Soldering Guide Help

[eidairaman1]

@Ferrum Master, the video portion showing Solder paste was sweet, never knew it existed myself.

As I said it's beneficial for GPUs

It is not a good video. It is not done like that anymore... like student level. You need a preheater under and sum up the energy in order not to damage the part an PCB, often you will not be able to heat up the part off the multi layer PCB due to thick copper layer, you will burn the upper PCB black but the solder will not melt. Especially like for ones that knocked a cap off the PCB.

SMD parts are put on using air gun and prehater... that's the most harmless way for the part and PCB. Soldering gun more for robust through hole devices. They have longer legs and don't heat up the semiconductor core damaging it.

With method like soldering all the pins together in many cases PCB traces will pop off and permanently damage the board. Plain isopropanol cannot be used for cleaning semiconductors as it was held in aluminum barrels thus it has metal ions, as a result the MCU will soak it and start to hang up often. Those things are bitten through like 20 years ago.

Also guys and galls... doing much SMD soldering without a microscope or at least some magnifying glass will instantly put you on prescription glasses queue.

Did you watch the entire video? He covers that.

I have to agree 100%.

People, this is a help thread and the negativity is needless. If us users want to offer alternate methodologies for soldering, thats one thing.

I agree, TPU community, either add Soldering tips or, just step away from the keyboard.

I don't comment youtube at all.. I don't consume low quality material. If I see endorsement for such things here it just amuses me and make me sad.

Such things as soldering need proper scholarship, not a youtube video. You must attend some sort of real courses with a teacher and equipment and play on with things, there are electronics circles everywhere around the world, use them. Not doing the stuff from first time and damage it even more as it usually ends up. It ain't that simple. It ain't fixing a broken power cord. We are talking about high tech SMD part soldering... not some plain simple through hole one layer PCB. Things have changed in the last 10 years very fast due to rapid tech development. Home repairs are not a reasonable thing to recommend to someone.

Scholarship really?

 

[Ferrum Master]

Scholarship really?

More like a drivers license... As I said, I have nothing about repairing a domestic simple thing. You need to attend basic courses, where you know the consequences if you want to do more. It is like giving a grenade to monkey often.

But an advanced SMD repair... GPU? Nuts... this video shows nothing, but bad for it. This one is a specialized case about soldering home brew thin DIY project PCB. Yeah, then do what you wish... it is tech level around 1980 ties incliding the Atmega MCU, still a intel 8051 core in the heart, so the 80ties indeed... is good for a starter? Also no.

It is 2020, acting around the board with a wick and poking elements with a hot soldering gun raised my eyebrows too much. It is a bad example really.

 

[delshay]

More like a drivers license... As I said, I have nothing about repairing a domestic simple thing. You need to attend basic courses, where you know the consequences if you want to do more. It is like giving a grenade to monkey often.

But an advanced SMD repair... GPU? Nuts... this video shows nothing, but bad for it. This one is a specialized case about soldering home brew thin DIY project PCB. Yeah, then do what you wish... it is tech level around 1980 ties incliding the Atmega MCU, still a intel 8051 core in the heart, so the 80ties indeed... is good for a starter? Also no.

It is 2020, acting around the board with a wick and poking elements with a hot soldering gun raised my eyebrows too much. It is a bad example really.

I use a full infrared BGA workstation. I will upload photo of all my soldering tips soon. I have around 20 different type of soldering tips which I can change on-a-fly. Must use the correct soldering tip for the right task. So I'm always swapping soldering tips, but a photo will show a rack of many types of soldering tips.

 

[DeathtoGnomes]

I use a full infrared BGA workstation. I will upload photo of all my soldering tips soon. I have around 20 different type of soldering tips which I can change on-a-fly. Must use the correct soldering tip for the right task. So I'm always swapping soldering tips, but a photo will show a rack of many types of soldering tips.

sounds like you can prolly make tutorial just for what solder tips to use.

 

[C1ff0]

Here is a Pretty Good Video for soldering technique for THT and SMD.

Disclaimer:
This is a guide and you are the person responsible for any improper soldering/damage, not anyone else.

I've already seen al of them, as a hobbyst, they work for me. another video that i have find usefull, for sdm work it's from the madmad Ben Heck.

 

[silentbogo]

sounds like you can prolly make tutorial just for what solder tips to use.

There are those on the net as well
I have around 20 hakko tips as well, plus a spare 6-pack of needle-point tips. I think I'm set for the next decade or so, cause so far I only needed to replace one needle-point (and only cause I f'ed up with upkeep).

 

[delshay]

sounds like you can prolly make tutorial just for what solder tips to use.

Getting my camera out, give me 15 mins to upload photo(s).

EDIT: A couple of tips are the same but this should give you an idea of how many soldering tips I have. Most are new & some are missing from the list. Close-up photo to follow so you can see the part number. ..cancelled you can see the part number by zooming in.

Update: These are 24v soldering tips with the heating element built-in, so you can't break this soldering iron. With these set of tips along with the others missing from the photo, I can do anything I want. I have a box full of spare soldering tips.

 

[C1ff0]

I use a full infrared BGA workstation. I will upload photo of all my soldering tips soon. I have around 20 different type of soldering tips which I can change on-a-fly. Must use the correct soldering tip for the right task. So I'm always swapping soldering tips, but a photo will show a rack of many types of soldering tips.

I'm a bit envious...... I really need to upgrade my workbench.....

 

[Frick]

Watched some of it and I definitely agree that there's some bad stuff there. But I've also seen worse. It ain't "proper soldering" though. Decent for a hobbyist.

Such things as soldering need proper scholarship, not a youtube video. You must attend some sort of real courses with a teacher and equipment and play on with things, there are electronics circles everywhere around the world, use them. Not doing the stuff from first time and damage it even more as it usually ends up. It ain't that simple. It ain't fixing a broken power cord. We are talking about high tech SMD part soldering... not some plain simple through hole one layer PCB. Things have changed in the last 10 years very fast due to rapid tech development. Home repairs are not a reasonable thing to recommend to someone.

I would say it depends on the goal. I do messy soldering, but it's for myself and it works. Some stuff I'm decent at but generally not PCB work (mostly because of lack of tools and patience) but I'm getting better. You can mess around with stuff at home (old NICs are great for that) just to see how different things behave in different circumstances. You need the basics of course, and proper courses helps there (the IPC cert course I did was hugefully helpful at the time) but you most of all need patience and experience. And the basics can definitely be aquired online.

but all this is assuming the individual has basic electronics knowledge and know how heat and conductors work. Also bad habits are bad habits and should be shunned even on a hobbyist level, but a part of me will always have a soft spot for pure, ugly DIY.

 

[delshay]

I'm a bit envious...... I really need to upgrade my workbench.....

Yes, but I still need external soldering iron to repair the workstation when it breaks down. So I have a external soldering unit that share the same soldering tips as the workstation. So effectively I have two soldering irons, one stationary & the other portable.

 

[DR4G00N]

but a part of me will always have a soft spot for pure, ugly DIY.

What, like this genuine masterpiece right here?

 

[trickson]

What, like this genuine masterpiece right here?

View attachment 144631

PERFECT!

 

[delshay]

What, like this genuine masterpiece right here?

View attachment 144631

There's only one person that I know of that do something like this. The best part is the tub in the top right hand corner that say's "danger"

 

[trickson]

There's only one person that I know of that do something like this. The best part is the tub in the top right hand corner that say's "danger"

This is an EPIC pic! AMAZING! I LOVE IT! THAT can with Danger Flammable / Irritant! WTF!!! And it's as close to that electrical PCB board as humanly possible! AND to top that there is an Allen- wrench that the PCB board is resting ON!
PERFECT!

 

[DR4G00N]

This is an EPIC pic! AMAZING! I LOVE IT! THAT can with Danger Flammable / Irritant! WTF!!! And it's as close to that electrical PCB board as humanly possible! AND to top that there is an Allen- wrench that the PCB board is resting ON!
PERFECT!

It's just the camera perspective, it's not actually anywhere near the stuff in the background. Besides I move those bottles well away when doing anything with high temp.

 

[trickson]

It's just the camera perspective, it's not actually anywhere near the stuff in the background. Besides I move those bottles well away when doing anything with high temp.

Whatever you need to tell yourself, YOU ARE THE MAN! YES!!!

You don't have to convince me, But the Fire martial is another issue.

 

[silentbogo]

Update: These are 24v soldering tips with the heating element built-in, so you can't break this soldering iron.

Is that for T12 handle? If yes, tell me if it's any good...
Just thinking about buying a spare iron for home projects. Bouncing between small T12 kit and one of those TS100 portables.

 

[delshay]

Is that for T12 handle? If yes, tell me if it's any good...
Just thinking about buying a spare iron for home projects. Bouncing between small T12 kit and one of those TS100 portables.

I'm not familiar with that part number but it looks compatible. But double check before you buy.

I have Aoyue BGA 9000A workstation & a seperate iron Aoyue int2900, both share/use the same type of tips. As I said in this thread, I only use the int2900 to repair the workstation when it breaks down.

int2900 can be seen here https://www.aoyue.eu/aoyue-int2900-digital-lead-free-soldering-station-smd-soldering-iron-wq-serie.html

 

[silentbogo]

I'm not familiar with that part number but it looks compatible. But double check before you buy.

It's just a reference to whichever Hakko pencil they've cloned. Chinese are keeping things simple, so it's usually Hakko T12, or Hakko 907 knock-offs. The only exception is inductive stations.
TS100 is a tiny portable soldering pen with wide-input (12-24V), and can be powered from anything, like a power bank w/ adjustable output, car lighter socket, ASUS laptop power brick, LED strip PSU etc.
Lots of positive reviews as well, the only problem is that it uses some sort of modified version of T12 tips and they cost a fortune($5-$12 apiece, depending on quality). I'm eyeing a kit w/ 7 tips for $80 shipped, but I'm not sure if those heating elements aren't crap.

 

[bobbybluz]

My father built his own ham radio and audio equipment plus repaired TV's in the 1950's. I learned to solder when I was around 5 years old and learned well enough to do military circuit boards and drive controllers for ships and submarines years later. Every solder joint must look exactly like the specification picture. About 10 years ago I bought one of these cheapo soldering stations off Ebay and was very surprised just how well it works. It still works perfectly today, can't be beat for the price. Make sure to also get the 4-piece replacement tip set for added versatility. https://www.parts-express.com/stahl-tools-stssvt-variable-temperature-soldering-iron-station--374-100

 

[eidairaman1]

Here is a Pretty Good Video for soldering technique for THT and SMD.

Disclaimer:
This is a guide and you are the person responsible for any improper soldering/damage, not anyone else.

Here is another good Video

 

[delshay]

It's just a reference to whichever Hakko pencil they've cloned. Chinese are keeping things simple, so it's usually Hakko T12, or Hakko 907 knock-offs. The only exception is inductive stations.
TS100 is a tiny portable soldering pen with wide-input (12-24V), and can be powered from anything, like a power bank w/ adjustable output, car lighter socket, ASUS laptop power brick, LED strip PSU etc.
Lots of positive reviews as well, the only problem is that it uses some sort of modified version of T12 tips and they cost a fortune($5-$12 apiece, depending on quality). I'm eyeing a kit w/ 7 tips for $80 shipped, but I'm not sure if those heating elements aren't crap.

With a assortment of various tip you can do some interesting hacks. It was the blade type tip that allowed me to be the first to soldered heatsinks directly to the MOSFETS. You can remove & replace MOSFETS just with the soldering iron, but this requires very high level of skill. You will learn very quickly what you can do very fast.

You can do all sorts of modifications. It's these tools I was able to change power output "in hardware" on my motherboard & R9 Nano.

I buy my tips separately, normally in twos or threes of the same type as you need spares. The tiny 0.1 tip I have more of this as this is what I use to solder-in SMT component including IC, so I have around 5 as you can break the tiny tip if you press to hard & they do go blunt over time.

I recommend never to push the temperature to the max 480c, but just below 470c, but you should never need to go this high, 440c-450c is all I need for the toughest job.

IF you have all the tips, nothing will stand in your way & there are more different types of tips out there.

 

[Vario]

I used these ancient videos to learn some basic techniques but due to neurological stuff my hands shake a lot so I don't solder often.

 

[delshay]

Just another heads-up.

I have completely abandoned all solder that's on a reel. All my solder is from a tub, ie solder paste. You can control the amount of solder you want on the pad better. Melting point of my solder is around 180c.

Solder paste is kept in a tiny fridge which can hold around 8 normal size can of drink.

I used these ancient videos to learn some basic techniques but due to neurological stuff my hands shake a lot so I don't solder often.

Great video that's what I call proper soldering. Funny Alpha is the flux I use, very expensive, but i have others.

EDIT: One other thing, I have a motorize wire brush for cleaning the soldering tips.

 

[Frick]

Just another heads-up.

I have completely abandoned all solder that's on a reel. All my solder is from a tub, ie solder paste. You can control the amount of solder you want on the pad better. Melting point of my solder is around 180c.

Would like to try at some point, but the old lead solder is universally found and I have heaps of it and solder paste cost a lot more anyway. How long does it last unopened/opened? I have looked at some and they generally say they don't last long. Is that why the fridge?