronics]

Thanks

[@TheRokkis]

Gonna try this to make some shorter dupont jumpers for breadboarding! Thank you!

[@TowhidHossain-ic3jh]

Thanks for the tips & want more

[@stigwartwillis]

Super helpful

[@AudiophileTommy]

Excellent video 👍❤️

[@davidglynnguitars8119]

Great video, you make it very understandable!! I tend to add a bit of flux to my solder joints. I know it's not necessary, but it helps with the solder flow. Not a GOB of flux, just a little bit.

[@learnelectronics]

Flux is always good!

[@lifeisgood5226]

I am so grateful for your video. I finally was able to tint my wires after trying for weeks. Again thanks for the time you gave to create this great tutorial. By any chance do you know how to make a battery interruptor? If so can you make a video, pls?

[@joshacirbo2780]

That rhyme is next level, man... got me all 🤯

[@theHAL9000]

Best 5 minutes on the subject I've seen. Appreciate the camera angle close in and helpful voiceover. Thanks!

[@heatonbbb]

Very nice.

[@AbsolutelyJason]

Thank you!

[@MarkTheKnife]

Hands-down better than all the other tinning videos I watched, thanks. Now onto that western union nassau splice video. Maybe link that up in the info on this video. I thought I’d leave the auto correct instead of correcting it to an a essay. wow it did it again N. A. S. A. Love your videos going to do a deep dive.

[@steveprice2096]

thanks for the tip...never been a solder person but have needed to many times and always made a goopy mess

[@humphreycorrell6150]

!!!

[@jjrbarnett]

Thank you. Some of the guys I know are use the blue flame on the lighter but I think yours was better.

[@mubasshiryunus2241]

well explained

[@HeartTalk-el2cy]

Good job

[@perfectwafflemedia]

Thank you.

[@FirmBreastedAlien]

0:38 “oh God, I am going to hope you twist it” I lost it hahahaha. Good work pal thanks

[@HoboBonobo]

Hi Paul, Thanks for all the content. I’m a newb and find your explanations tend to resonate much easier than Ive found in other videos. Would you consider doing a video on low voltage (1.5v - 3.7v) circuits. I’ve been trying to make a simple astable multivibrator with a cmos TS555 ic but don’t really understand how to size capacitors or resistors. Best I can get is a solid led😏

[@fartsmeller9296]

My soldering instructor at Keesler AFB made us remove insulation without bird caging the wire. Super tedious but made for a solid connection

[@ryanhill7318]

Exactly! Thank you! That's what I was doing wrong

[@markdilley3918]

Absolutely delicious! Thanks from the UK. I needed this as I'm just about to tin my first ever wire. Probably badly but this helps - cheers.

[@nsgk3n434]

amazing videos

[@learnelectronics]

Glad you like them!

[@jamest.5001]

well. that's how I do it. and I figured it out myself. just always done it that way! great video..

[@michaelpadovani9566]

Bravo. Let me thank you for another tip you gave that i used extensively on my current project: use a dab of super/crazy glue to hold a component (female headers especially) in place so u can solder without the part falling out. That is simple yet brilliant and u may want to repeat that tip in a future video for all the new subs you're getting!

[@learnelectronics]

Thanks buddy. I'm glad one of my tips helped.

[@cheprum2252]

Good

[@woodworm3615]

Dielectric silicone on connection before shrink rap slipped over. Is something I have done in past. Keeps moisture out even better...

[@ttrinneer]

great!

[@foorwq7816]

Thanks.

[@terrymoses7548]

I've been looking all over youtube on how to correctly solder stranded wire to solid wire. Any thoughts?

[@re.liable]

Is it good if I dip the exposed wires to flux first? I'm new to soldering, your videos have been really helpful, thank you

[@martik778]

When I solder a handheld joint like that, I always check for a cold joint caused by excessive shaking while the solder is cooling, If the solder is shiny, uniform and glossy it's ok but if more greyish, lumpy and dull it may be a cold joint.

[@supercobrapro7470]

Shiny is the best evidence always

[@davidf2714]

What model soldering iron are you using in this video?

[@MichaelBradley1967]

What's the best wattage for a soldering iron in this case? I have a 15W most likely for PC boards. It _worked_ but it was sooooo slow..

[@serenitynoobosity5905]

I want to marine tin some ends of copper wire in my boat along with some exposed 6 gauge battery terminal wire. Is there a preferred solder to tin this wire without losing any electrical conductivity? The electric solder I have at home has lead in it, and I would think the composition of lead added to the tin in the solder would reduce electrical conductivity to my battery terminals.

[@williamwheeler8900]

That's Right USN, World's Finest Navy! RM/ET2

[@learnelectronics]

Fair winds and following seas shipmate! STS2

[@mr.bianchirider8126]

Be sure to use thin soldering wire. I started with thick wire and had a heck of a time.

[@p10rambo]

How thin for 22awg wire?

[@p10rambo]

1 mm or thinner?

[@peterford9369]

I like to leave the wire untwisted, meld one wire into the other so wires are integrated then flow both at the same time. It allows u to have a really small belly because solder almost stays the size of the insulation. And every strand has solder on it. But either way works. And yes, I have forgotten to put the shrink tube on first or sometimes with a short piece of wire the heat from heating the wire actually shrinks the tube prematurely 😵‍💫. That always sucks. Take care.

[@Bluntedco.]

i used some Tin Wire Solder Tube to attach a broken chain cross and it worked lol. i wonder how long it will last. i assume the tensile strength would be pretty strong vs super weld glue.

[@YHYHHUH]

Very crucial question, should you use flux paste?

[@davoinshowerhandle3302]

I had a bad habbit of soldering both ends before putting on the shrink tubes. Similar thing happened when I made a flare end on copper tubes before putting on the flare nuts.

[@techtye2471]

worst part of the flare nut is you think people have to be way too dumb to do something like that, and then you do it and realize how easy it is to forget xD

[@user-rx3ww7nt2s]

Is that rosin core? Some say we should use Rosen core but Harris, with the high silver content, isn’t Rosen core.

[@zoemeow7677]

Woohoo! Now we know lol 😄🎉🎊🎇🎆💞

[@gonzodetroitify]

What about for 10awg cable is the theory the same🤔 thanks G

[@kpbarbee]

In the absence of solder, could you merely wrap the ends of the wire in aluminum foil? Just to stick it in a screw terminal?

[@ShimonKupferman]

Hello dear man!! I would add a recommendation to put a shrinked sleeve on the metal clips, because they have sharp teeth, and the heat causes the insulation to be soft and then the teeth can damage the insulation... I understand this video is only for demonstration purposes, but that's an important point to mention. On this wonderful occasion, I would like to thank you very much for all the sweet activity you do for us here. I also want to wish you good health and success in all you do.

[@learnelectronics]

Thanks! I appreciate it!

[@Pyridox]

Thank you for the tips. The Navy must of had excellent electronics training. A co-worker years back gave me a few of his Navy electronics training books and they are very detailed, he was in the Naval reserves.

[@learnelectronics]

Technology has always been a function of the Navy. They are right now working on developing a large-scale rail gun. Very cool stuff. I was a sonar tech, and electronics was a very big part of the training.

[@squidscrew1339]

Can you name those books & author?

[@Pyridox]

@@squidscrew1339 They books were issued by the United States Navy. There were a few Electronic books that my friend had gotten while in the Naval Reserves.

[@efesstuff4936]

FIRST TO WATCH!

[@TheGamingSmashers]

Hey, your new Indian sub here.

[@MikeSelvage]

".. oh god, I'm just going to assume you would twist it first!" -- too funny!! ROFL!!

[@nickaxe771]

Wonder if anybody could explain.....I wanted to solder some antenna coax a while back.....the outer mesh was not copper coloured but a silver coulor. Nothing I did would get solder to tim this outer coax....almost as if it was not copper. I gave up in the end.....any ideas guys.....I still have many meters ot this coax and I would rather not bin it. The inner conductor was the normal copper color....and tinned no problem.

[@jimmayors2315]

My tip is a pointed tip, can I use that or should I change it to a flat tip? Can I make a flat tip with a nail?

[@squidscrew1339]

How much is your soldering iron watts ?

[@vicentesebastiao4987]

nice video. can this be used on microcontrollers like arduinos?

[@learnelectronics]

Yes

[@synapticflow]

Ok, dumb question for someone who has no soldering experience and wants an easier way out. Is there some kind of conductive glue that I could use to seal the twisted speaker cable?

[@learnelectronics]

Not that I'm aware of.

[@dominiccuozzo8927]

Go Navy

[@chris77777777ify]

The tinning should always cover the copper all the way to the plastic/rubber, otherwise it will oxidise.

[@matthudson4136]

I actually think it's easier to clamp the soldering iron and run the solder and wire along the tip

[@pruthavparab1077]

when i tried to do this my wire did not heat up even though my solder works perfectly even when it did heat up when i touched the solder to the wire it started forming globs

[@chipdouglas9847]

No mention about flux. Flux or not to flux?? Flux core solder?? What's up??

[@Tino2o9]

My soldier just balls up any tips? It doesn’t glide down the wire as you do it. Could this be the temperature and solder I’m using?

[@learnelectronics]

Need to clean and tin your iron

[@Tino2o9]

learnelectronics wow I appreciate the response. I tried doing this and it was still challenging the wire is copper and I tried your method with wire that was 24 gauge and the same material as yours and did it pretty well

[@Tino2o9]

learnelectronics think I got it down slightly better! It just took more practice new to soldering and electronics

[@zurbannsaito1984]

Do you use flux or without?

[@learnelectronics]

Depends. Rule of thumb though is always use flux. It makes solder flow better.

[@zurbannsaito1984]

@@learnelectronics I got thanks

[@woodworm3615]

Should I "Tin a wire" for cripping on a Female Disconnect on to my 16 gauge wire?

[@stevenmiller279]

I'm going to assume that attempting to use a soldering station with a fine tip meant for electronics work is not really the best tool for soldering wires?

[@Yujinowa]

I wish i had a flat tip soldering iron

[@claudem.p.7969]

very good. claude va2sob

[@geoffkelland5606]

How to de-tin a multi strand wire?

[@learnelectronics]

Wire cutters

[@PAKLeow]

Nice. Any advice on why my solder wont stick to my solder iron? It just drip off?

[@learnelectronics]

Solder flows where solder has been. alternate dipping your hot tip into flux and then tinning it until the solder sticks.

[@RobotResearchLab]

Soldering iron tips have a plating on them to help the solder adhere. If it doesn't stick to the tip you probably need a new one, sometimes you can salvage it somewhat by doing the flux, tinning process but you're better off replacing the tip for a few bucks (if you have one with replaceable tips). In the future, be sure to store your iron with solder on the tip, coat the tip before shutting off your iron as this will protect the tip from oxidation and ruining the plating.

[@SubJStan]

I can’t get my solder to flow onto the wire like this, it’s seems like no matter how long I leave the tinned iron on the wire, it’s like it doesn’t heat the wire enough to draw the solder onto it.

[@postskeetclarity]

@@SubJStan same for me ...did you overcome this challenge?