Soldering Guide

mayhem · #1 16-05-09, 11:42 AM

lasher · #2 16-05-09, 06:25 PM

Excellent review/article.. so we get the tools, now show us how to do it with out making a mess!

I have a never used Weller gas soldering iron. Are these any good? Would only be messing around daisy chaining fans to start with.

mayhem · #3 16-05-09, 06:29 PM

Dont worry im in the middle of making a mess my self right now ill put it up once ive finished. I can now tell its been a while since i soldered and that i relay do need to go by some glasses.

tinytomlogan · #4 16-05-09, 09:58 PM

Was actualy part of his build log! But Mayhem kindly agreed to do a full guide and thats why I copied it here and then stickied it!

mayhem · #5 18-05-09, 05:48 AM

I use the Aoyue station. This is a cheap Less than £100 work / reflow station for working on mobile phones normaly but i can do any thing.

It is excellent for work on mods such as this or any thing to do with electronics. I have now managed to string 25 SMD's in a row neatly all though no pics as i have no batteries left lol ...

The tips for this station start a £1.50 per tip to £2.50. So this is real cheap in comparison to normal tips for soldering irons costing you between £5 to £8.

I am actualy considering getting a more expensive Light heat station as this is much better for SMD's and all so for fast soldering.

I still use My different normal soldering irons which range from 15 watt to 30 watt for very quick jobs such as a few led's stringed together.

I would recommend a work station if and only if you plan on doing allot of soldering. I would not recommend one if you just doing a few small mods.

If you doing a lot of SMD work i recommend you using a heat pan and solder paste instead as this can do a much better job. Check out Youtube for Heat paste and soldering oven / pans. And as a word of warning for god sake do not use a Geroge Foreman version there griddles not heat pans ... lol

Ham · #6 18-05-09, 01:35 PM

Hmm, we appear to own the same soldering iron. Cpet mines 25w...

Nice write up mate. Very useful resource to have!

Diablo · #7 18-05-09, 02:02 PM

Great guide, really helpful. You missed one thing tho...don't forget soldering irons take some time to cool...this explains why two of my fingers have a fair few burns down them.

mayhem · #8 18-05-09, 02:05 PM

lol common sense ... if ppl don't have that then they shouldn't be playing with soldering iron's. You might what to get a cold iron then you wont burn you fingers next time.

Diablo · #9 18-05-09, 02:17 PM

Dang...that's where I've been going wrong. Its actually mainly when you put the soldering iron in the holder and it doesn't quite go in, so you nudge it then go ow...

k4p84 · #10 18-05-09, 02:28 PM

Guy in electronics in college didnt think and just left his iron on his work station, it got nudged and it melted through its own power cable.

Kinda like a soldering iron harakiri

It blew the power the whole Tech block too :-)