The trick is to get a small blob of fresh melted solder on/in the tip of the desoldering tool. It will stay there as you slowly insert the enameled wire through the blob and into the tip of the tool an inch or so, melting off the insulation as you go before activating the vacuum. Practice a couple of times on scrap wire to get the non-critical timing right and build your confidence.
I’ve only tried fine (22 - 30) gauge or so wire typical of QRP or receiver designs. For a high-current heavy gauge wire used in power applications, I suspect some combination of the usual sanding, burning, and scraping would be appropriate. It really is brilliant! I wish I could remember who I got the idea from years ago, but I thought it such a good “secret” that I promised (mentally) to pass it along periodically - particularly when the subject comes up. Like most, until that point I struggled sanding, burning, scraping… to get enameled wire clean enough for soldering, never confident the job was well done. No longer with this method. Merry Christmas, Steve AA8AF > On Dec 24, 2021, at 12:46 AM, Rick Tavan <r...@tavan.com> wrote: > > Brilliant! Why didn't I think of that? ;-) > > I have a toroid winding project waiting for me and will use this technique > with pleasure. Thanks for posting. > > 73, > > /Rick N6XI > > On Thu, Dec 23, 2021 at 8:50 PM SteveL <lawr...@woh.rr.com > <mailto:lawr...@woh.rr.com>> wrote: > Jerry, > Years ago when I built my K2, somewhere I learned a Hakko 808 desolating tool > was also an excellent enameled wire stripper and tinning device. The 808 > has been replaced by the FR-301 but I would expect similar results from this > newer tool. Either are stand-alone desoldering guns with heated hollow tip > and built in vacuum. > > Here’s how to use… > - Prop the tool upright - I wedge mine in a partially opened drawer of my > work desk. > - Melt a blob of fresh solder on the hollow tip. > - Slowly insert an inch of enameled wire into the hollow tip and observe the > insulation melt/burn away. > - In a second or two, activate the trigger turning on the vacuum. Instantly > the solder blob is whisked away along with the melted enamel insulation > leaving a beautiful tinned wire ready for soldering into your project. > > When I discovered this “secret” all my problems and fears of preparing toroid > leads vanished. Strangely, I actually look forward to winding toroids! I > probably use the tool more for stripping enameled wire than desoldering. > This was a game changer for me. After building the K2, I went on to > construct a K1 and KX1. > > And, the tool conveniently doubles as a desoldering tool!! > > 73, > Steve > AA8AF > > > > >> My K2 PLL problems all originated in one inadequately tinned toroid > >> wire. > > > > *** After having a few projects borked because of this exact issue, I broke > > down and bought a magnet wire stripper on Amazon. > > > > https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09695CHTH > > <https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09695CHTH> > > > > Basically a Chinese copy of a really expensive German tool. It has blades > > that > > close down on the wire with centripetal force. Works great for thicker > > wires, > > but is not reliable with really thin ones - it can just chop the wire off. > > I seem > > to remember the cutoff being around 24AWG. > > > > The tool paid for itself on one KW Low Pass Filter project. > > > > - Jerry KF6VB > > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > <http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft> > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm <http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm> > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net <mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net> > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net <http://www.qsl.net/> > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > <http://www.qsl.net/donate.html> > Message delivered to rta...@gmail.com <mailto:rta...@gmail.com> > > -- > -- > > Rick Tavan > Truckee and Saratoga, CA ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
