Quick soldering question

[60hzhum]

Hi guys, I'm awaiting delivery of a set of Bare Knuckle Mules and a Fake 58 wiring kit, both of which are going into my Epi Les Paul (all I can afford for now). I'm going to do the 50s wiring setup but I'm not certain about a few things, so here goes:

-On a switchcraft 3-way switch; on the side with 2 lugs do you bend the two lugs towards eachother and put a big load of solder onto them with the appropriate wire threaded through both little holes on the lugs?

-When you do the pigtail shielding near the switch can you just use a piece of tinned copper wire to wrap around the three braided wires then onto the ground lug of the switch? Or do you need to have a shielded piece of wire such as a piece of braided hookup wire?

-Finally when wiring up the jack socket do you just solder the braid of the wire to the ground lug and then run the main conductor wire (inside the braiding) to the hot lug?

I would hugely appreciate any pictures (closeups) of your switchcraft toggle wiring, pigtail shielding and jack socket wiring (all 50s wiring).

Many thanks in advance!!

[freddarl82]

-On a switchcraft 3-way switch; on the side with 2 lugs do you bend the two lugs towards eachother and put a big load of solder onto them with the appropriate wire threaded through both little holes on the lugs?
Yes, that's pretty much the idea, although in all things soldering, avoid "big loads" of solder. Only use as much as necessary.

-When you do the pigtail shielding near the switch can you just use a piece of tinned copper wire to wrap around the three braided wires then onto the ground lug of the switch? Or do you need to have a shielded piece of wire such as a piece of braided hookup wire?
That would work. But, since it sounds like you are using vintage-style braided wire, why not just use the braid you peeled back from one of the wires to wrap around the bundle. The way I do at this point is to separate the braid from the wire that will go to the jack. I divide the separated braid into two halves. Solder one to the switch ground. Twist the other "half" into a strand, then wrap it around the bundle of braided wires, then apply some solder that will join the braid within the bundle.

-Finally when wiring up the jack socket do you just solder the braid of the wire to the ground lug and then run the main conductor wire (inside the braiding) to the hot lug?
Yes, that works fine. I used to actually separate some braid and put the braided lead through the hole of the ground lug, but when rewiring a friend's LP Classic recently I found it done the way you describe. I think I will do it that way from now on.

It sounds like you're well on your way to "getting it." I do not have any great pics, but post yours when you're done!

[60hzhum]

Hi Fred, Thanks very much for the reply your info has helped greatly and contains some new tricks I never thought of, I'll be sure to take some photos when I'm finished.