Soldering Techniques

[Nateispro]

So i know how to solder pickups and pots when i'm working on my own guitars but i've never been very good at it. I recently bought all the parts to start building my own pedals and i realized a few solder joints in that they were all dull which iirc means they're a cold joint. I cut some wire up today and practiced getting nice shiny joints on the ends of them. I have a no name soldering gun but it does have a temp control on it, i was using flux as well. Is practicing on the tips of the wire a good way to get comfortable with making clean solders? or is there a better/more effective way to practice?

[skybluegary]

I use 60/40 rosin core solder, you don't need to use additional flux. 40deg is about the right temperature, I find choice of solder tip helps, I'd use a flat tip for pots and pups, and a pointed tip for pcb's, small/tight soldering in pedals. Moist sponge and desoldering tool are invaluable to me, and some sort of 3rd hand helps.

An old pcb, from disused piece of gear might help with practice, ie unsolder/solder old components. There are some good YT instructional vids.Just general practice will help, once I did my first pcb, the second one was easy. And don't forget to "tin"

[ajaxlepinski]

Let the iron heat up for about 10 minutes and touch some solder to it.
When it melts on touch, you are ready to start.

Be sure to heat up the area to be soldered first.
Then, while keeping the iron tip in contact with the connection, touch the solder to the iron and let it trickle on to the connection.
If you don't preheat the connectors, the solder will bead up and won't stick.

Have fun!!!

[Nateispro]

thanks guys!!!! I've wanted to venture down this blackhole for years but i don't have the experience... Is the 60/40 rosin core different from regular solder?

[skybluegary]

A bit of practice and you'll soon get the technique!

http://www.ehow.co.uk/about_6676793_ros ... lder_.html

[shep]

both parts being soldered must be heated by the iron. if not, it can cause cold joints. sometimes tinting the wire with solder first helps. also, tinting the iron with solder helps it melt old solder joints and things like that. if your tip gets dirty, wipe it on a wet sponge while its hot. when its cool you can use sand paper to clear the crap off of it.

[BowerR64]

Use a cloth that is wet and rub the tip once in a while over the wet cloth, you want real cloth also so it doesnt melt.

Remember that heat raises so when your trying to get the solder to stick to the wire or pat put the iron under and the solder on top.

Some parts that are big specially the back side of pots can sometimes act like a heatsink and cool the tip. You sometimes have to push a little harder or rotate the tip so that it gets the best contact to the part.

Good solder is cheap so get the right stuff. Solder wick is good to have also, it can soak up solder from a part before you pull it. Also its handy to have pliers to hold things when they get hot or a little stand with gator clips to hold parts as well. This is one of those things that almost needs 3 hands at times, when your holding a part, and then the iron you need to feed solder also. I sometimes use pliers with rubberbands around the handle to hold parts.

I hate the smoke that comes from the flux inside the solder ill usually blow at the parts while im applying the solder or ill get choked out.

One tip i found sometimes parts or wire wont seem to stick solder to, ill use a cheap asprin and set the wire or something on the asprin and heat it. It will sort of etch any coating on the wires off so that solder sticks to it. Headphones, pickup wire, choke wire that has a coating on it has this problem.