Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

How To Get Started In Soldering

popularmechanics.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

151–160 of 281 posts

Re: How To Get Started In Soldering

#151

Post by atahanacar »

replygirl wrote: post #59
atahanacar wrote: post #45

I used to "suck" at soldering, until one day I was recommended a Louis Rossmann video by Youtube and decided to watch it. Once I saw how much flux he used, I started to use more flux and as it turns out, that was my problem. That is my problem with this article. Flux is only superficially in a sentence. So my tip to beginners: Cleaning flux is way easier than struggling to solder with little/no flux.

learning that way will also have you relying on flux for through-holes, though. you can get really good without flux, just takes some tip cleaner and a brass cleaning pad, and you'll end up wasting less on the smd jobs

>learning that way will also have you relying on flux for through-holes, though

Is that really a problem, especially for a beginner? I can understand if you are soldering a lot, you will be faster without the need to constantly add flux and save resources but at that point, I think the repetition will let you get better over time anyway.

Re: How To Get Started In Soldering

#152

Post by noworld »

leviathant wrote: post #58
bambax wrote: post #24

> just be careful not to overspend on your first iron. I first learned how to solder on an ultra-cheap hardware-store unit, and you should, too I beg to differ. I used to suck at soldering, and while I'm still no expert, swapping my €20 basic soldering iron for a serious Weller unit (starting at €150) changed everything. The Weller heats up almost instantly, goes up as high as you want, and stays at a constant temper…

Adding to the chorus - I spent $100 on a Hakko in my 30s and upon using it, immediately felt a sizable pang of regret at how much time I'd wasted with my $20 iron over the years. It felt like I must have been doing something wrong, but as soon as I had a decent iron, it's like all the videos I'd watched suddenly made sense.

I'd say there's a world of difference between a $20 cheap iron and a $50 adjustable temperature station, but once I got to the $50 level I find I can do everything I need to do (including SMD).

Re: How To Get Started In Soldering

#153

Post by camtarn »

microtherion wrote: post #127
bambax wrote: post #24

> just be careful not to overspend on your first iron. I first learned how to solder on an ultra-cheap hardware-store unit, and you should, too I beg to differ. I used to suck at soldering, and while I'm still no expert, swapping my €20 basic soldering iron for a serious Weller unit (starting at €150) changed everything. The Weller heats up almost instantly, goes up as high as you want, and stays at a constant temper…

I agree, but it makes sense to qualify what features of "good" tools are important for beginners. Temperature control is very important, and you should probably have one even in your first soldering iron. Something like hot air rework, on the other hand, is an advanced feature that you can defer until later. Another not overly expensive tool I wish I'd known about as a beginner is a heated solder vacuum pump, dispens…

> heated solder vacuum pump

Huh, I had no idea those were even a thing! Thanks for the recommendation.

Re: How To Get Started In Soldering

#154

Post by puredata »

Some tips for soldering beginners that helped me when I first started building FPV drones. -Get good solder. Kester 63/37 is my favorite. Stay away from lead-free solder, it's harder to work with. Soldering temperatures are too low to vaporize lead, just wash your hands after handling leaded solder. -Buy good flux. If you have a problem soldering, flux will probably fix it. No, the flux inside the solder wire is not enough. -Apply flux on the pad, heat the pad, lay your wire on the pad. While applying heat to the pad with your soldering iron, start feeding the solder onto the point where your pad and wire meets. It should start melting immediately and create a shiny connection. If it's not melting immediately, your soldering iron might be too cold. I like 380-420 range. Higher the iron temperature, quicker you should be. Don't rest the soldering iron for a prolonged time on the pad, it will burn it. Nothing on a flight controller (including XT-60 power connections) require more than a couple of seconds to heat up.

On a side note, if you're not going for a specific build, don't buy rebranded brushless motors with pilot names on them. The same motor usually can be found cheaper, with the factory branding. Same goes for solder. TBS doesn't manufacture solder, they just probably rebrand Kester or some other similar brands with a margin. Joshua Bardwell's FPV shopping list should mention every one of those brands so you can look it up.

Also as an additional step, consider conformal coating after you're done with all your connections.

Re: How To Get Started In Soldering

#155

Post by convolvatron »

CarVac wrote: post #76
bluefirebrand wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> They say "a good craftsman doesn't blame his tools" but when you start out you need good tools. Yeah, it's important to realize that saying applied to good craftsmen, not novice craftsmen.

And intentionally choosing not to blame your tools doesn't transform you into a good craftsman, either.

I'm a pretty good craftsman, and if the angle grinder I'm working needs to be held 'just so' to keep it running, weighs twice what my other ones do, and reeks of ozone - I have absolutely no problem saying 'screw this thing' and throwing in the trash.

never understood that aphorism

Re: How To Get Started In Soldering

#156

Post by eschneider »

jrib wrote: post #118
eschneider wrote: post #65

As a strictly software person who's been living in the embedded world for a while, developing adequate soldering skills will make your life hella easier. Lots of setup/debugging problems get easier if you can just make the connectors you need or stick a lead in just the right spot. Being self-reliant for stuff like that is basic productivity stuff.

any good resources you recommend to someone who is a software person not living in embedded world?

As a few people have mentioned, YouTube is a treasure trove of instructions on how to use test equipment like multimeters/oscilloscopes/etc. to see if stuff's alive and responsive. Ins and outs of JTAG is also handy and practical. If you want to go deeper, intro books on electronic circuits and some of the online MIT electronics classes are great.

Re: How To Get Started In Soldering

#157

Post by petsfed »

bambax wrote: post #24

> just be careful not to overspend on your first iron. I first learned how to solder on an ultra-cheap hardware-store unit, and you should, too I beg to differ. I used to suck at soldering, and while I'm still no expert, swapping my €20 basic soldering iron for a serious Weller unit (starting at €150) changed everything. The Weller heats up almost instantly, goes up as high as you want, and stays at a constant temper…

I love the $1400+ solder station I use at work. If I could have one at home, I totally would. Solder tweezers and a heated solder vacuum are very useful.

But I am pretty handy with the $130 Hakko I got from adafruit back when I got one for home use. I soldered for a long time with a cheapy $40 Weller I got off of amazon, although I won't go back to it any time soon. Getting a brass sponge and tip tinner really made that thing viable as a daily driver though.

I think that's the difference he was trying to illustrate: if you can't do a basic through-hole board with a 40W pen-style iron from the hardware store, it ain't the tool.

Re: How To Get Started In Soldering

#158

Post by bluefirebrand »

convolvatron wrote: post #155
CarVac wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And intentionally choosing not to blame your tools doesn't transform you into a good craftsman, either.

I'm a pretty good craftsman, and if the angle grinder I'm working needs to be held 'just so' to keep it running, weighs twice what my other ones do, and reeks of ozone - I have absolutely no problem saying 'screw this thing' and throwing in the trash. never understood that aphorism

I think people take it to mean "A good craftsman should be able to make excellent work even with poor tools"

But maybe it means "a good craftsman should have the experience to know not to work with poor tools, and if they do work with poor tools and the outcome is bad, it's their own fault for not finding better tools, not the tools fault for being poor"

As in, don't blame your tools, you're the one who chose them. And you're always free to choose better tools.

Re: How To Get Started In Soldering

#159

Post by sulam »

petsfed wrote: post #157
bambax wrote: post #24

> just be careful not to overspend on your first iron. I first learned how to solder on an ultra-cheap hardware-store unit, and you should, too I beg to differ. I used to suck at soldering, and while I'm still no expert, swapping my €20 basic soldering iron for a serious Weller unit (starting at €150) changed everything. The Weller heats up almost instantly, goes up as high as you want, and stays at a constant temper…

I love the $1400+ solder station I use at work. If I could have one at home, I totally would. Solder tweezers and a heated solder vacuum are very useful. But I am pretty handy with the $130 Hakko I got from adafruit back when I got one for home use. I soldered for a long time with a cheapy $40 Weller I got off of amazon, although I won't go back to it any time soon. Getting a brass sponge and tip tinner really made t…

What brand is your station at work?

Re: How To Get Started In Soldering

#160

Post by buescher »

aequitas wrote: post #120

If you ever get the chance, solder under a (say 40x) stereo microscope. The soldering station at my internship was this kind of setup and it literally gave me a whole new perspective on soldering. I got to see exactly how the flux and solder flow, how the heat spreads through the material and at what moment the heat was too high that it would melt or release the tiniest coper traces on the board. Also how well solder…

It's fun, too! Even through-hole, where you really don't need a 'scope, is oddly satisfying when you can see every detail.
Post reply on HN