Electrical – Beginner Question – Solder won’t stick to a certain wire

fluxpcbsolderingwire

I am trying to tin some wires as they won't stick to the IC pins that I'm soldering them to. The problem I am having is that the solder won't stick to the wire.

My iron is fine as can solder other things just fine. I also tried a different wire and the solder stuck very well and I was easily able to solder them to the connectors, this wire is just too thick so I have to use the other one. I have tried to get the solder to attach to the wire with and without flux but no luck.

These are the wires I'm using:

Specification:

  • Type: 30AWG
  • Total length: 280m/11023.6"
  • Material: Tin Plated Copper, Plastic
  • Outer diameter of single core wire: – Approx. 0.55mm
  • Diameter of copper core: Approx. 0.25mm
  • Temperature resistance: 80 degrees

Wire. (Dead link, also not available on the Wayback Machine.) Similar to this wire.

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This is the solder I am using:

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Can anyone give me any tips to get it to stick? It's giving me a headache.

Best Answer

Try first sanding with fine sandpaper, or carefully scraping with knife.

I've encountered high-temp WW wire which simply cannot be tinned. It does work OK if sanded first. Very abnormal. Something in the plastic insulation either coats the metal, or produces a thick (and invisible) tarnish layer.

IF NOT SANDED FIRST, then with lots of time, heat and flux, it eventually will tin. (Time, like 20 or 30 sec.) I don't know if this indicates thick oxide being reduced, or thin polymer being burned off. What a pain. And it wasn't some fly-by-night source; one of the normal suppliers IIRC Alpha wire.