I 've been holding the tip of my iron to this bullet for 10 minutes and it still won 't melt so...

[G+_T Burns]

I've been holding the tip of my iron to this bullet for 10 minutes and it still won't melt solder inside the cup. Temp is turned all the way up on the iron. It's a Velleman VTSS5 from iFixit. Any tips? Dan Salter Fr. Robert Ballecer, SJ 

[G+_Dan Salter]

Based on that pic I'd say my guess is unlikely to be the whole issue. The bullet looks far enough away from the clip. The only change I'd make is to apply the heat from further up the tip from a thicker part, 5mm or so should do it (greater heat transfer).  It should only take a few seconds so if this doesn't help I'm guessing the tip isn't hot enough. As to why another know-hower will have to advise...

[G+_Rob Egly]

Clean that tip, and use some melted solder to get good heat transfer into the cup.

[G+_T Burns]

Using the thick part of the tip worked finally. I'm interested to see the difference the new iron makes when it comes in.

[G+_Michael Heinz]

I hate that. You'd think someone would make non-conductive alligator clips.

 

I want to make an entire 2nd power distribution assembly, but I can't figure out how I'm going to hold the bullets together to do it. Some kind of wooden jig, I guess.

[G+_Ben Reese]

You could have probably stuck the tip into the bullet and applied solder as you pulled it out. As for a wooden jig, couldn't a wooden clothespin work? Might need to modify it a bit to make the spring hold tighter.

[G+_Brian Festa]

I did the same thing I heat shrinked my clamps with a few layers?. I did 8 bullets to make my esc power break out

[G+_Brian Festa]

I didn't have any melting. It heated up nice and fast

[G+_Eddie Foy]

Also, if its an adjustable heat iron, crank it up!!!

If too low, you heat everything up .

Having it hot, it does better/quicker spot heating, which is what you want.

 

(Try soldering a SO-239 and you'll see what I mean in a hurry)

[G+_Steven Atkinson]

I'd do what Rob Egly? said, clean the tip or replace it. Dirt is one of the main causes of problems you will find when soldering.

[G+_John Baggott]

Looking at the TIP it needs a good clean but it does look like it is shot, rather than the alligator clips try a wooden clothes pin  

[G+_T Burns]

Final Followup on this one, I got the weller WLC100 and got the job done in under a minute, just as I expected it to. I blame the previous iron.