soldering

Capricorn

I suck so much at soldering... been trying for like a month now and still can
hardly get it right... Are there any books or videos that can help?

Manfred-Klose

Have you tried videos on youtube?

What kind of soldering, for a PCB?
What type of soldering iron are you using?

MikeM

Try get to watch someone that's profficient at it. Gearhead wired my tele (With my help of course ?) and since then I rewired my strat entirely with a 100watt gun ? ? I tried previously and manage to melt my mini toggles ?

DonovanB

ha-ha. I was soldering a new pot on my guitar once and burnt my fingers so bad I couldn't play.

I'm better now. It helps to have one of those gizmo's with the clips and magnifying glass. anyone know what its called?

AlanRatcliffe

There are two good tutorials linked from my guitar, effect and amp building link list.

IMO the most important things are your soldering iron and the solder.

AlanRatcliffe

DonovanB wrote ha-ha. I was soldering a new pot on my guitar once and burnt my fingers so bad I couldn't play.

I'm not good with hot or sharp things, and if something can be burned with an iron, I've burned it. My top lip was one of the most painful.

Something else I learned the hard way: never solder while naked (don't ask) ?

MikeM

? Jeez man didn't realise you were THAT much of a "free spirit"

AlanRatcliffe

Not any more, thanks to that particular learning experience. ☹ Hot day, hot job - Seemed like a good idea at the time...

[deleted]

I'm sure the response should be something like: "A bad/naked workman always burns his tool"?

Attila

Being an old telkom techie, I have a built in habit to feel if the bit is hot by bringing it up to my nose, touch wood I have never burnt myself but one day is one day....... and every time I do it I say STOP IT NOW !!!! to myself

Donovan: the rig with the croc clips and magnifying glass is all I can use these days... eyes are shot ( I am thinking it was one to many Tequila Stuntmen) ?

AlanRatcliffe

Attila wrote Being an old telkom techie, I have a built in habit to feel if the bit is hot by bringing it up to my nose

That's how I burned my lip (and once, my nose).

DonovanB wrote It helps to have one of those gizmo's with the clips and magnifying glass. anyone know what its called?

Helping Hands I think...

Renesongs

I have a built in habit to feel if the bit is hot by bringing it up to my nose

It must be hardwired into our genetics. I have been doing that since I was a teen. I have grown a beard for the last 5 years and now I end up singing it when I do the top lip/nose heat test. As For the gizmo with the clips and magnifying glass I have had one for years but I still end up squinting down the end of the soldering iron clenched between teeth while my fingers, elbows and toes are holding wires and components in strategic positions. Old habits die hard

FenderBender

I have soldered so much I can probably do it with my eyes closed ?
Helping Hands is the correct name for the croc clip/mag glass thingy.
My advice is to ensure that your room is well ventilated while soldering. The fumes are very toxic!

MikeM

The fumes make me feel good ?

FenderBender

There are better fumes for that purpose ?

TomCat

Graeme Parfett wrote There are better fumes for that purpose ?

LOL......... ? ?

aja

Graeme Parfett wrote There are better fumes for that purpose ?

Like the first time you switch on a brand new speaker and get it moving hard. That strange woody/plastic smell you get is great, brings back lots of memories.

On the other hand, I think my worst nightmare is one that smells like burning electronics. You just can't get that smell out your nose for days...

AlanRatcliffe

aja wrote On the other hand, I think my worst nightmare is one that smells like burning electronics. You just can't get that smell out your nose for days...

The magic smoke! ?

The smell of burning phenolic PCB is nasty...

TomCat

Roasted Silicon on pcb.........Who let the smoke out of the cabinet......now it won't work...... >☹ >☹

Karel-Mars

BTW: Don't forget the little sponge thingy when you solder. The most important thing after the iron and solder ?