Any tips on soldering the Switchcraft pancake plugs?

  • Thread starter Thread starter cyndicate
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cyndicate

cyndicate

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I've soldered a ton a few months ago for a pedal board that got dissambled, tested all of them today and only half were working. The ground doesn't like to stay to the plug :doh: Any tips on getting it to stay?
 
what kind of flux did you use? those flat pancake ones are shinier and slippery...i remember needing to file them a bit, or sandpaper them a bit to make it rougher, and needing to use more flux.
 
yeti":2db24zub said:
what kind of flux did you use? those flat pancake ones are shinier and slippery...i remember needing to file them a bit, or sandpaper them a bit to make it rougher, and needing to use more flux.
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A dremel tool works great for taking that coating off. :thumbsup:
 
yeti":2dmpgkgw said:
what kind of flux did you use? those flat pancake ones are shinier and slippery...i remember needing to file them a bit, or sandpaper them a bit to make it rougher, and needing to use more flux.
Click to expand...

Didn't use any flux, maybe I need to grab some. I'll try sanding it down.
 
I hate those and had the same problem. I used some sandpaper and it helped alot.
 
MARK1970":3o0k5erf said:
I hate those and had the same problem. I used some sandpaper and it helped alot.
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I hate soldering them, plus they get hot so damn fast, i've burned myself a couple of times touching them on accident :lol: :LOL: Too bad they are the smallest I can find without using the solderless ones.
 
They are tricky to work with, I had success with a very hot iron, then heating the plate up substantially before soldering. You can see the coating appear to melt away with enough heat, at which point soldering becomes easier. Cooling time is substantial and over all they require more patience, but the shape is so convenient.
 
Dremel and a BIG Iron like you would use for soldering a ground on an amp chassis.
 
i made a "solering block" for soldering 1/4 jacks and other stuff.

you can also use a regular table vice too.

i just took a 1/2 foot piece 2x4 and drilled different 5/8" inch holes into it...on the sides, at angles, straight in, etc....so basically, i can solder any 1/4 inch plug at any angle i need it to be, and have both hands free. i put a bolt down thru the middle of the 2x4 and there's a 5lb weight on the bottom (used some bigger washers thru the bottom of the weight to attach it) basically to hold it from going anywhere on the desk. but, now that i have a table vice, i just use that mainly.

i have a 2x8 that i did also, but ended up using the 2x4 cause it has the weight on it.
 
yeti":2il1hwk2 said:
i made a "solering block" for soldering 1/4 jacks and other stuff.

you can also use a regular table vice too.

i just took a 1/2 foot piece 2x4 and drilled different 5/8" inch holes into it...on the sides, at angles, straight in, etc....so basically, i can solder any 1/4 inch plug at any angle i need it to be, and have both hands free. i put a bolt down thru the middle of the 2x4 and there's a 5lb weight on the bottom (used some bigger washers thru the bottom of the weight to attach it) basically to hold it from going anywhere on the desk. but, now that i have a table vice, i just use that mainly.

i have a 2x8 that i did also, but ended up using the 2x4 cause it has the weight on it.
Click to expand...

Sweet that sounds like something I should make. I used to just use a broken pedal and just plugged it in and soldered through that. No idea where that went though :lol: :LOL:
 
I use a Hakko FX-888 set to around 750F, hold it to the body of the plug for around 20-30 seconds, add solder and if it wets nice, pull it off and if not, hold it for a little longer.
 
I hit them with a wire brush drill bit and solder, tin the wire, and solder them together carefully...I've never had one fail
 
Next time go with the gls pancake plugs instead of switchcraft. They have solder lugs for the ground, way easier to assemble. These are what L.A. Sound Design use, Friedman uses them as well.
 
soundscapes":1pi1pdzi said:
Next time go with the gls pancake plugs instead of switchcraft. They have solder lugs for the ground, way easier to assemble. These are what L.A. Sound Design use, Friedman uses them as well.
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Sweet, for a dollar a piece doesn't hurt to try! Gonna order some. Thanks. :rock:
 
Yeah, the Switchcraft jacks are a pain. The GLS ones are way better, not to mention they cost a lot less.
 
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