The difference between Tinned, and Tinning???
Some wires are already tinned, meaning that the ends of the wire have had a small amount of solder applied to keep the strands in a tight bundle.
Tinning is the process of applying a small amount of solder to a wire, soldering iron tip, or other object.
Tinned is an adjective.
“The wires on Miniatronics grain-of-wheat bulbs come already tinned.”
Tinning can be a noun.
“The tinning on the wires help with later soldering.”
Or, it can be a participle.
“While tinning the wires for the circuit, I got the iron too hot and melted the insulation.”
All refer to preparing a wire for soldering to a circuit board or another wire by heating the clean end and applying a small amount of solder to the end of the wire. This allows solder to flow more easily on to the wire when making the final connection at a later time.
After tinning completion – Use a damp rag to wipe residual traces of flux from the tinned wire – To begin your next soldering connection with a clean tinned wire.
I would add to MisterBeasley’s post
- Tinning can also be a verb, as in “I am tinning this wire.”
Tinning is the gerund form of the verb to tin, meaning to apply solder to a single surface or edge without connecting it to another part. Tinning describes the action. Tinned is the past tense of the verb, but can also be an adjective.
Tinned, as an adjective, means that, somewhere, somehow, solder has been applied to something to make it easier to assemble with solder. Typical somethings, pre-tinned in manufacture: solder lugs on electrical switches, leads on resistors and capacitors, wire. Things which you can pre-tin yourself that usually aren’t include rail (for drops and specialwork) and fabricated parts of metal models which will be assembled by soldering.
Chuck (Occasional author modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
If it comes “Tinned” somebody else did it for you.
If you are “Tinning” the wires, you are doing it yourself.
Unless you are a tuna in which case you may have been tinned.
In which case the CAT will have to wait for someone to open the tin and let you out.
ROAR
Let me start by saying I’m no soldering expert, in fact my skills sucked a bit but through the n scale club I joined I’ve made friends with a fellow who’s a retired electrician and master model railroader and I’ve learned a lot…
tinning the wire and where possible the point your trying to solder the wire to makes the two items more receptive to the solder flowing and making a good joint.
i think that is more to the point of the original question.
also flux has helped me a lot now that someone has shown me how to use it.
matthew