Re: Making My Own Cable?

["Michael J. Mahon" <mjmahon@aol.com>]

Ed Eastman wrote:
> msean wrote:
>
> > Hi, Are there any sources of instructions on the net for making your
> > own cables? I have a pin diagram but don't know what you actually do to
> > make the connections and cable.
> > Thanks, Mike

<snip>

> Take some flux and coat the metal wires, twist them together if they 
> separate.  Then touch the hot iron to it so the flux 'melts' and smokes 
> a bit.  The reaction of the flux melting will clean the wire as the flux 
> is acidic.  

Whoa!  The only proper flux for electronic use is rosin-based,
and it is NOT acidic.  NEVER use acid-based fluxes with electronics
(such as zinc or ammonium chloride fluxes).

Fluxes for electronic use are non-conductive and non-corrosive, and
are usually soluble in water or alcohol.

> Next, grab the solder and apply the heat to the wire again, 
> and touch the solder to the opposite side of the wire.  The heat will 
> melt and draw the solder around and coat the wire.  (Solder flows 
> towards the heat.)
>
> This applying solder to the wire before connecting it is called tinning. 
>  You should only solder with tinned wire to make your life easier.
>
> Apply a tiny smidge of flux to the pin where you want the solder to 
> stick and touch the tinned wire and the pin together at that point. Heat 
> the pin and allow the solder to adhere to the pin.

Extra flux is seldom necessary.  Rosin-core solder contains plenty
of flux for tinning.  Additional flux just makes more of a mess to
clean up.

-michael

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