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LOL... could of used you a few days ago in southern california. Was soldering some cables to a wired xbox 360 controller and man did I do a crappy job on some of the smaller contact points. Ugh.
Nope, i am still trying to get good at it! LOL
huh?? You mean the process?? High heat and flux is your friend.
I bet you would do well over with the pinball crowd. alot of their newer stuff is all surface-mount.
and just starting to learn about soldering....not ready to give up just yet, but a lot more to it than I thought!
I am getting ok at basic soldering and have been practicing on boards I got from a vcr that was in bad shape.
Now, de soldering is kicking my butt! Could not get old solder to melt - I just picked up flux and read more on cleaning the tip.
Care to share some tips? Good way to build up contacts and maybe some business?
Thanks,
Chris
Iron: got 2: portable battery operated from Home Depot that is worthless.
Radio shack: multi wattage up to 50 watt.
solder: 60/40?
Flux: just picked up Radio Shack Rosin Soldering flux. I haven't seen water soluble.. but I'm new to this.
Also picked up solder station and tool with magnifiying lens and adjustable clips.
CB
LOL... could of used you a few days ago in southern california. Was soldering some cables to a wired xbox 360 controller and man did I do a crappy job on some of the smaller contact points. Ugh.
Now, de soldering is kicking my butt! Could not get old solder to melt - I just picked up flux and read more on cleaning the tip.
Care to share some tips? Good way to build up contacts and maybe some business?
Thanks,
Chris
Iron: got 2: portable battery operated from Home Depot that is worthless.
Radio shack: multi wattage up to 50 watt.
solder: 60/40?
Flux: just picked up Radio Shack Rosin Soldering flux. I haven't seen water soluble.. but I'm new to this.
Also picked up solder station and tool with magnifiying lens and adjustable clips.
CB
Be sure to heat up the contacts long enough so that the solder actually melts to it, and don't just melt the solder and swab it onto what you want it on. That's the biggest mistake I see people make. heat it up till the solder melts onto what you want it to go on. If you want tips, and are close to Long Beach, you're welcome to come by, and I'll help you learn some good techniques and whatnot.
Old solder can usually be melted if you add a little bit of new solder to the tip of your iron while trying to melt the old stuff. It will transfer the heat better.
I use this solder, so there is no need for additional flux, and it works great for anything that I've used it for. For a hobbyist, the 1lb spool will last you many years.
I also have one of those magnifying glasses with clamps that was given to me a few years ago. It has been in a box since I tried to use it, and it kept tipping over on me. Good idea, terrible foundation.
Also, Hakko makes great adjustable soldering stations. I have owned this station for over 6 years now, and couldn't be happier with it. I also bought one of these recently, and it works well, but seems to constantly need cleaning. With a standard iron, cleaning is just wiping the tip on a sponge, but with the desoldering gun, you have to ream it out after every 5fth or so sucks, wipe the tip, and clean out the chamber. It did, however make removing a flyback from a monitor chassis, a cakewalk.
Cool man, I didnt know you did surface mount. I have a MBT-350 also...actually I have two of them. Very nice equipment indeed. I have yet to dive into surface mount work.
I have alot of guys who drive all the way down here for cap kits and other repairs. Your right around the corner for most of them.
Strange I would think the cost of gas would be more than sending it to you.