how do you solder thread?

[elmer d]

Several times I have found a thread like stuff used in the place of real wire. Anyone know what this is and how to solder the imposter. Normal soldering dont do it.

 

[jamie2112]

??????????????????

 

[Adam]

Welcome to the forum!

Like Jamie, I don't really know what you are talking about. Perhaps you are referring to dielectric or insulation.

Are you referring to Monster Cable? Perhaps their speaker wire? Monster sometimes has a dielectric core that runs down the center of the copper strands.

 

[elmer d]

????????

???????, exactly. I cut open cable to do a project and this stuff is in the place of real copper wire. Touch your meter to each end and you get nothing though if you are successful at getting a dab of solder to stick then the meter will read. Even the stuff that looks like copper does the same. It just wont take to normal soldering methods.

 

[jamie2112]

What is the brand of cable you are trying to solder?

 

[Alex2507]

Ignore the thread.

It's there but it doesn't do anything so you don't have to do anything with it.

Why would you want to solder the thread?

 

[Phil Taylor]

I've seen mic cable like that before with a really fine copper wire intertwined with a fabric thread - it's a large PITA. Try using some flux or rosin core solder to help tin it first before soldering to the connector.

 

[elmer d]

Ignore the thread ? it doesn't do anything?

Dude. It is there because it makes the connection. Maybe its me but there is solder on each end . It is the wire but it is not wire. ??? Spread the thread/fiber/stuff apart and there is no wire. yea, I know its weird. This particular part is in an adapter connection from Hong Kong. I’ve seen the same in mic wire from a Motorola product. I need to cut and reconnect it. But how? Something solders it. It something can I can. I just have to find the how.
Thanks Phill. While I have got one or two to tin most will not take. Solder just rolls off. most annoying

 

[jamie2112]

I am having a hard time seeing this cable in my head. Could you please post a pic of the wire in question?

 

[Alex2507]

Sorry for the diversion, I was thinking of a different kind of thread that is not wire but thread.

 

[Phil Taylor]

Thanks Phill. While I have got one or two to tin most will not take. Solder just rolls off. most annoying

I know - like it's teflon or something similar - a real PITA. Persistence is a virtue - you may try dipping it in flux, then hold your iron on the end of the "wire" and see if it will wick solder into it. A really hot iron may help.

 

[camshaft]

Hmm, it's very hard to visualize what you're talking about. Some wires have a coating on them though, and by putting a dab of solder on the end you melt away the coating and make contact with the core. I don't know whether thats what you're talking about though. If it's teflon it won't melt as easily though.

Austin

 

[elmer d]

Thanks guys. I have an iron with a selectable heat range. I will turn her up and see what I can burn up. Jamie2112; picture I will be glad to do but I do not have a http location for my pics.

 

[Adam]

For photos:

• You can get a free account at Photobucket or Flickr.
• You can also attach images to your posts if they are under 100k (I think that's the limit).

 

[Ray Kimber]

A semi possibility

Semi conductive, that is.

This thread (pun intneded) has me scratching my head, but I do have some possibilities.

The first is that you have some unusual form of Litz conductor. Most of these can be rendered solderable by dipping them in a solder pot - an iron might do it, but usually not. There are a few Litz-like conductors out there that do not respond (very well, if at all) to a solder pot and those need to have the microscopic thin layer of insulation removed by abrasion, such as one of these machines:

http://www.eraser.com/catalog.cgi?mode=details&product_id=1391

However, by your description you might well have a metallized filament (like an inside-out Litz) or some sort of semi-conductive filament. Neither of these would be solderable by heat AFAIK, but would instead have to be terminated by crimping or using a conductive adhesive. In any of these cases the termination process is likely very precise and very specific to the "wire".

Kind regards,

Ray

 

[BMXTRIX]

I think I know what he is talking about.

The Nintendo Wii remote sensor has a fairly thin wire going to it, and I have spliced into it... When I cut the wire and stripped back the housing the actual conductors were nothing but extremely thin copper wire strands interlaced with actual threads.

I ended up using a match... very carefully... to burn the threads away. A couple of times I caught the copper threads on fire as well and had to start over.

It ended up working out okay, and I did not solder, but used a Dolphin connector to extend the Wii LED emitters.

 

[jamie2112]

I think I know what he is talking about.

The Nintendo Wii remote sensor has a fairly thin wire going to it, and I have spliced into it... When I cut the wire and stripped back the housing the actual conductors were nothing but extremely thin copper wire strands interlaced with actual threads.

I ended up using a match... very carefully... to burn the threads away. A couple of times I caught the copper threads on fire as well and had to start over.

It ended up working out okay, and I did not solder, but used a Dolphin connector to extend the Wii LED emitters.

Good to know I didn't have a freakin clue...

 

[Alex2507]

Good to know I didn't have a freakin clue...

You need to hone your guessing abilities. You know what I mean?

How did the OP get red rep with 4 posts?

Why are we mot being told what this wire is for?

 

[jamie2112]

Duh................Hello Alex my name is Jamie I think you know me maybe

 

[Alex2507]

Duh................Hello Alex my name is Jamie I think you know me maybe

Of course I know you but that's not helping me understand what is going on here.