Fixing cable with soldering

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RideTheCrash

RideTheCrash

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I have an a perfectly good cable that I've had sitting in my house for maybe 4 years now, as it died and was left by a friend of mine.

I'm interested in buying my own soldering gun and learning how to solder. I have a bit of experience, but not too much. I checked the ends of each cable and all wires were in tact, but at the one end there isn't that much wire connected to the tip, just a little. Whereas on the other end there is a bunch. Could this be the problem? I can post some pictures if it'll help.
 
that probably is the problem. once you get a soldering iron and some solder, you will have yourself a brand new cable.
 
Could well be. I'd start by checking the integrity of the wire itself and cut back on both ends if you have any doubt. You can get a workable pencil soldering iron at a hardware store or Radio Shack. Make sure you get a little tin of flux paste and look for non-lead solder (you'll live longer).

The technique is simple to describe but takes a gentle hand. First clean the terminals - heat up the solder and wipe it off with a rag or a brush. Then tin the wire ends by dipping them in the flux paste a little, touching the iron to them to heat them up and allowing them to draw a little solder to pull the strands together as one. A very little is quite enough - only use less than that. :cool:

If you have some dead gear hanging around, plug the XLR connector in and use it as a holding vice. Behringer is good for this. (Sorry, couldn't help myself. I use an old Alesis mixer myself). If you did a bunch of this, you could mount a male and a female connector on a board and stick it in a vise - holds the XLR right in place.

Use a wiring diagram (search the Mackie mixer online documentation and print out their excellent diagram) to keep you from getting things mixed up. It's also helpful to have a good working mic cable to use for reference.

Affix each conductor to its position, daub it with flux, and heat the wire, not the terminal. Again, use only the minimum heat and solder as is absolutely necessary. You can get a very nice, solid connection this way, but be careful about overheating the plastic of the connector or trashing the wire insulation.

Now admire your work, spot the barrel of the XLR connector lying on the floor, swear like hell, undo everything you've just done and slide the barrel over the cable BEFORE you solder. Now slide it off and turn it around, realizing that you could simply have used the other end of the cable as it has to be fixed as well, and feeling your face get red as it does only when you are really angry. Slide it back on, check it for directional validity, swear again and go get a beer.

It's often a two beer job, I suppose because there are two ends to the cable. :D

Seriously - once you know how it pays you back all the time.
 
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First get a multimeter ($15 at Radio Shack!) and test the continuity of the wire between the two ends. If the wire leads inside the connectors don't have continuity, then there is a break in the cable.
 
Definitely learn how to do it. You can save yourself some money making your own high-quality mic and instrument cables. Its a worthwhile skill to have for sure.
 
I am supprised that theere is not already a place here just for soldering and repair work. :confused:
 
Yeah, a DIY section would be great. I think there was already a long thread about it though.
 
Treeline said:
Now admire your work, spot the barrel of the XLR connector lying on the floor, swear like hell, undo everything you've just done and slide the barrel over the cable BEFORE you solder. Now slide it off and turn it around, realizing that you could simply have used the other end of the cable as it has to be fixed as well, and feeling your face get red as it does only when you are really angry. Slide it back on, check it for directional validity, swear again and go get a beer.
Click to expand...

Too many times!!!!
 
Treeline said:
Now admire your work, spot the barrel of the XLR connector lying on the floor, swear like hell, undo everything you've just done and slide the barrel over the cable BEFORE you solder. Now slide it off and turn it around, realizing that you could simply have used the other end of the cable as it has to be fixed as well, and feeling your face get red as it does only when you are really angry. Slide it back on, check it for directional validity, swear again and go get a beer.
Click to expand...

LOL :D :mad: :eek: :( :confused:
 
Shucks... just the voice of experience. I can take apart anything!










It's the "getting it back together in recognizable form" part that needs more study... :D :D
 
Where is that old long thread anyway's? Any choice soldering irons/solder to recomend?
T
 
I like Hakko. I have a 936 station that works pretty well. It is a mid price unit with temp control. You may or may not want something like that. In any event, don't buy a soldering gun! Too clumsy. You want a "pencil" soldering iron with a replaceable tip. Shop around on the net. I bought mine cheaper new than I could have bought it on e-bay.
 
I got a 25w Weller with interchangeable tips at Lowe's for something like $15.
 
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