Introduction: ​How to Repair Broken or Torn Flex / Flexible Cables.

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Actual size of cable was 3/8 of an inch wide!

Step 1: Repairing Broken Flex Cable for Electronics Equipment

  1. Images below contains all Steps and instruction to Repair Flexible Cables
  1. Repairing broken flexible cables, Image is oversized to show detail.
    Tools and Supplies Required: Solder Paste, Scissors, Soldering Iron, Solder Wick, Masking Tape, Single Edge Razor Blade, Flat Blade Screw Driver

Step 2:

  • Step 2: With Scissors cut straight the torn section completely to from two straight edges.
  • OR
  • If cutting would remove too much length, while more difficult, cut or tear as straight as
  • possible the un-torn area to get two halves. Then follow the instructions below.

Step 3:

Step 3: With Single Edge Razor Blade scrap the top side of one half of cable, expose bare copper. Be careful not to remove copper as it may break off, Take your time! It is a slow process. Then turn over second half of cable to the back side the and scrap it to expose bare copper. About 1/8 to 3/16 inch is all that is necessary on each half. Obviously you will not be able to scrap the traces as precisely as the images.

Step 4:

Step 4: With copper sides up spread a thin layer of solder paste across all exposed copper
Do not worry about getting it on other parts of cable. Using a soldering iron heat the paste so it adheres to the copper part of cable. Do this to both sides. Any remaining paste should be cleaned off at this point with a solvent or cleaner be careful to not wipe too aggressively on copper so as to not release it from the plastic. With solder a wick go over the soldered copper and remove excess solder surface should have just a thin layer when done.

Step 5:

Step 5: Using Masking Tape, tape down securely the top exposed foil side first.They lay the copper side down half over the edge to the tape lining up as perfect as possible overlapping about 1/8 of an inch, apply masking tape as well to hold in place. Apply a small amount of solder paste at the junction of the two pieces. Heat up the top foil until some of the solder paste is pull under the two layers. Then using a flat blade screw driver or razor blade hold the top layer down while sliding off the soldering iron and putting blade in it's place until solder is cooled 30 seconds. Check connections if Okay clean up any remaining solder paste. If the joint does not look good reheat and separate the two layers and repeat process as necessary. If too much solder use solder wick to remove if not enough apply more solder paste and reheat joint as before.