Cable Asylum

40W Soldering Iron enough for Cardas CPBP Binding Posts

173.31.133.2

kgturner

I have a set of Cardas CPBP (short posts/rhodium plated) coming shortly that I intend to use to solder some Neotech 3004 mkII speaker wire to for a small project I'm building.

I have a 40 watt Weller soldering iron. It's great for making cables, but I'm wondering if it might be a little underpowered for the CPBP posts. Thoughts?

Kevin T
"religion is the opiate of the masses"

Follow Ups:

One of these days, if you are going to be doing more projects. . - ABliss 07:42:43 03/13/21 (0)
Invest in a nice Hakko solder station, and dump the Weller.
It will give you many years of trouble free service.
Mine is going over 15yrs of regular use with no problems.
I still have a draw full of Wellers and Radio Shacks that was just a waist of money.
Also WBT solder is highly recommended.

Edits: 03/13/21
No - Dave Garretson 16:40:36 03/08/21 (0)
I've used those posts regularly. Lots of metal there, suitable for a 150W trigger operated gun.
RE: 40W Soldering Iron enough for Cardas CPBP Binding Posts - Palustris 10:38:59 03/08/21 (5)
Personally, I have had a difficult time soldering (iron set to 850 deg. F.) to the Rhodium plating. In my opinion (YMMV), it works best to remove the rhodium coating with a small file to expose the copper, then flux, and then solder on the cable.
- RE: 40W Soldering Iron enough for Cardas CPBP Binding Posts - lokie 06:07:24 03/14/21 (0)
  Right. My experience as well.
  
  The copper post aren't much better. A little trickier to solder than one would expect.
- RE: 40W Soldering Iron enough for Cardas CPBP Binding Posts - alan m. kafton 12:13:53 03/08/21 (3)
  Agreed. I've been using the premium CCGR's for 10+ years now. At first they took forever to solder (I dial the temp up to 740/750 for these). What I learned to do is take a small abrasive Dremel bit (on a Dremel MINI MITE) to remove the plating from the cup. While the binding posts still take a good amount of time to heat up due to their mass, the overall soldering time is reduced applying solder to the exposed copper substrate.
  - RE: 40W Soldering Iron enough for Cardas CPBP Binding Posts - pictureguy 12:40:48 03/08/21 (2)
    Do you use an flux as a soldering aid?
    Too much is never enough
    - RE: 40W Soldering Iron enough for Cardas CPBP Binding Posts - alan m. kafton 14:45:13 03/08/21 (1)
      On certain parts and when I tin stranded wire, I apply a tiny amount of flux. The Cardas eutectic solder I use has a rosin core, so not much is needed. I do not, however, use any flux on the binding posts....the 'naked' copper after Dremeling allows the solder to flow easily after the post reaches the 'right' heat.
      - RE: 40W Soldering Iron enough for Cardas CPBP Binding Posts - pictureguy 15:19:37 03/08/21 (0)
        
        In Reply to: RE: 40W Soldering Iron enough for Cardas CPBP Binding Posts posted by alan m. kafton on March 08, 2021 at 14:45:13
        
        I use nothing BUT Kester.
        And even the thinnest has a 'core'.
        
        From this list you can find something for every use you can imagine.
        Too much is never enough
        https://www.kester.com/products/product/245-flux-cored-wire (Open in New Window)
RE: 40W Soldering Iron enough for Cardas CPBP Binding Posts - Rocket_Powered 06:42:07 03/08/21 (0)
I also have a 40W Weller and have done what you are trying to do. As Duster has commented - just flux and tin the post, due to heft it will take longer to heat up that's all.
RE: 40W Soldering Iron enough for Cardas CPBP Binding Posts - Duster 19:48:32 03/07/21 (1)
The tip will need to linger a bit longer on the surface of the copper binding post before soldering. I recommend tinning the binding post first, leaving an adequate amount of solder on the surface. Then tin the wiring before doing a normal job of it, since making sure the copper surface is tinned first is the critical task.
- RE: 40W Soldering Iron enough for Cardas CPBP Binding Posts - 6bq5 10:22:46 03/08/21 (0)
  +1
  Happy Listening

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