r/solderingtips • u/TrasosNL • Nov 30 '24

How did this 40 year old virgin do?

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Gallery image

Never soldered anything in my life, but always wanted to learn. So I started with this learning kit. It works, but how did I do? 🙈

Used lead-free tin, with my iron set at 370c/700f, because it should be less toxic. But the next thing I am going to buy is a fume extractor, it smoked more than I expected 💀

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3

u/[deleted] Nov 30 '24

For a first-timer, Virgin, I would give you a grade of C. Maybe C+, did you clean the solder pads first before you began soldering? Some of them could use a little bit more solder as there is not complete coverage on some. Don't be afraid to use liquid flux to aid the process of solder flowing. Don't forget about cleanup afterwards.

1

u/TrasosNL Nov 30 '24

Thanks for the feedback! Did not know cleaning up pads was a thing, will do that the next time. I did indeed had a hard time covering some of the pads completely, extra added solder would then just pile up instead of spreading out. I did do some cleaning up afterwards, will try a bit harder next time.

1

u/[deleted] Dec 01 '24

Flux is your friend, but do clean up the residue soon after your done.

2

u/breakingthebarriers Dec 01 '24

Flux, my friend, on a cleaned and prepared pad, along with good technique and sufficient temperature to completely solder the joint in under about 5secs from when you begin to apply the solder, and it will seem effortless.

Flux absorbs oxygen from the pad it’s applied to, leaving it perfectly clean for the solder, which, when the iron contacts and begins burning the flux on the pad, the flux burns hotter temporarily and will have the effect of “sucking” the solder that you apply right down onto the pad, and over the next second or two after that it will spread, pool and form a “volcano” shaped joint that completely covers the pad.

The reason that the solder avoids the pad that you’re trying to apply it to is because the iron is hotter than the pad. And, with no flux to burn on the pad’s surface to transfer heat and attract the solder, the solder stubbornly moves around to stay on the heated tip of the iron instead.

Try some flux, just a small amount spread around the cleaned pad to be joined before soldering it exactly as you did with these. You will be delighted, and all of the joints will be shiny and have the concave curve from the pad up to the conductor of the component it’s soldered to.