Soldering Tragedy

[jdbailey1206]

Having been jelly of everyone on here that could solder I decided to give it a go last week.  As I had mentioned in my Fix It Felix build I ended up accidentally busting the male usb head off of the Minimus 32k AVR.  Feeling froggy I ordered 4 male usb heads from digikey.com and got to work.  It was ugly.  I ended up burning up the Minimus 32k AVR and barely got any solder to hold.  And that was just in the hooks connecting the head to the AVR.   

I have two questions.  Most of the area on my soldering tip was not hot.  Does this mean that the iron itself is bad?  I can understand if it is because I got the iron in a cheap kit from Comp USA 15 years ago.  And if my iron is bad can anyone recommend a good one for a newb?

My next question follows:  Does anyone know of anywhere I can get trained in soldering?  I tried the youtube videos but they get me no where.  Just some dude flying through soldering in under a minute repeating "It's just that easy."

Thanks for the help.

I feel like I just wrote a Dear Abbey letter.  I should have titled it Sadness in Soldering.   

[pbj]

Just a couple of tips... sand or scuff up the area on the board you're soldering to make sure you've gotten any clear protective layers off of it.  Melt some new solder onto the old solder before you attempt to bond anything.  It'll help the old stuff melt easier and lessen the time you spend heating the area up.

Make sure you're using rosin core solder, too:

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062715

[drventure]

Also, depending on the material you're soldering, you might need some flux (you can get it at any radio shack). Rosin core solder helps a lot, but sometimes, I've found I just have to use flux as well.

As for what's flux, its this jelly looking stuff that you dab onto the area you're about to solder, then put the solder and gun to the spot. The flux helps the solder stick better, quicker, so you don't overheat the spot.

[Nephasth]

Cheap tools are like cheap tattoos...

[05SRT4]

+1 for using Flux, I hated to solder until I learned about flux. It makes soldering easier everything starts to melt and stick together like it should.

[Nephasth]

I've never used flux. I use rosin core lead solder and set my station to 400℃. This heats ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- up quick, and helps me work faster.

[yotsuya]

Cheap tools are like cheap tattoos...

^^^

Buy this and you'll never look back.

[HaRuMaN]

Meh, my cheapy 15W Radio Shack soldering iron is still going strong, and I use it all the time.  Save your money.  It's more technique than it is a $100 iron.

[Nephasth]

It's like sex without out a condom, once you've tried temp control, you never want to wear another one.

[404]

Having been jelly of everyone on here that could solder I decided to give it a go last week.  As I had mentioned in my Fix It Felix build I ended up accidentally busting the male usb head off of the Minimus 32k AVR.  Feeling froggy I ordered 4 male usb heads from digikey.com and got to work.  It was ugly.  I ended up burning up the Minimus 32k AVR and barely got any solder to hold.  And that was just in the hooks connecting the head to the AVR.   

I have two questions.  Most of the area on my soldering tip was not hot.  Does this mean that the iron itself is bad?  I can understand if it is because I got the iron in a cheap kit from Comp USA 15 years ago.  And if my iron is bad can anyone recommend a good one for a newb?

My next question follows:  Does anyone know of anywhere I can get trained in soldering?  I tried the youtube videos but they get me no where.  Just some dude flying through soldering in under a minute repeating "It's just that easy."

Thanks for the help.

I feel like I just wrote a Dear Abbey letter.  I should have titled it Sadness in Soldering.   

I have usb headers here and offered twice to fix the minimus for you free of charge and pay return shipping. 

Meh, my cheapy 15W Radio Shack soldering iron is still going strong, and I use it all the time.  Save your money.  It's more technique than it is a $100 iron.

yes. I think tools can only take you so far.

I've been soldering since i was about 8 years old and have done everything from soldering, desoldering, burning myself, getting shocked, causing massive short circuits etc. There is no replacement for experience IMO.



Best thing you can do is find some dead electronics and gut them. Practice on those boards. Start with soldering some junk wires on large vias and posts and then work from there to soldering to small exposed vias, fixing traces, solder smd legs etc in that order.

As many have said, get yourself some flux. Flux can be your best friend or worst enemy. Sometimes adding too much flux creates too much flow in small areas and will flow solder right over multiple pads causing a short. This all comes with practice.

[yotsuya]

Meh, my cheapy 15W Radio Shack soldering iron is still going strong, and I use it all the time.  Save your money.  It's more technique than it is a $100 iron.

I suppose the SUPREME SOLDER KING can make do with whatever, but an 888-D is the best thing for us mere mortals.

[Louis Tully]

.

[jennifer]

    Those R/S cheapies are what I learned with and they do withstand a lot of abuse up to and including throwing them in a fit of "Soldering sucks" rage... Practice is the only way to get good @ it, get a old radio or something, and burn some wire.

[jdbailey1206]

Just a couple of tips... sand or scuff up the area on the board you're soldering to make sure you've gotten any clear protective layers off of it.  Melt some new solder onto the old solder before you attempt to bond anything.  It'll help the old stuff melt easier and lessen the time you spend heating the area up.

Make sure you're using rosin core solder, too:

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062715

From what little I have soldered I have found the rosin core works a lot better.  My only other experience with soldering was having to solder resistor onto wires for GGG's Coin pushbuttons.

Also, depending on the material you're soldering, you might need some flux (you can get it at any radio shack). Rosin core solder helps a lot, but sometimes, I've found I just have to use flux as well.

As for what's flux, its this jelly looking stuff that you dab onto the area you're about to solder, then put the solder and gun to the spot. The flux helps the solder stick better, quicker, so you don't overheat the spot.

I know I have some flux lying around but in my haste I didn't use it.  I've heard both sides but if it helps me create a better solder I think I'm going to try it next time.

Cheap tools are like cheap tattoos...

I really think in the end I have a ---smurfy--- soldering iron Nephasth.  My wife is the only one with tattoos but she goes to one person, pays a hefty price, but he does some of the best work I have seen.  Ever.  I never pay for cheap tools but this was the only soldering iron I had so I think I am going to go with yotsuya's advice and get a nice one.

Cheap tools are like cheap tattoos...

^^^

Buy this and you'll never look back.

That is a nice looking set up.  Weller has a nice one that is comparable.  Guess I just have to bite the bullet.

Having been jelly of everyone on here that could solder I decided to give it a go last week.  As I had mentioned in my Fix It Felix build I ended up accidentally busting the male usb head off of the Minimus 32k AVR.  Feeling froggy I ordered 4 male usb heads from digikey.com and got to work.  It was ugly.  I ended up burning up the Minimus 32k AVR and barely got any solder to hold.  And that was just in the hooks connecting the head to the AVR.   

I have two questions.  Most of the area on my soldering tip was not hot.  Does this mean that the iron itself is bad?  I can understand if it is because I got the iron in a cheap kit from Comp USA 15 years ago.  And if my iron is bad can anyone recommend a good one for a newb?

My next question follows:  Does anyone know of anywhere I can get trained in soldering?  I tried the youtube videos but they get me no where.  Just some dude flying through soldering in under a minute repeating "It's just that easy."

Thanks for the help.

I feel like I just wrote a Dear Abbey letter.  I should have titled it Sadness in Soldering.   

I have usb headers here and offered twice to fix the minimus for you free of charge and pay return shipping. 

Meh, my cheapy 15W Radio Shack soldering iron is still going strong, and I use it all the time.  Save your money.  It's more technique than it is a $100 iron.

yes. I think tools can only take you so far.

I've been soldering since i was about 8 years old and have done everything from soldering, desoldering, burning myself, getting shocked, causing massive short circuits etc. There is no replacement for experience IMO.



Best thing you can do is find some dead electronics and gut them. Practice on those boards. Start with soldering some junk wires on large vias and posts and then work from there to soldering to small exposed vias, fixing traces, solder smd legs etc in that order.

As many have said, get yourself some flux. Flux can be your best friend or worst enemy. Sometimes adding too much flux creates too much flow in small areas and will flow solder right over multiple pads causing a short. This all comes with practice.

Okay 404.  I used the best tool in my tool box (my wallet  ) and bought a new one.  I will send you the old one.  You saw how burnt the board was.  If you think you can fix it I have no problem sending it your way.  I just hate taking up others time.  I know how precious mine is and I don't like imposing on others.  I'll PM you in a few minutes. 

I was also going to mention the practice method 404.  I was thinking of just getting cheap resistors, boards etc. and practicing.  But I like your idea better.  I'm like you.  I tend to keep things in case anything goes wrong on my computers.  Which it almost always does.  Damn.  I just remembered I threw a couple of old dead ipods.  Oh well I have PCI cards up the wazoo that I don't use. 

Meh, my cheapy 15W Radio Shack soldering iron is still going strong, and I use it all the time.  Save your money.  It's more technique than it is a $100 iron.

I suppose the SUPREME SOLDER KING can make do with whatever, but an 888-D is the best thing for us mere mortals.

HA!  Solder king...   I think I can coerce my wife into getting me one for fathers day.  Since this year will be my first.  That just means I have to get her an awesome mothers day gift.  ---steaming pile of meadow muffin---.   

 

Meh, my cheapy 15W Radio Shack soldering iron is still going strong, and I use it all the time.  Save your money.  It's more technique than it is a $100 iron.

I'm in that boat. I hear the nice, temp control irons are badass though. 

THAT.  IS.  AWESOME!

    Those R/S cheapies are what I learned with and they do withstand a lot of abuse up to and including throwing them in a fit of "Soldering sucks" rage... Practice is the only way to get good @ it, get a old radio or something, and burn some wire.

I think that is my best bet Jennifer.  I tend to rage when things don't go my way.  An adult tantrum if you will.   

[yotsuya]

In all seriousness, while I agree that experience does trump all, the Hakko makes it easier for me to learn. I don't have to fiddle with worring about whether it's hot enough and it feels solid and not plastic-y like the cheap ones I've bought. Couple that with my 808 Desoldering gun, and I'm set.

[DaOld Man]

You crazy kids with all your fancy smancy soldering junkets.
Why in my day, we used a real mans soldering method.
The ole soldering pot and heat your irons in a real fire.

[jdbailey1206]

Welp upon a quick peruse of the internet I found a Radio Shack Flashlight tutorial.  Looks like it's easy for me to learn how to solder.  There are also a few more tutorials on creating simple things at Radio Shack DIY.  Both good places to start.  A journey of a thousand miles, right? 

[knave]

I still have a long way to go to feel as if I'm good at it but I'm at least comfortable in my mediocrity.

I practiced on old motherboards I got for free...took all the caps off...found out how long I could hold it on to a trace before it melts things etc.  Now while my joints are not always pretty they hold.

+1 on the flux and rosin core...also Tin everything you want solder to stick to before making your joint.

As far as the iron. I use the radio shack model...I started with a harbor freight piece of garbage...so now the RS one feels like luxury.

[Slippyblade]

Cheap tools are like cheap tattoos...

Buy this and you'll never look back.

Too bad it looks like it was manufactured by LEGO.

[Vigo]

About the only luxury I have purchased in the soldering world is a desoldering iron, and that was a $12 luxury. It has been great with both saving my butt on rookie mistakes, and cleaning out old soldering jobs. Better than using a separate pump or braid. I just love having everything sucked out for me, rather than needing to pump or rub it out with my left hand.

[BadMouth]

Start on this post of the soldering thread: http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,129317.msg1322430.html#msg1322430
The ones before it are mainly about soldering big stuff.

Biggest thing is to clean everything and use flux.
Another common mistake is to try to use the pinpoint of the tip trying to be precise.
You're trying to transfer heat as quickly as possible.  More surface area contacted=faster & easier.

[jdbailey1206]

I just love having everything sucked out for me, rather than needing to pump or rub it out with my left hand.

[yotsuya]

Too bad it looks like it was manufactured by LEGO.

Use one after doing a full cap kit on a monitor and then tell me if that matters.

[yotsuya]

About the only luxury I have purchased in the soldering world is a desoldering iron, and that was a $12 luxury. It has been great with both saving my butt on rookie mistakes, and cleaning out old soldering jobs. Better than using a separate pump or braid. I just love having everything sucked out for me, rather than needing to pump or rub it out with my left hand.

I was going to get one of these until I used a desoldering gun at a repair party. Then I though, "Why the hell would I use anything else?"

Oh, and mark your post NSFW next time.

[Slippyblade]

Too bad it looks like it was manufactured by LEGO.

Use one after doing a full cap kit on a monitor and then tell me if that matters.

Didn't say I wouldn't use it, I'd just feel goofy doing it.  It just looks like the, "So you wanna be an engineer, Jr." edition.

As far as desoldering goes, I love my:

[yotsuya]

Didn't say I wouldn't use it, I'd just feel goofy doing it.  It just looks like the, "So you wanna be an engineer, Jr." edition.

Them wacky Japanese designers. 

As far as desoldering goes, I love my:

Just curious, have you tried a desoldering gun before?

[ark_ader]

$4.99 30W iron, some flux and Wick.  Practice, practice, practice before you start work on the expensive parts.  I buy cheap stereo equipment, take apart and practice on the boards.  The more you practice the better the technique.  Take it from me.  I don't burn my fingers as much now! 

[lilshawn]

I've used everything out there... from the cheapie ratshack (back then archer), to some of the businesses finest (xtronic, hakko, weller etc)

i currently have the hakko 936 which is the unit the 888 replaced. (uses the exact same iron set, just different base)

It's wonderful. Best unit a c-note can buy. heats up fast, has good thermal capacity. Better than the weller this unit replaced. perhaps weller is better now, but certainly not the older unit i had.

I'm going to have to get another soon (and a desoldering unit as well) and hakko will be my goto. Thumbs up on hakko for me.

[Le Chuck]

I use one of little butane models.  I love it.  A nice station would be better and sometimes this iron is more of a hammer when I need a scalpel but it's just too convienant for me. 

[jennifer]

You crazy kids with all your fancy smancy soldering junkets.
Why in my day, we used a real mans soldering method.
The ole soldering pot and heat your irons in a real fire.

Jennifer listens all wide eyed, Just hang the gun from your Viking horn helmet???... Omg, at least fire had been invented.

[Howard_Casto]

Yeah that's when pcbs were made of elvish steel that glowed blue when Orcs were nearby and the components were forged on via the fires of Mt. Doom.

[yotsuya]

Seems topical, just got this in my email:

http://www.jameco.com/Jameco/workshop/TechTip/soldering-tips.html

[Howard_Casto]

Seems topical, just got this in my email:

http://www.jameco.com/Jameco/workshop/TechTip/soldering-tips.html

Good stuff, but here's one to add.  Don't solder in polyester blend clothing (jogging pants, track pants, or what have you).  A hot glob of solder will go right through those, while on something more rigid like blue-jeans it won't.  Almost burned something important one time.  You learn that lesson real quick. 

[Vigo]

Vigo tips - that were learned the hard way.

*Get into a comfortable soldering position that is well-lit so you don't have to hunch over your work and breathe in the fumes.

* A functional soldering job is much more important than a "pretty" solder job. The "pretty" simply part comes with experience, so mucking on a soldering point for a long time trying to make it pretty only give you more opportunity to royally screw up.

* If you don't have a soldering station, think about your cord placement before plugging in your iron. Make sure your cord will not overlap your work, and will not cause your iron to fall off the table.

* Those "helping hands" things can be awesome.

[Louis Tully]

.

[pbj]

I got that $30 Pana-Vise thing from Radio Shack.  Where the hell has that thing been all my life? 

 

[Howard_Casto]

I tend to agree on that one.  They are especially good when you are trying to solder something without a through-hole.  Clamp the pcb in one clip and physically hold the wire to the pcb with the other clip... you feel like a doofus for not having one after the first use. 

[yotsuya]

+1 for Helping Hands. Got a cheap one on Amazon using some leftover gift card points. One thing I did on mine was put heat shrink tubing on the clamp ends to pad the teeth.

[Vigo]

+1 for Helping Hands. Got a cheap one on Amazon using some leftover gift card points. One thing I did on mine was put heat shrink tubing on the clamp ends to pad the teeth.

Good idea! I'm gonna have to do that one.

[Slippyblade]

+1 for Helping Hands. Got a cheap one on Amazon using some leftover gift card points. One thing I did on mine was put heat shrink tubing on the clamp ends to pad the teeth.

I just wrapped the jaws with e-tape.  Helping Hands are truly a fantastic addition to any workspace.