Turrets are a challenge to solder to

[Zippy]

which way are you trying to solder the turrets?

on the outside wrapping the leg of the component around the turret shaft?
or
bending the leg at a 90 degree angle and filling the hole?

Both.

[guitarmike2107]

If you went to china and gave them the exact spec of what you wanted and were prepared to pay the price you would
get what you ask for, if you go to china looking for a bargain to undercut the local manufactures, you get what you pay for.

The Chinese turrets use a specific press/install tool, Using a keystone flaring tool will cause them to split. The correct tool slightly flares them over but also compresses the tube into the hole so that it pushes on the side of the hole. Once put in with the correct tool they don’t crack and they are bloody tight in the hole.
You can see the turrets installed with the correct tool in the attached photo:

I also used RS uk made turrets that crack and chip very easily, and are IMHO much worse to work with.

I mostly wrap components around the turrets and have never had an issue wetting, So maybe it’s a solder thing if not a heat thing. Or the inside of the hole is not being washed properly? They are Rohs Compliant… which comes with it’s own struggles

[IMG768]http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u292 ... 0Large.jpg[/img]

[azatplayer]

+1 on that comment Mike, the Chinese make whats asked of them at the given price point. Chrysler are having 300C's made there, Mercedes likewise building SL's there. We forget in our rush to cough over what they do that its the importers specs and price point that they are working to.
Ask em to make it for 2 cents and they will. Thats the difference between the Chinese and the Japanese. The Japs have too much pride to make crap.

If you went to china and gave them the exact spec of what you wanted and were prepared to pay the price you would
get what you ask for, if you go to china looking for a bargain to undercut the local manufactures, you get what you pay for.

The Chinese turrets use a specific press/install tool, Using a keystone flaring tool will cause them to split. The correct tool slightly flares them over but also compresses the tube into the hole so that it pushes on the side of the hole. Once put in with the correct tool they don’t crack and they are bloody tight in the hole.
You can see the turrets installed with the correct tool in the attached photo:

I also used RS uk made turrets that crack and chip very easily, and are IMHO much worse to work with.

I mostly wrap components around the turrets and have never had an issue wetting, So maybe it’s a solder thing if not a heat thing. Or the inside of the hole is not being washed properly? They are Rohs Compliant… which comes with it’s own struggles

[IMG768]http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u292 ... 0Large.jpg[/img]

[Colossal]

Ask em to make it for 2 cents and they will. Thats the difference between the Chinese and the Japanese. The Japs have too much pride to make crap.

Which is precisely why, having been repeatedly reminded of this axiom through the failure of cheap chinese made products, I choose pride over crap.

[Structo]

Well China is the New Japan.

When I was a kid if something was from Japan, it was junk.

But they overcame that and their quality improved.
Nowadays if you see something made in Japan you will think it is very nice.

Now the junk is made in China and what you guys say is true, they will build it at just about any price point and the quality of that will show.

They are an awakening giant and will very soon be a force to reckon with.

[Tone Lover]

Funny i used to import jade there and made friends with several chinese buisness men they said all they care about is the money they will do just enough to get paid they dont give a crap about how well its made.
On the other hand I was just soldering last night with some aes turrets I just use a 25 watt iron no problems in soldering that I could tell,
maybe I have just got used to them.
Thanks Bill

[guitarmike2107]

Funny i used to import jade there and made friends with several chinese buisness men they said all they care about is the money they will do just enough to get paid they dont give a crap about how well its made.

unfortunately thats not a "China only" problem, I battle with the same issues at work daily.

I have dealt with a number of Chinese suppliers, and when you ask for quality you get it, but it's not just as cheap.

[C Moore]

I got a Fender AB165, single turret board, from Watts about one month ago. I had no problem with the soldering process.
If possible, I prefer to wrap all leads around the turret, but sometimes I run the lead/wire inside the turret.....either way, I had no trouble with soldering.
Best

[Jack Hester]

I recently got a supply of small turrets from Mouser that had tarnished look to them, rather than the shiney plated look that Keystone turrets usually have. My larger turrets are from Ken Watts, and all have the shiney look. Point is, solder sticks well to any of the shiney turrets that I use. But, yesterday when I was in the process of wiring a power supply board that had a mix of shiney and tarnished turrets, the solder would not stick without the use of additional flux. My soldering pencil iron is a 30 watt, an gets plenty hot for this application.

I have never looked into it, but I wonder if Keystone is buying some inferior turrets, rather than make them.

Jack

[coolidge]

I recently got a supply of small turrets from Mouser that had tarnished look to them, rather than the shiney plated look that Keystone turrets usually have.Jack

Yeah they tried to dump those corroded turrets off on me too. I complained and they sent me a new batch.

[guitarmike2107]

Is there an easy way to clean off tarnish? i.e boil the whole lot with baking soda or something?

Rubbing down turrets is fine for wrap round fitting , but if you use the hole then how are you meant to easily clean the tarnish out?

[Structo]

Do you have any flux?

I use a liquid flux when I have a difficult solder joint to perform.

[guitarmike2107]

I was more thinking about if you had a box full of 10000 turrets, is there an easy way to nail them all in one go... to make sure you don''t have any issues when soldering?

[Jack Hester]

Do you have any flux?

I use a liquid flux when I have a difficult solder joint to perform.

I'm having to use flux and my 30 watt iron, to get the solder to stick.

Jack

[boots]

I wonder if they are nickel-plated? I bet if you scotch-brite them down to the base metal, they will solder OK. I bet most of us would be happy to pay a little more for silver-plated turrets.

As a ham operator, I have cussed countless nickel-plated coax connectors. They are useless if you can't solder to them....