Actually all this is a waste of time and effort,
because Jagwire started making cable with factory soldered tips. And because
soldering the sides of the cable where it clamps is impossible, just file a
groove in the clamp!
Brake cables are another story.
I can't stand it when mechanics cut my cable ends.
I use slicked and stretched stainless steel tandem
length cable on my recumbent cycles. The tension makes them unravel very easy
every time I need to replace my brakes or reroute the cable, just pulling them
out once can destroy a $6 cable.
I have to solder the ends to prevent this.
I file the ends round and remove some of the shiny
chromium-oxide (that keeps things from sticking to stainless steel) helping the
solder to reach the base metal. Then I heat the cable tip with a 100watt iron
(DO NOT USE A TORCH! IT WILL WEAKEN THE CABLE) Drip one drop of the acid flux
(the fumes release cyanide poison gas DON’T BREATH THE FUMES) from StayBright’s
kit with zinc chloride and hydro-chloric acid. Then apply more heat and the
silver solder. Forney’s 6% silver solder with acid core flux maybe a lot easier
to use. I don’t think super glue can hold the cable strands when twisted.
I also solder the area to be clamped to keep it
from being crushed and broken.
