A tool I wish someone would make

[wdfifteen]

Lying on my back under the dash of my 356 coupe soldering wires. ARGH!!
I wish someone would make a soldering iron with a tip like spring loaded pliers that would hold the wire joint tight between the soldering tip and some non-heat transferring material (Bakelite?). My 140 watt soldering gun works great for 12 ga. wire if I trap the wire between the tip and a stick of wood where I can get some pressure on it, but out in the open air I can't get any pressure on the wire (= poor heat transfer).

[Cajundaddy]

You could probably fabricate something pretty easily. Take some duck bill vice grips and glue an insulator of your choice on each side. The bottom would be solid and the top would have a window opening for your iron. Clamp the wires in the device with your splice in the little window and solder them together. Bam!

It would hold your wires together securely and make it easy to get a good hot transfer. I fabricated a similar rig back when I was building a lot of 3 pin mic cables from quality components in the 80s. Once set up I could do them pretty quickly and many are still in use today.

[Bill Douglas]

I have one of these which is handy for holding small wires together when soldering.

[herr_oberst]

Picture something like this with spring clamps instead of a solid base.

[pwd72s]

And...here's a guy who makes a good case against soldering:

[Shifter]

Probably not a solution, but now I know they exist, and I need a pair.

https://smile.amazon.com/KIMISS-Soldering-Multi-Function-Automobile-Maintenance/dp/B09MM7T9BZ/ref=sr_1_2?crid=14VFFD2P94AB5&keywords=soldering+pliers&qid=1665618512&qu=eyJxc2MiOiI0LjgzIiwicXNhIjoiNC4zMCIsInFzcCI6IjQ uMTcifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=soldering+pli%2Caps%2C156&sr=8-2

[masraum]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

And...here's a guy who makes a good case against soldering:

Wow, yeah, I've used the cheap parts store crimpers and terminals for years and they suck. I don't see myself doing much crimping in the near future, but if I find myself needing to do some, I'm getting tools like he has at the end of the video and good terminals.

[p911dad]

How about Lucas bullet connectors (I know, I know, Lucas is the Prince of Darkness..) but these things have their place. Crimp on male/female connectors. And it makes removal easy. Just a thought, no help on the soldering clamp.

[Bill Douglas]

I know you are not meant to solder. But I do. I've never had one come apart accidently. Then I put heat shrink over the join.

[A930Rocket]

I just recently bought the crimpers he showed at the end with the connections. They work well.

I’ve also tried the connectors with the built-in solder and heat shrink. They seem to be hit or miss for the solder to melt.

[Shifter]

Somehow I posted twice. Still nothing constructive to ad.

[astrochex]

How about no solder or crimp connectors? Developed for motorcycle use. https://www.posi-products.com/posilock.html




http://www.motorcycle.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/010416-How-to-splice-wires-7608.jpg

[hcoles]

I've used a lot of the posi-locks. So far they work great and can be taken apart without cutting wires.

[id10t]

Originally Posted by Bill Douglas

I have one of these which is handy for holding small wires together when soldering.

I think John Muir mentions the twin roach clips with magnifying glass for solar powered lighting in his VW Guide book

Originally Posted by p911dad

How about Lucas bullet connectors (I know, I know, Lucas is the Prince of Darkness..) but these things have their place. Crimp on male/female connectors. And it makes removal easy. Just a thought, no help on the soldering clamp.

I know ignition switch and turn signal switch on my 356C use bullet connectors but I don't think dash lights, etc. are set up with them.

[MBAtarga]

If these are good enough for the defense department contractors....where I used these 35 years ago.....

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

I’ve also tried the connectors with the built-in solder and heat shrink. They seem to be hit or miss for the solder to melt.

I bought two tubs of those and found the same as you, hard to melt the low melting point solder.

However, I now use a mini butane torch and the heat shrink can withstand a good deal of direct flame without disintegrating. I still don't like the connectors very much, tho.

Frankly, I think wdfifteen could benefit from using this torch in the under the dash scenario for conventional soldering. It does not work when pointed downward but upward it's awesome. Tiny but mighty flame.

https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/turbo-blue-torch-blue-torch-stick-butane-lighter-w-bottle-opener-22226/12055407-p?product_channel=local&store=8740&adtype=pla&product_channel=local&store_code=8740&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_a3Gl4Pc-gIVDQCtBh3F4QYpEAQYBCABEgJS1fD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

[Por_sha911]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

Picture something like this with spring clamps instead of a solid base.

Dude, what's with the roach clips?

[herr_oberst]

Remember the movie Pineapple Express where they had a joint in the shape of a cross?

[Ayles]

I just learned about this cool little jig. Can probably use it in tight spaces.

https://www.amainhobbies.com/protek-rc-carbon-fiber-soldering-jig-ptk-5340/p424738?gclid=Cj0KCQjwy5maBhDdARIsAMxrkw3gX6QfPAnq TO_0RT1rXcC1mgltQ7RTMCVaDZw0kKBuXjxttpCG9fkaAk1uEA Lw_wcB

[SCadaddle]

Did a bunch of soldering wiring repairs on my split window VW bus with a small butane torch without the soldering tip. Just the flame. I wouldn't attempt it with a typical soldering iron.