Four Steps to Flawless Wire Joints (How to Solder)

If you are struggling to splice and solder wires together, here are four simple steps you can follow to achieve consistently good solder connections - it's all about maximizing heat transfer onto your work surface!

Recommended Soldering Tools (Affiliate Links):

Follow me:

Chapters:
0:00 how NOT to solder
0:58 Tools for soldering
3:10 Cleaning the soldering iron tip
4:32 Wire splicing
6:16 What bad soldering looks like
7:17 Four steps to efficiently solder
9:50 Inspecting a solder joint
10:42 Heat shrink tubing

Disclaimer:
Links in this description may be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service through the links I provide I may receive a small commission. This helps support the channel and enables me to pursue bigger and better projects. Affiliate links include no additional charge to you.

[WillDonaldson]

Not shown in this video, but another very useful product for more aggressive cleaning and repair of a badly neglected soldering iron is sold as "tip tinner". You shouldn't need to use it regularly, only if your tip is so badly oxidized that the regular cleaning method shown in this video is insufficient.

[zblvghs]

One tip that ive used for about 20 years is this: when youre done soldering for the day, shut off the iron snd use the residual heat to melt lots of solder covering the tip. Let it cool off and solidify.

The next yime you turn on the iron, brush off the blob and your tip will be nicely tinned and virtially no oxidation will occur.

I get literally *years* out of my tips by doing this.

[eugeneaugustine]

I only solder from time to time, and every time, I feel like I am learning all over again. I found your video to be the most helpful that I have ever watched. thank you

[SaltyOldBaldurian]

THIS IS THE EXACT VIDEO I'VE BEEN NEEDING IN MY LIFE FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS!!!! I swear soldering two wires together seems like it should be as simple as tying your shoes, but I still needed someone to teach me that as well. BUY THIS MAN SOME TIM HORTON'S AND ANOTHER ROUND OF MAPLE'S FINEST!!!

[andrewwilliams]

Excellent video. i have struggled with soldering for years this solved all of my problems. The last thing we want is "premature shrinkage".

[Riverdeepnwide]

Excellent! Thank you!
One of the most helpful soldering instructions I ever received was:
"The solder flows towards the heat."

[pauljmeyer]

That was the best demonstration of effective soldering I have seen.

[mikeprince]

Great instructional video, especially showing and telling aspects of your technique that I would not have noticed as important factors.

[gdibble]

🔥 *Excellent soldering guide!* Thanks for talking about why a clean tip is best and how-to, giving the X and V wire connection techniques, apply solder by wicking through the wires, and then verification (QA.) Also your parts list and recommendations are gold. You did all this efficiently and in an easy to understand format, in a fair amount of time 11 min.) _Bravo! Please keep up the great work._ 🎮

[toddburkheart]

That was by far the best tutorial I've seen for this. Thank you!

[dlkline]

I started soldering when I was about 10 years old. I'm 85 and still soldering. I've soldered with every type of device including a torch. While working as a Quality Assurance Rep. I was a certified soldering inspector. Having said all that, take my advice and never, ever attempt to solder anything without using flux.

[Stuartrusty]

Have been soldering since I was about 8 years old, and professionally for 40 years. The methods you have shown here are absolutely correct.
The only thing that is not is the use of a flame to shrink the heat shrink. This is frowned upon professionally for good reason. The flame has a tendency to char and burn the heat shrink because flames are too higher temperature. This can result in embrittlement of the heat shrink causing it to crack or split. The best temperature range to use is 200 to 250 degrees C dependent on the type of heat shrink used. The use of flames in some working environments is also prohibited due to the presence of flammable or combustible substances, especially when working on or making repairs on cars.

[eSix]

Nice! 0:14 ...I use my DeWalt bag for my soldering stuff too. Great minds. Great tutorial.

One thing that has helped me is adding a bit of electrical flux to my twists. A lot burns off, but the solder seeps and flows sooo much better. Just have to clean up the joint with some rubbing alcohol afterwards.

Last thought, no matter how many times I've told myself to add the shrink tubing prior to twisting and soldering, I still forget.

Keep up the good work.

[dustinhadley]

I had hoped for something more advanced, but this is a very well done introductory video.

[t]

Exelent begginer staff. All the basic rules collected and demonstrated well. Thanks

[vog]

I'm gonna give you a thumbs up, only because I think your video is mostly informative.

[MrNoipe]

Really great tutorial! Thanks for showing common pitfalls.

[mondotv]

While there is nothing wrong with twisting the wires first and then twisting them together I find the best joint is to actually splice the strands of the wires in to each other and then twist them, heat up the joint and solder. The problem with twisting already twisted wires together is even with tinned solder you are creating a much larger thermal mass that is harder to solder - particularly with larger gauge wire. It's also not as mechanically strong because wires that are twisted together like that have less surface area in contact with each other - so you need a longer joint to create enough twists.

[radekkanikowski]

thats one good quality tutorial. easy to digest no unnecesary information streight to the point with different variations that can be better suited for different users. great.

[nopnop]

Wow that’s one of the best soldering videos I have ever watched. Thank you so much.