Soldering techniques/tutorial

[CMReynolds1]

We all at one time of another need to solder something, repair or add an item. If a connection is soldered correctly it is a good connection and most likely trouble free. However, there many levels of skill sets on soldering. If you do not do it right you can cause so much more damage that you will go down the rabbit hole & have a very bad day! It could also get expensive depending on what you are doing. As such, I have attached a shortcut to a tutorial site that is very good. It covers PC board soldering, wire soldering, etc. I would recommend reviewing it prior to your next solder job. Good luck and don't hesitate to take some old wire and practice different things. The old saying 'Practice makes perfect' is absolutely true!


Should you still have questions, post them and I am sure some of the 'journeyman' solderers will have a perfect answer.
http://www.aaroncake.net/electronics/solder.htm

[NVSB4]

Some good tips here, thanks for the info.
Got to admit that my soldering is a lot less than desired (but still better than my welding).

The old saying 'Practice makes perfect' is absolutely true!

I wish I had time to practice everything that I wish I could do better.
I'll probably bookmark the link, refer to it the next time I need to solder something and then make a couple of "practice tries" before moving to the real work.

[CMReynolds1]

I can't weld. Wish I could!

[WingAdmin]

Have a look at the video I did here: Electricity 101 Part 5: Soldering Techniques

I can solder pretty much anything and make it look professional, from many years of practice, but my welding is beyond pathetic.

[wlkjr]

I did a good bit of soldering in my 40 years with the telephone company

[deanbw]

some good stuff there.
I tell people, wait till iron is hot, have a clean tinned tip, and cleanliness is godliness.
I have a problem with the "practice makes perfect" thing, if you keep practicing wrong you will always do it wrong.
Prefect practice makes perfect
I owned a machine /weld shop for many years and saw a lot of guys who said "I can do that", well no they couldn't. They had to be taught the correct method, then practice

[CMReynolds1]

I yield to your "practice makes perfect" correction. I like your version because it is the truly correct statement. Thanks for the correction!

[Dogsled]

I was a welder all my life, brazing, soldering.......

I just put a set of halogen lights on the front of my bike .....every joint was non-conductive????? Technique is one thing......I can't find a good solder anymore. I used to use what was once called just a flux core wire, now there are 50 different variations and 49 are crap. I remember the first odd ball fluxing was RESIN.
I used to go to Radio Shack and buy some flux core wire and BAM....I was done....Wiring soldering for dummies.....(AKA, we can know everything)
I've bought some solder that I know I overheated the wire just to get this crap to melt....Anybody can solder wires if they have the right product to melt....I've gone to solderless terminals crimped and covered with shrink tube.
Whether or not you put the soldering gun on the top or the bottom to pre-heat is of no matter. getting a clean flow of solder that conducts current is what this is all about. The right flux for strand wire soldering doesn't leave impurities behind between the wire and solder. No matter where you put a soldering iron when doing light gauge work, you are really only heating a few indivdual strands to melt in the solder, the heat from the solder flow is enough to continue melting and bonding the strands as you go.
Even a torch would super heat the outer wire and not heat evenly as you go inward. The flux and the solder are the key, not the heat. All of the wires I have seen and tried lately don't do the job.
If you really want to understand how this all works. Take some heavy gauge strand wire and do some 14 gauge home wiring and see the difference. 2 14 gauge solid wires twisted together and heated will transfer heat to solder both wires different than 14 ga. strand. So once again, I say it's all in the right solder, NOT the technique.

[CMReynolds1]

I have been soldering boards, wires, etc. for 40+ years. I know how to do it. You over simplify it. Welding is just putting to metal pieces together and add electricity or gas. No big deal!!

As for using a "soldering gun", that is so wrong. Adjustable soldering irons are the only way to go. You can control heat and time. Guns just heat up and damage wires and insulation. Flux has its place in the scheme of things, as does knowing what type of solder you want to use. What temp it melts at and what it's lead ratios are. Its always good to know the full scope of a procedure before just arbitrarily condemning it!

I purposely stated my take on welding to give you an example of misinformation. Welding, if done correctly is an art and I have seen some pretty damn fine welders and I have seen the "Johnny come lately types" that know it all but can't do anything right. I am sure you do too. I just added the link to help out other Wingers if they wanted any info on soldering. Nothing more. This is site to help each other, not demean.

[wlkjr]

I think the wire being soldered makes a difference too.

[CMReynolds1]

You are absolutely correct wlkjr. That does make a difference. Thanks for the reminder.

[redial]

I think a steady eye and a good set of hands, makes the difference - or something similar to what I said

[Dogsled]

CM,
That was a great detailed link! I enjoyed reading it. Also the point of the wire being soldered is something I didn''t think of. good debate with alot of explations from everybody. I got that link bookmarked.

[CMReynolds1]

Redial, you are so right! Thanks for that angle too.

[waituntilthebeep]

Have a look at the video I did here: Electricity 101 Part 5: Soldering Techniques

I can solder pretty much anything and make it look professional, from many years of practice, but my welding is beyond pathetic.

I can weld near anything. Can also bridge every trace within a 3" radius of my soldering iron with reckless abandon. Figure I oughtta work on that.

[WingAdmin]

If the (copper) wire being soldered has any kind of oxidation on it, the solder will not flow and adhere properly. The joint might conduct...for a while. But it will not be solid, and can eventually fail.

Similarly, the type of solder being used matters greatly. Never use acid-core or acid-flux solder - that's for plumbing. There is a trend toward non-lead solder, due to the neurotoxicity properties of lead - but personally, I feel there is no substitute for 60/40 tin/lead rosin-core solder. The newer substitutes don't flow as well, don't create as reliable a joint, and just are nowhere near as easy to work with. I use 60/40 tin/lead solder exclusively.