Help! How do you solder epoxy-coated copper threads?

Oct 11, 2005 4 Replies
G

Help! How do you solder coated copper threads? Here is a photo of the stripped common, left, and right wires on a new set of home audio stereo headphones:



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I bought these with the intention of wiring them into something, but upon cutting the 1/8" stereo phone jack off, I find the left & right red- and blue-coated (epoxied?) wires reject solder. I was hoping if I held the hot bead of solder against the red wire long enough, it would melt through the coating and stick; no.



How does one make a connection to these types of coated wires? (If anyone here's built homespun choke coils or transformers, how to you make a connection to those?)



Thanks



- Goodmusic


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G

Found the answers through some websearches:

  1. It's an enamel coating, not epoxy

  1. First choice seems to be burn it off with solder; doesn't work on this wire

  2. Last choice due to possibly nicking/weakening wire is scrape off some of the enamel with a sharp knife; will go this route.

- Goodmusic

hot

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S

You might have some luck with solvents like acetone or mek. Use in a well-ventilated area.

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R

The last method is the most difficult and not recommended. The easiest way is to dip the wire into some fast acting paint stripper to the required depth then wait a few minutes and simply wipe it off with a cloth.

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S

Use a lighter with low flame, & then a sharp knife to scrape off the excess. Sky.

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