Soldering tips for a beginner?

**Bad_Ad84** · 02-12-2012

Originally Posted by HeXiGON

Alright then, sounds easy enough.. I'll check my local hardware store on Tuesday and hopefully I can get everything under $10. I'll most likely only use this stuff once any how.

Very well stated kaput but it can also be the same buying from local stores, I've returned an electronics screwdriver set twice to one of the local stores some stuff they order can be quite useless. Anyhow, I'll surely check the hardware store for flux and braid.

Even though you mentioned braid isn't needed Bad_Ad84, would it be easier for a beginner like me to use the braid as like some kind of assist? Or would is be easier to just use the flux like you mentioned?

Flux is easier, just have a clear iron.

The excess solder then just sticks to the iron.

if there is a lot of solder, just repeat until the excess is gone.

**HEX1GON** · 02-12-2012

Alright, sounds easy. Thanks Bad_Ad84 and everyone else for their help. I'll see how I go and post results. :)

**Padoca85** · 02-12-2012

Originally Posted by Team Fail

He gave us lessons if we didn't know how, and then gave us the irons and told us to figure them out from there from what we had read up in class.

Now we know how someone managed to get solder on his eye...

**H360** · 02-13-2012

Originally Posted by HeXiGON

So I'm guessing the cheapest from eBay will do the trick?

NO. These are EXTREMELY unsafe and dangerous.
They use a metal wire, wrapped around a metal tube that is directly connected to the 240 volts in the wall. It heats up, and then the soldering tip finally gets warm. They are not ESD safe, so it may fry your IC.

I have had 2 literally explode in my hand.
The neutral trace on the PCB heats up because it is too thin IIRC, and shorts. Then, 'pop', and great blue arc and everything is fried.

The best ones, have a ceramic element.
Then, finally the top ones, are the workstations where they regulate the voltage down to (usually) 24 volts with an adjustable potentiometer for setting the temperature.

If you're going to get a soldering iron, just get a decent one because it will last.

Go to JayCar actually and buy one. There all good there :thumbsup:

**HEX1GON** · 02-13-2012

Originally Posted by Haunted360

NO. These are EXTREMELY unsafe and dangerous.
They use a metal wire, wrapped around a metal tube that is directly connected to the 240 volts in the wall. It heats up, and then the soldering tip finally gets warm. They are not ESD safe, so it may fry your IC.

I have had 2 literally explode in my hand.
The neutral trace on the PCB heats up because it is too thin IIRC, and shorts. Then, 'pop', and great blue arc and everything is fried.

The best ones, have a ceramic element.
Then, finally the top ones, are the workstations where they regulate the voltage down to (usually) 24 volts with an adjustable potentiometer for setting the temperature.

If you're going to get a soldering iron, just get a decent one because it will last.

Go to JayCar actually and buy one. There all good there :thumbsup:

I was actually meaning flux/braid. I have a soldering iron actually I have 2. I want to get an adjustable one.

**Bad_Ad84** · 02-13-2012

I have bought cheap chinese flux and braid. They were both terrible.

So no.

**HEX1GON** · 02-13-2012

Yep i'll play it safe and go to the hardware store tomorrow...

**H360** · 02-13-2012

Yeah I had Chinese braid from eBay. It just did not work well!
Then I got a Dick Smith branded one from, Dick Smith (-_-) and it works very well.

**HEX1GON** · 02-13-2012

Dick Smith stores are so stupid, they're not even an electronics store any more. It's just a repainted K-mart -_-

**Team Fail** · 02-14-2012

I'm guessing you know what solder is best?

**pc_91** · 02-15-2012

some tip... never ever use short while soldering, you gonna end up blaming a lot, the less exposed skin the better, as for desoldering a excellent source of flux is in the nature, if you make a cut on a pine it will bleed some gooey resin, save it til solid, then just melt it with the solder tip and i will become flux, if you dont want to chop the pine go to a hardware store o a wood shop, it's used by acrobats on circus tu put on hands to avoid sliping, so is an easy to get. good luck with that saturn

**kaput** · 02-17-2012

Originally Posted by pc_91

some tip... never ever use short while soldering, you gonna end up blaming a lot, the less exposed skin the better, as for desoldering a excellent source of flux is in the nature, if you make a cut on a pine it will bleed some gooey resin, save it til solid, then just melt it with the solder tip and i will become flux, if you dont want to chop the pine go to a hardware store o a wood shop, it's used by acrobats on circus tu put on hands to avoid sliping, so is an easy to get. good luck with that saturn

I wouldn't use pine resin in its crude form as flux, there's probably impurities that might have an adverse effect on the soldering in it.

Isn't the colophony gymnasts use powdered, and thus pretty inconvenient to use when soldering? Personally I like the variant intended for violin bow hairs and such, it comes packaged in a way that makes it very convenient for the purpose.