• How terrible is my soldering job?
    23 replies, posted
This is my first time soldering and I thought it looked like a mess; luckily though the three IR LEDs work like they should. Is this a VERY terrible soldering job? Here is a picture: [IMG]http://filebox.me/files/uen0hwu31_Untitled.png[/IMG]
You use a ridiculous amount of tin.
Not bad for a first time soldering. In future, try to use as little as possible. What I do is apply a small amount of solder to my iron and then apply it to the area where it is needed. The solder should stick to your iron until you wipe it off onto the board
Yeah, you use way too much. You only need a droplet of tin.
[QUOTE=Hezzy;19171367]Not bad for a first time soldering. In future, try to use as little as possible. What I do is apply a small amount of solder to my iron and then apply it to the area where it is needed. The solder should stick to your iron until you wipe it off onto the board[/QUOTE] Problem is I am using a really old soldering iron and even though I tried removing rust off it(sand paper, vinegar) the tip wasn't hot enough to melt the solder. I just put the solder on the middle of soldering iron and make the liquid solder fall on the connections. Should I just get another soldering iron?
[QUOTE=Hezzy;19171367]Not bad for a first time soldering. In future, try to use as little as possible. What I do is apply a small amount of solder to my iron and then apply it to the area where it is needed. The solder should stick to your iron until you wipe it off onto the board[/QUOTE] What I do is that I put the iron onto the spot where I want to solder something and then apply a small amount of tin. Seems easier.
[QUOTE=Chunk3ym4n;19171404]Problem is I am using a really old soldering iron and even though I tried removing rust off it(sand paper, vinegar) the tip wasn't hot enough to melt the solder. I just put the solder on the middle of soldering iron and make the liquid solder fall on the connections. Should I just get another soldering iron?[/QUOTE] Just let it heat up for longer. When I was in school our irons were really shitty and took like 30 minutes to warm up [QUOTE=Hullu V3;19171415]What I do is that I put the iron onto the spot where I want to solder something and then apply a small amount of tin. Seems easier.[/QUOTE] That's a sloppy way of doing it that can cause damage to the components and traces if you're not careful. Dabbing the hot solder on reduces the risk and isn't that hard
Wow, you used way too much. Also, why did you cut the Perfboard in that way?
[QUOTE=Hullu V3;19171415]What I do is that I put the iron onto the spot where I want to solder something and then apply a small amount of tin. Seems easier.[/QUOTE] That's how you're suppose to if you're soldering wires and non-electronic components.
[QUOTE=pentium;19174780]Wow, you used way too much. Also, why did you cut the Perfboard in that way?[/QUOTE] I'm making an asymetrical triangle to use in freetrack. [url]http://www.free-track.net/english/freetrack/comment-ca-marche.php[/url]
What I previously did was fire up the solder, let it warm up and pick it up on the wrong side. Ofcourse, this was back when I was 8, but to this day I don't dare to solder anything anymore :saddowns:
[QUOTE=DarkWolf2;19184001]What I previously did was fire up the solder, let it warm up and pick it up on the wrong side. Ofcourse, this was back when I was 8, but to this day I don't dare to solder anything anymore :saddowns:[/QUOTE] i made a solar powered car from soldering with my dad :D
[QUOTE=Death Giver;19184173]i made a solar powered car from soldering with my dad :D[/QUOTE] Me too, was my grade 8 science fair project. [media]http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r160/Elspin/solar%20car/IMG_2002.jpg[/media] [media]http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r160/Elspin/solar%20car/IMG_2008.jpg[/media] Currently in desperate need of a soldering iron, all I have right now is my dad's automotive soldering iron that solders with this weird stuff that's hard as shit to do anything with.
[QUOTE=Elspin;19185951] Currently in desperate need of a soldering iron, all I have right now is my dad's automotive soldering iron that solders with this weird stuff that's hard as shit to do anything with.[/QUOTE] It's Mansolder for soldering manly things like wheels to the cars and shit. Cheap DIY solution is to get a moderately sized nail, attach it into a handle, heat the nail, and tadah a soldering iron.
[QUOTE=evilking1;19186007]It's Mansolder for soldering manly things like wheels to the cars and shit. Cheap DIY solution is to get a moderately sized nail, attach it into a handle, heat the nail, and tadah a soldering iron.[/QUOTE] Haha, nice. Also: [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMdoHdx9HJE[/media] My dad has something else but it's more of a blowtorch. If you fuck up while soldering with it you lose your hand.
I've finished this since December but I might as well show the pictures! [IMG]http://filebox.me/files/zkjeddnmx_asdf.jpg[/IMG] Light off: [IMG]http://filebox.me/files/xkgrkbhaa_nolight.jpg[/IMG] Light on and my lame attempt at an awesome face: [IMG]http://filebox.me/files/sjs790jgp_ligthon.jpg[/IMG] So far by now it's a pipe dream, looked forward to using it back then, but it just isn't really practical for use in ArmA II as infantry. It was fun to make though I guess.
I've wanted to get into electronics like this, but I don't know how. Any tips on how to get started?
Lolasian
[QUOTE=Mrs Affinity;20076171]I've wanted to get into electronics like this, but I don't know how. Any tips on how to get started?[/QUOTE] 1) Buy book. 2) Read like fuckin' crazy. 3) Acquire tools. 4) Make stuff. Oh, and save old crappy electronics. Those are treasure chests of wonder and mystery. :D And I agree about the OP: Too much solder. Here's what a proper join should look like: [IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v45/Zero_Point/soldering7.jpg[/IMG] And even then you don't want it to ball up like that. I'll find a better picture later. As for putting solder on the tip before applying it to the joint, while that works it's not the recommended way to do it. The way every text-book tells you to do it (and that I've used with great success) is to put the iron on the copper pad (not too much pressure though!) for a few seconds to heat it up, then touch the opposite side of the pad with the solder. The flux melts, flows over the pad, cleans it, and the solder shortly follows. This shouldn't take more than 5-6 seconds and shouldn't damage any components. Here, enjoy the following video: [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_NU2ruzyc4[/media]
(sorry if i am briefly repeating what zero-point said)I have been working with an audio professional(who builds most of the gear he uses) lately to learn soldering, a couple things, the best way to clean a soldering iron tip is just to wipe it on a damp sponge when its warm (I borrowed one of his older ones and the tip was a dark flat gray, and i wiped it a few times and it was nice and shiny) Another thing, a soldering iron is not a paint brush, you do not "paint" soldering on, you want to briefly heat the wire (like a second) then add a little solder, when it has cooled it should be shiny. From what i have been told flux is not good to use because about a month after you solder it, it starts not looking so good because its job is to break down the metal to get it to be a better connection, and unless you have the tools to get rid of the flux, it will continue to break down the connection.
[QUOTE=Hezzy;19171474]Just let it heat up for longer. When I was in school our irons were really shitty and took like 30 minutes to warm up[/QUOTE] I use a Weller WMP, it's very light-weight but has a 65Watt heating element and hence it heats up in seconds. I'd suggest it to anybody who does a lot of soldering and who doesn't like waiting. [QUOTE=Zero-Point;20076684]As for putting solder on the tip before applying it to the joint, while that works it's not the recommended way to do it. The way every text-book tells you to do it (and that I've used with great success) is to put the iron on the copper pad (not too much pressure though!) for a few seconds to heat it up, then touch the opposite side of the pad with the solder. The flux melts, flows over the pad, cleans it, and the solder shortly follows. This shouldn't take more than 5-6 seconds and shouldn't damage any components.[/QUOTE] I agree, but keep in mind that very thin tips don't transfer the heat nearly as well as the larger tips, as such I've found that it can actually take too long to heat up the joint with a tiny tip. (And this was with using the 65Watt iron mentioned above.) In short, small tips are not always the best - Use the appropriate size for the job. I always find that solder with lead flows much much better. If you're not soldering much and are willing to accept the health risks from occasionally using leaded solder then by all means do it. I always find myself using too much solder, even after the years I've been soldering for. :(
[QUOTE=Mrs Affinity;20076171]I've wanted to get into electronics like this, but I don't know how. Any tips on how to get started?[/QUOTE] [URL="http://www.facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=880827"]Arduino[/URL] It combines a bit of programming into electronics, really fun to do.
It's called Solder, not tin.
[QUOTE=L-NAESA;20099373]It's called Solder, not tin.[/QUOTE] Solder is made mostly of tin.
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