Using a Washer as a Soldering Aid

Hot Topics:

By Sean Michael Ragan
Posted 2012/02/24 @ 6:51 pm
Category Electronics, Tools

Very clever trick from next month’s issue of The Family Handyman, submitted by reader Joseph Johnson.

If you have “helping hands,” clamping wire leads against a washer, as shown, stabilizes the whole setup dramatically by connecting the two arms with a rigid member, so you can bear down a bit more with the iron without pushing things out of alignment. But the hole in the middle of the washer still allows all-round access to the junction.

If you don’t have helping hands, you can just use a washer, as shown, with a pair of alligator clips (or even small binder clips) as a pretty effective improvised workholding jig for this kind of soldering.

More:

BY Sean Michael Ragan

I am descended from 5,000 generations of tool-using primates. Also, I went to college and stuff. I write for MAKE, serve as Technical Editor for MAKE magazine, and develop original DIY content for Make: Projects.

In the Maker Shed

17 Responses to Using a Washer as a Soldering Aid

Timothy Gray on February 25th, 2012 at 6:14 am said:

Hope that is for example only and nobody is soldering bell wire like that. the twist needs to be in line and parallel not perpendicular.

Reply ↓
- Sean Ragan on February 25th, 2012 at 10:05 am said:
  
  Yeah, it’s just an example I set up in my garage. But thanks, I didn’t know that! Why is that, anyway?
  
  Reply ↓
  
  Alex Barclay on February 25th, 2012 at 11:26 am said:
  
  If you’re soldering in-line wires like that take a good long look at the Western Union Splice. It’s even in the NASA quality manual as acceptable on spacecraft.
  
  Reply ↓
markjuggles on February 25th, 2012 at 12:21 pm said:

The inline splice is easier to insulate with heatshrink or tape and is less likely to come apart when the wire is pulled.

I recommend insulating the alligator clip with heatshrink or aquarium tubing because the teeth are prone to poking through the wire insulation when the wire is hot from soldering.

Reply ↓
- Dee on February 25th, 2012 at 8:48 pm said:
  
  If i’m soldering or tinning wires i a put a piece of foam (something fairly dense and flexible like neoprene) folded over into my clip and then just slide the wires into that. I’ve found that even with heat shrink on the clips it can still damage the wire
  
  Reply ↓
Pingback: Use a Washer to Help Solder [Soldering]
Pingback: Use A Washer To Help Solder | Lifehacker Australia
Roger Merrill on February 26th, 2012 at 1:15 pm said:

Now that’s what I’m talking about …. Simple ideas that make a persons life better. Thank you

Reply ↓
John R. Strohm on February 27th, 2012 at 5:43 am said:

The splice shown in the photos creates a stress concentration at the necessary 90-degree bend in the wires. This leads to premature failure of the wire. The Western Union splice doesn’t have that bend, so it doesn’t create the stress concentration.

Those old geezers who wired the planet for sound (and telegraph before that) actually knew what they were doing – and still do.

Reply ↓
Pingback: Stupidly brilliant soldering idea - BuildLounge » BuildLounge
Pingback: MAKE | How-To: Splice Wire to NASA Standards
Pingback: How-To: Splice Wire to NASA Standards | House of Mods
Gordon DeWitte on July 24th, 2012 at 6:48 am said:

Use clothes pins instead of alligator clips and you will have less heating of the wires’ insulation.

Reply ↓
- Brian on July 24th, 2012 at 9:36 am said:
  
  Hey, don’t you *want* a good heat conductor to minimize insulation melt?
  
  Reply ↓
Brian on July 24th, 2012 at 9:39 am said:

Neat idea! Seems like you could also use a steel ring or even a piece of heavy gauge solid wire.

Reply ↓
Philscbx on February 23rd, 2013 at 12:51 am said:

Want cool – no solder creep proof joint – no distorted insulation –
fold over wet 1/2″ of paper towel at edge of insulation.

Reply ↓
- Philscbx on February 23rd, 2013 at 12:54 am said:
  
  Place clamp over tightly folded over wet towel
  
  Reply ↓