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Mending headphone jack plug without solder
CraigSteele2001
25-02-2014
I have a pair of headphones that I have had for just over 2 years and I enjoy listening to music through them, but I have a typical wear and tear issue with the jack plug.

The wire I have to wiggle a little to keep the stereo output otherwise I mostly hear music through the left channel which is sometimes off putting.

As I don't own or know anyone who has a soldering iron, I wondered if I could fix this problem without having to buy a new pair of headphones for the sake of the sound issue.

Anyone help please?
Soundbox
25-02-2014
No, you will need a soldering iron. Probably the cable has broken inside the wire where ir meets the jack. I'll do it for you for the price of postage both ways (and the cost of the plug) if it helps
CraigSteele2001
25-02-2014
I've read on Google that a simple paper clip and heated up screwdriver could be a possible tool?
Soundbox
25-02-2014
Originally Posted by CraigSteele2001:
“I've read on Google that a simple paper clip and heated up screwdriver could be a possible tool?”

Well that's a first for me - and I solder for a living! I suppose it may work but the whole idea of solder is for it to 'flow' and make a secure connection. Plus the new lead free solder is even harder to work with (needs more heat and time).

Try soldering on some scrap wire first perhaps?
chrisjr
25-02-2014
Originally Posted by CraigSteele2001:
“I've read on Google that a simple paper clip and heated up screwdriver could be a possible tool?”

I would strongly advise you ignore that advice! If you have ever been on the wrong end of a soldering iron you will know they need to get flipping hot to melt solder and make it run properly!

There is no real substitute for using the right tool for the job. And bear in mind most headphones these days come with moulded on plugs where the only repair option is chop them off and use a rewire-able plug.

Unless the break is part way along the cable that may be the only option. If it is not right at the plug body then a bodge is to use a bit of screw terminal block and insulating tape. Not very elegant though.

You chop the cable where the break is and expose the conductors and bare a bit of copper on each wire and join them using the screw terminal block to join the ends together.

The big problem is some headphones have this god awful "tinsel" wire. It has thin strands of metal wrapped around string, not unlike tinsel. It is a bu**er to solder and near impossible to bodge with terminal block. Sennheiser use it and I have replaced more than one headphone lead on a pair of those with "proper" wire!
chrisjr
25-02-2014
Originally Posted by Soundbox:
“Well that's a first for me - and I solder for a living! I suppose it may work but the whole idea of solder is for it to 'flow' and make a secure connection. Plus the new lead free solder is even harder to work with (needs more heat and time).

Try soldering on some scrap wire first perhaps?”

Never heard of that one either. And I hate to think what you'd need to get a screwdriver blade up to temperature. If it's too small the handle probably wouldn't be man enough to protect you from the heat and too big you'd need a blacksmith's forge to get it going

And you mean you haven't got a secret stash of lead solder hidden from the 'elf 'n safety brigade
spiney2
26-02-2014
sorry. u do need soldering iron and solder and new plug.

many cheaper headphones use resin coated wires as insulation and u have to burn the resin off with hot iron & solder (flux) before a join can be made.
spiney2
26-02-2014
..... you could buy crap headphones from a pound shop. then join that to your existing ones. twisting the wires together. this is unllikely to work because both wires will probably have resin insulation which must be burned off as said above.
Mr Dos
03-03-2014
Originally Posted by CraigSteele2001:
“I've read on Google that a simple paper clip and heated up screwdriver could be a possible tool?”

Clint Eastwood welded an improvised tool to escape from Alcatraz using matches. D'oh !!! it was just a movie.
alan1302
03-03-2014
Originally Posted by Mr Dos:
“Clint Eastwood welded an improvised tool to escape from Alcatraz using matches. D'oh !!! it was just a movie.”

That's nothing! The A-Team could create a whole car and rocket launcher in a garage!
Mr Dos
04-03-2014
Originally Posted by alan1302:
“That's nothing! The A-Team could create a whole car and rocket launcher in a garage!”

LOL - on next episode of World's Craziest Fools >>

Mr T - here's some fool trying to fix his headphones with a paperclip and a match. You blew up your hifi sucker ! Don't you fools in England have repair shops ? Now here's a fool trying to escape Alcatraz using a teaspoon and some matches - this fool ain't been watching my shows - you can't weld with matches sucker !

Mr T - still cool.
gomezz
04-03-2014
This why I never buy anything with a captive headphone lead anymore (apart from cheap earphones).
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