[sts9fan]

So what do you guys use to aid in soldering?  I generally suck at soldering but I especially have problems trying to solder things like Bullet plugs to wires.  I feel like I need four hands.  Any Suggestions?

[BobM]

I have a vice on the end of my workbench. Makes a nice 3rd hand.

I also have one of those free standing double alligator clip jobbies with a magnifier on it. It's not so much of a help in general soldering, but does come in handy from time to time to hold small things. It really can't take any strain or weight and will fall over most times. I probably would suggest mounting it to the work bench if you're going to be using it a lot or for anything heavy or awkward.

Enjoy,
Bob

[JoshK]

What Bob said...

Actually I usually use the helping hands thingy (double aligator clips with poseable arms).  It takes some doing to get it in the right place.  Sometimes I just use heavier things sitting on the rca so I can solder it.  I think working with Bullet plugs takes more patience/skill then most other things audio. Maybe desoldering smaller smd parts is more difficult, but not too much more. 

[mgalusha]

I use a extra cheap rca jack to solder bullet plugs in association with the aforementioned double alligator clip helper from Radio Shack. I clip the jack to one and the cable in the other and plug the bullet plug (or whatever plug I'm using) into the little jack and everything stays lined up nicely. My jack is a pcb mountable one but something like this:



might work even better since the alligator clip would hold on better. Even better, you could make a little stand to hold the board vertical and then use the helping hand to hold the cable while the plug was in one of the jacks. The jacks are low mass, so you don't need to use a lot of extra heat to solder, which is a good thing with a bullet plug.

mike

[sts9fan]

well I am glad its not just me who thinks its a pain in the A.

thanks for the tips

[Wayner]

It helps to have the right wattage soldering iron, too. A nice Weller 25(?) watt (maybe they are 23 watt) and a big Weller gun (I think they are 140 watt), for the big soldering jobs like big cable onto big connectors. I have wood blocks attached to my vice jaws so that the metal of the vice doesn't act as a heatsink. I also have the gatorclip/magnafier thing from Radio Crap, but it's usually pretty worthless but is handy occasionally if you can get the damn thing in the right position.

W