I use a hemostat.

+1

Keeps you from burning your fingertips too.

Flow some solder on the lug, flow some solder on the stripped wire. Clamp the wire to the the lug and apply the iron, the solder will flow into itself.

what you do is get your wires knitted together like you want them, and then use the hemostat to clamp the joint together so you can have both hands to work the iron & solder.

The beautiful thing about it is that your solder will flow into the wires but never stick to the ends of the hemostat.

Do you have a good soldering station? That is key. If you are using a crappy $20 pen, that's the first mistake.

I use the same method as TaylorVA. I don't use a soldering station for flipper rebuilds, I use a cheap radio shack 30 watt soldering iron. While others might disagree, I think you should have a soldering station for board work and a separate soldering iron for playfield coils and switches. Just my 2 cents.

Tom

I have an iron and station but usually use the station as it is always out. I also like seeing that my iron is hot enough before I do any work. You can also swap tips depending on what you're working on.

If you attach your wires as shown in the pic below, they'll hold themselves in place. This way provides the greatest mechanical strength.

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Here is a great video on soldering. It may not be about soldering onto switches, but it explains technique pretty good.

(great Vid)

I have two brothers who both have careers in electronics. When they came to visit me and checkout my new hobby. The sent me back to soldering school. First thing they told me was park the solder pencil (it is for board work) I purchased a nice gun and use it almost exclusively under the play field. It has made all the difference .

Interesting. I have never used anything but my temp controlled Weller since buying it, and use it for everything. Whether it is a lug, large ground on a board, on a crappy little DE board with weak traces, I know the station and the temps required like the back of my hand now, and everything solders perfectly. I can't imagine having anything else, other than my newly purchased hakko 808 for desoldering.

So, does anyone have any tips on how to hold everthing your trying to solder in place? I'm doing a flipper rebuild and I had to quit b/c I was doing a terrible job trying to chase the wires with solder in one hand and the iron in the other lol. Been trying to look up vidoes but no luck yet. Thanks all.

i use a "helping hands" tool. same method from electronics school, 20+ years ago. take the magnifier and block off, and use the bar with the two clips. attach one section to something secure like a coil bracket, other section with the wire(s). secure it so it doesn't move. apply heat, solder and bingo. works great for vertical playfield work. you can pick one up at the shack for $10-15 or order on online.

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My first thought as well. I've used this method with great results. Clamp wire to lugs, other wires, whatever, then take your time and make it look perfect. On the bench or in-game. Alternately I use the helping hands setup on my bench.

The key to a successful solder joint with wire is a solid mechanical connection first.

If you can, a coil lug doesn't have a hole so the contact is just solder on the pad.

You need to flow solder onto the wire first. If you have flow solder on the pad and onto the wires you actually won't even need a hemostat, I just use as the heat hurts like hell.

I've never seen a coil lug without a hole... you may have to soldapullt it, but there's a hole there.......

I'll post pics after I get home..

I've never seen a coil lug without a hole... you may have to soldapullt it, but there's a hole there.......
I'll post pics after I get home..

There is a hole but your not going to fit any wires thought it.

image.jpg

I do it all the time...that's why I said I'd post pics when I get home. I'm in the middle of doing my PF swap on Space Shuttle, and have already attached some coils, and I promise, they have much bigger holes than what's in that pic.. I even have a clean coil from PBL I can desolder for example. God knows it's not useful for anything else...one of the lugs broke off it in shipping.

Have you been here yet?

http://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/vids-guide-to-upgradingrebuilding-flippers