Hi Graham,

if you ...solder flows between the strands, it's not a good joint
I know you have said something similar in another thread, and I want to respectfully disgree, and to  point out that it is not seen as current best practice by the likes of IPC (*). - for strong joints and maximum current handling you do want the solder to wick between  strands and between the turns of one wire around another or around a solder terminal as fully as possible (actually they require at least  75% coverage on inspection as a pass). Further to ensure that the joint  meets or exceeds the current rating of the original wires, you need to have an overlap length of several cable diameters. What you do not want is inclusions (bubbles of air or flux or other 'foreign objects').

However, where solder flow between wire strands and turns of wire can give rise to a problem is in terms of mechanical strength - there is a problem of fatigue fracture at the end of the stiff region. There can also be a problem with the solder creeping ands relaxing the joint pressure from un-sprung terminals - so choc bloc is a poor choice...

Electrically the resistance of solder in a joint is similar to that of steel, being about 10 times that of pure copper and the cross sections of areas of contact need to allow for that.

Mike

(*) I am aware this is an electronics standards organization, and 3/4 of its texts relate to PCB design and terminating connectors inside equipment, but the physics really should be the same.

From IPC J-STD-001E section 5,3

"Tinning of Stranded Wire
Portions of stranded wire that will be soldered shall be tinned prior to mounting when:
a. Wires will be formed for attachment to solder terminals.
b. Wires will be formed into splices (other than mesh) and optional when heat shrinkable solder devices are used.
Solder wicking shall not extend to a portion of the wire which is required to remain flexible. The solder shall wet the tinned portion of the wire and should penetrate to the inner strands of the wire."

Ah well, we also had a dry cleaners that used to smell highly intoxicating and bottles of Thawpit as well.  (Carbon tetrachloride being really good for grease and tar spot removal, just not very good for you or the planet.)
But I am very muhc with you on 1990  feeling quite recent - but as the youngsters at Scouts keep reminding me I am some sort of  dinosaur from the last century.
Mike

mapj1 said:

if you ...solder flows between the strands, it's not a good joint
I know you have said something similar in another thread, and I want to respectfully disgree,

So, it's an old 'rule of thumb' and as such 'more correct' in some cases than others.

mapj1 said:

solder flow between wire strands and turns of wire can give rise to a problem is in terms of mechanical strength

And that also depends on whether you are going to pot the connection or not, and the axial stress if it's suspended, or you don't have support immediately either side of the joint. Much less of a problem if you are going to pot it properly.

mapj1 said:

Electrically the resistance of solder in a joint is similar to that of steel, being about 10 times that of pure copper and the cross sections of areas of contact need to allow for that.

I guess that's an important thing, but of course there's a difference between current flow power cables for AC vs DC, and the type of joint would need to take that into account too.

mapj1 said:

(*) I am aware this is an electronics standards organization, and 3/4 of its texts relate to PCB design and terminating connectors inside equipment, but the physics really should be the same.

Definitely.

Haha, yes!

gkenyon said:

we openly used tins of 1,1,1 trichloroethane

Also available in Tippex.

It was definitely in Tippex and Liquid Paper, but I think not used any longer (at least in the concentrations it was, if at all) because of its carcinogenic classification.

I should have added, "long ago". Trichloroethane was a wonderful solvent. I once spilled some Tippex thinners on my desk and it promptly glued my keyboard to it. If it used to be in PVC solvent glue, it isn't any more.