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Pink_Floyd · 06-28-2009, 03:03 PM

On of the big things already mentioned is solder irons and temps. One of the things I was told years ago when I was given an intro to soldering through work was matching things up. There is no point in trying to use an iron if it is flawed and does not get hot enough to melt the solder properly.

All that will happen is the joint will get really hot and you will end up with lumpy solder. Likewise if it is just too hot then the solder will flow very quickly.

I like to use a gas iron now and find it great, no silly electrical cord flex to get in the way. The other thing to remember is you only have two hands, one will hold the iron, the other the solder. So who or what is holding the parts? I use a third hand device to hold things and you can improvise with all sorts of clips.

Ideally you want the two items settled in place and together with your hands free before you even turn on the iron. That way once it is on it is a case of just worrying about holding the iron, the solder and carrying out the proper technique.

06-28-2009, 03:03 PM	#8 (permalink)
Pink_Floyd Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: UK Posts: 623 Thanks: 19 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Well, it's official. I can't solder. On of the big things already mentioned is solder irons and temps. One of the things I was told years ago when I was given an intro to soldering through work was matching things up. There is no point in trying to use an iron if it is flawed and does not get hot enough to melt the solder properly. All that will happen is the joint will get really hot and you will end up with lumpy solder. Likewise if it is just too hot then the solder will flow very quickly. I like to use a gas iron now and find it great, no silly electrical cord flex to get in the way. The other thing to remember is you only have two hands, one will hold the iron, the other the solder. So who or what is holding the parts? I use a third hand device to hold things and you can improvise with all sorts of clips. Ideally you want the two items settled in place and together with your hands free before you even turn on the iron. That way once it is on it is a case of just worrying about holding the iron, the solder and carrying out the proper technique.