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I hate burning my fingers....

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Zeppo:
I got one of those cold-heat solder irons.
I just don't have much luck with it.
Tried it on a few things and couldn't get the hang of it.
Then once it got a piece of solder stuck between those points at the tip and burned up the tip.
I bought a new tip after that, but still I switch back to my old butane iron.

Good luck.

blueznl:
Don't save money, buy a good soldering iron. I have a Weller temperature controlled station, and that's essential for good soldering works.

RandyT:
It's not too difficult.  Just make sure you don't have an iron bigger than the job dictates (no soldering guns!)  A small 15watt with a reasonably small tip in good condition is the best bet.

Make sure you are using some decent, small diameter, flux core electronics solder.  Don't try to tin the 40-pin header, as you might not be able to get it inserted into the board.  Once the header is in the board, you can hold it in place with a clothespin, if necessary, while you solder the opposing corners of the connector.  Then you can remove the clamp.

Then place your iron on each pin for a second or two before touching it with the solder.  The solder should melt and wick it's way into the junction point of the metal surfaces.  You don't need a lot, but a enough to make a nice conical shape is preferred.  If two pins get bridged together, don't worry.  This can often be remedied by simply sliding the tip across the bridge and adjacent pins.  This will have the effect of distributing the excess solder, and/or collecting it on the tip so long as you don't have large blobs on your connections.  If all else fails, solder wick will be handy to have for this as well.

Like anything a little practice can do wonders, but as long as you don't overheat the connections and take your time, you should do fine.  If you have any questions, you can email me as well.

RandyT

*edit*

And DON'T try to use one of those "cold heat" contraptions.  If a metal pad positioned between the prongs of that thing gets 800+ degrees in a second, what do you think will happen inside the processor when you accidentally bridge two of the wrong connections leading to it's pins?  IMHO, there is no way these things are safe for delicate electronics work.  Save them for making antenna connection at the top of a pole, or fixing the battery terminal of your camping lamp (while camping).  Otherwise, use the correct tool for the job, which is a real soldering iron.

Kaytrim:

--- Quote from: RandyT on April 16, 2007, 10:25:49 am ---
And DON'T try to use one of those "cold heat" contraptions.  If a metal pad positioned between the prongs of that thing gets 800+ degrees in a second, what do you think will happen inside the processor when you accidentally bridge two of the wrong connections leading to it's pins? 


--- End quote ---

point taken Randy.  I have actually lit LEDs doing this.  At least they didn't blow.

Kaytrim

ChadTower:

--- Quote from: deadkenndys1105 on April 15, 2007, 08:30:11 pm ---Im really bad with a soldering iron but I can give you some good info.  Were shoes.  I stepped on a iron once and lets say I wasn't so happy for a while.  My brother found it funny as hell though.

--- End quote ---

I have to wear shoes at my testbench for a different reason.  The outlet on my testbench isn't grounded.  The floor is concrete.  If I am soldering and touch bare/socked feet to the floor, I complete the ground loop, and I can feel the current in the hand holding the iron.   :laugh2:

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