Looking for thoughts on soldering steel. I have a few different applications but have yet to get anything to stick, regardless of how long I apply heat with my soldering iron.
1. Stainless steel cables. Think bicycle brake and shifter cables. I would LOVE to solder my ends instead of using a crimp cap to keep them from fraying. I've tried solder iron for many minutes as well as a propane torch. Both with and without flux. The solder simply won't stick.
2. Spring. A little specific, this is the steel spring on a Surefire P60 xenon lamp module. Basically I am trying to solder a 5mm yuji high cri LED in place of the xenon bulb. Same as above, using the soldering iron the solder just won't stick to the steel.
Now, I have a "ok" soldering iron that has worked well for basic electronic work for a few years now. Its a Radio Shack brand 40w "pencil" style unit. DO I just need more watts? Based on my experience with the torch I think its not that simple...
1. Stainless steel cables. Think bicycle brake and shifter cables. I would LOVE to solder my ends instead of using a crimp cap to keep them from fraying. I've tried solder iron for many minutes as well as a propane torch. Both with and without flux. The solder simply won't stick.
2. Spring. A little specific, this is the steel spring on a Surefire P60 xenon lamp module. Basically I am trying to solder a 5mm yuji high cri LED in place of the xenon bulb. Same as above, using the soldering iron the solder just won't stick to the steel.
Now, I have a "ok" soldering iron that has worked well for basic electronic work for a few years now. Its a Radio Shack brand 40w "pencil" style unit. DO I just need more watts? Based on my experience with the torch I think its not that simple...