Bill:

I'm not a metallurgist, either.....

However, IMHO if you can't solder them, they are not tin-coated copper crimps, but aluminum. As they obviously are, as you have proven.

Glad you returned to this thread. It was bothering me, too.

Marshall Ruskin
84 Westy

-----Original Message-----
From: Davidson <wdavidson@THEGRID.NET>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Date: Monday, February 08, 1999 12:59 AM
Subject: Re: Soldered Connections

    Well, I know this thread got beat to death a little while back, but....
     
    I don't remember who, but they advised to use good copper crimp on connectors. I replied, yes but they all look like aluminum to me.
    He replied back, that most connectors these days are copper coated with tin; not aluminum.
    Well.....
    I have a selection of connectors picked up over the past couple of years from various sources, Napa Auto Parts, various FLAPS, Camping World, etc, etc. I cut a variety of them with wire cutters... nothing that looks like copper on the inside. Then I tried a magnet.... none of my connectors are attracted to a magnet. I'm no metallurgist, but they ALL seem like aluminum to me. I even tested an #4 wire connector that looks like copper on the outside.... no magnetic attraction! Can anyone tell me what gives here?
    Bill
    90 Westy Syncro

[text/html]