Method for selectively pretinning a guidewire core

A method for pretinning a core wire for a guidewire having an elongate axis, comprising:

• placing a ball of solder within a crucible in a soldering block;
• melting the ball of solder to produce a molten ball of solder;
• placing a quantity of flux in a reservoir, and allowing the flux to migrate by capillary action into a linear groove defined by a beam positioned adjacent the crucible;
• inserting a first portion of the core wire in the flux, thereby covering the first portion in flux;
• then moving the first portion laterally in a first direction, thereby inserting the first portion of the core wire into the molten ball of solder and, due to the flux, wetting the first portion with solder, while maintaining the core wire in a straight configuration with the elongate axis oriented horizontally;
• followed by, moving the core wire laterally in a second direction opposite the first direction, thereby moving the first portion out of the molten ball of solder and into the quantity of flux, thereby re-covering the first portion in flux, and also thereby simultaneously moving a second portion of the core wire, adjacent the first portion and which has not been covered in flux, into the molten ball of solder;
• followed by, moving the core wire laterally in the first direction, thereby moving the first portion back into the molten ball of solder and, simultaneously, moving the second portion out of the ball of solder, whereby, due to absence of flux covering the second portion, the second portion is not wetted with solder.