Getting better at soldering

gregbl

Well-known member

Donor 2012-2013
Joined
Oct 1, 2010
Messages
1,142
Reaction score
39
Location
Illinois
So, my soldering skills are mediocre at best, sometimes downright poor. As I'm finding that I need to do more soldering to repair games (had to re-solder the entire scoring board on a skee ball table), I want to get better at it and I certainly don't want to learn/experiment under fire while working on a vintage board.

What are some good things to use to get better at soldering? Does anyone have a recommended video series on it? Perhaps something I can load on my tablet and have setup next to me while I practice? Could I find a workshop or something on it?

Any and all pointers are greatly appreciated. Some of you are masters at soldering I'm sure...I consider this a first step towards me being able to do a cap kit on a monitor. I've got a couple of good test subjects that I'd like to get to once I'm fairly confident in my skills.

Thanks all,
Greg
 
Before talking about skill/technique, let's talk about equipment. Can you post a pic of the iron you're using? What type of solder are you using? What are you using to de-solder (wick, soldapult, bulb-type, vacuum pump station)?
 
So, my soldering skills are mediocre at best, sometimes downright poor. As I'm finding that I need to do more soldering to repair games (had to re-solder the entire scoring board on a skee ball table), I want to get better at it and I certainly don't want to learn/experiment under fire while working on a vintage board.

What are some good things to use to get better at soldering? Does anyone have a recommended video series on it? Perhaps something I can load on my tablet and have setup next to me while I practice? Could I find a workshop or something on it?

Any and all pointers are greatly appreciated. Some of you are masters at soldering I'm sure...I consider this a first step towards me being able to do a cap kit on a monitor. I've got a couple of good test subjects that I'd like to get to once I'm fairly confident in my skills.

Thanks all,
Greg

Practice, practice, practice. Go pick up some junk electronics from the thrift shop and practice on those. Desolder components, then solder them back in. There's a definite art to doing this without burning the shit out of your PCB. Only advice I have is to keep practicing until you start to feel it.

Specific tips in no particular order: Tin your tip before every application of the iron to the board. Clean it after. Solder on the iron conducts heat better because there is more surface area in contact with your joint.

When installing components, heat the joint with the iron. The joint is the pad on the board AND the component. They both must be hot. Let the solder flow from the far side of the joint to the iron — this is one way you know the joint is hot enough.

Assuming you have a soldapult or some sort of vacuum device, practice sucking the solder out from the same side as the iron, then the opposite side.

Practice clipping a chip's legs, then removing them (heat one side with the iron; grab the leg on the opposite side with clippers, pull when solder is melted), and cleaning up the holes when you're done.
 
i have watched theses and they help explain allot.
watch all 9 videos in the series.

http://www.youtube.com/results?sear...0.0.113.113.0j1.1.0...0.0...1ac.2.FwcYZV3Z0_c

then watch all 8 of theses.

http://www.youtube.com/results?sear...6.0.119.119.0j1.1.0...0.0...1ac.1.JBoKZR-cgGQ

then watch this video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0wI-5YZQm4

i find them interesting and learned some good techniques from them.

having a good iron is essential to doing a good job at soldering.
there are many out there.

i prefer pace but that is just me.

Peace
Buffett
 
Get some quality flux and use it. So many people rely solely on the fact that their solder comes with a flux core. Never count on that.. use flux on everything and you'll be amazed at how suddenly, soldering got so easy.
:)
 
I solder for a living. Great advise so far, and a +1 to flux. It makes your life a lot easier. Way to many people skip that step. I use flux pens because of ease and convenience. Also, I stay away from lead free solder. Harder to work with and I have seen a ton of boards burnt because of lead free crap.
 
I'll plead guilty to skipping the flux but usually don't have too hard a time with soldering.

Can you provide some links to the kind of flux I'll want to use? I'm all for easy and convenient.

Thanks!
 
Instead of using flux I simply add a little new solder to get old solderings fluid. Sure if you have to do rows of solderings flux is easier.

The golden tips I got from my teacher:
Let the solder do the work, let it flow naturally.
Don't move the iron during the soldering, don't "smear" with the iron.
Use enough heat. Use a decent soldering station.

Make "Fuji mountain" type solderings, not bulbs.
 
I'll plead guilty to skipping the flux but usually don't have too hard a time with soldering.

Can you provide some links to the kind of flux I'll want to use? I'm all for easy and convenient.

Thanks!

Laugh all you want... I use plumber's solder paste and an acid brush found at home depot. I love it... it's tacky and with the brush it gets in between all the pins when I'm removing/adding IC's etc.

50d318cc-2126-4e25-9a2a-1a15c51ceb3b_300.jpg
 
I've got this Weller station: http://www.amazon.com/Weller-WLC100-40-Watt-Soldering-Station/dp/B000AS28UC

Have several kinds of solder available.

And I'm using a desoldering iron from Radio Shack, heats it up and has the suction pump built-in. That seems to work well.

My main problem is getting good solder joints.

Thanks for the tips and links, I'm going to look at those. Anything other input is also appreciated.
 
Cool, the acid will nicely eat away on your PCBs.....never use plumbing flux on electronics !


Great videos !!!

The brush is called an acid brush because its impervious to some acids... the name as nothing to do with the flux having acid in it (and I don't believe it does). I don't think think there's any issue with using this flux. If it safe enough to use on potable water systems it should be safe enough for electronic work.
 
i have watched theses and they help explain allot.
watch all 9 videos in the series.

http://www.youtube.com/results?sear...0.0.113.113.0j1.1.0...0.0...1ac.2.FwcYZV3Z0_c

then watch all 8 of theses.

http://www.youtube.com/results?sear...6.0.119.119.0j1.1.0...0.0...1ac.1.JBoKZR-cgGQ

then watch this video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0wI-5YZQm4

i find them interesting and learned some good techniques from them.

having a good iron is essential to doing a good job at soldering.
there are many out there.

i prefer pace but that is just me.

Peace
Buffett

Thanks for this Buffett. You have helped me leap lights years ahead..........
 
Back
Top Bottom