Author Topic: Soldering Trouble  (Read 1294 times)

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Offline GosuSheepTopic starter

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Soldering Trouble
« on: July 31, 2011, 09:10:51 PM »
I am currently soldering DIP socket to a PC board (as per the $50 robot tutorial), and I am having difficulties creating solid joints. I am using a flat-head soldering iron. Whenever applying solder and attempting to distribute it evenly around the joint, the solder seems to have a strong affinity for the iron and does not stay on the joint. Can anyone lend me some assistance? Should I be using a fine-point iron instead? Is my technique off?

Offline Gertlex

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Re: Soldering Trouble
« Reply #1 on: July 31, 2011, 09:22:04 PM »
Does the board you're soldering to (e.g. I call it perf board, like this stuff) have copper around the hole's perimeter?  If so, you need to heat the copper too so that the solder is attracted to that metal, too.  If it doesn't have metal around the hole perimeters, you'll just get blobs of solder on the pins.

I'd recommend a pointy tip for the soldering iron, too...

Hope that helps; just let me know if I misinterpreted what you're doing.
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Offline GosuSheepTopic starter

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Re: Soldering Trouble
« Reply #2 on: July 31, 2011, 09:22:37 PM »
I'd like to take this moment to rofl at myself. I was soldier onto the plastic part instead of the copper part.

Go me.

Offline lrmall01

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Re: Soldering Trouble
« Reply #3 on: August 02, 2011, 01:56:50 PM »
Glad you figured it out!

For future reference, it is good practice to heat both the pin and the pad and then apply the solder to the intersection.  It will wick to the needed areas fairly easily.  Basically don't try to put the solder on the iron tip, put it on what you are soldering. 

Offline corrado33

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Re: Soldering Trouble
« Reply #4 on: August 02, 2011, 02:40:06 PM »
Glad you figured it out!

For future reference, it is good practice to heat both the pin and the pad and then apply the solder to the intersection.  It will wick to the needed areas fairly easily.  Basically don't try to put the solder on the iron tip, put it on what you are soldering. 

Agreed.  I usually apply the solder on the opposite side of the joint to make sure the whole thing is heated correctly.  Just make sure you don't destroy whatever you're soldering by overheating it. 

 


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