I always seem to screw it up, and just now i broke the tip off.. How is that possible??

does anyoen have some tips for soldering? Im trying to solder some wires together, should be the easiest procedure in the world, but no, i can't do it.

and how the heck do you tin the tip??? i put solder on the tip, and it just melts off and drips.. can someone please help me out here?

 

You may find it easier to tin the tip of the iron if you use some sand paper to rough it up first. Keep sanding until at least the part of the tip youre soldering with is down to the copper. The solder will roll right off that plating they come with....

If you have some flux made for electronics, it will help alot. Spread some on both connections to be soldered, and dip the tip of the iron in it every now and then. (dont get it on you.)

And last, heat the wires you are soldering... NOT the solder itself.

Apply heat to the wires, then touch the solder to them. It will flow towards the heats source.

Keep trying, if youre patient youll get better! =)

 

He said it exactly right. The biggest mistake I see is heating the solder instead of the wire. You have to get the wire got enough to accept the solder. Flux makes it much easier. Start with a new clean tip and use a little emery cloth on it.

 

hey I feel your pain try soldering 50 ft in the air hanging upsidedown now thats fun! anyway tining is refering to applying a small amout of solder to the wire and or connector(s). just make sure you dont heat up the wires to much and use a heatsink.

 

Try not to breath those fumes either, most solder has lead, and you dont wana hold a several hundred degree piece of metal while having a coughing fit

 

And you may not want to be inhaling lead either...

 

They even have flux core solder over at radio shack. It has the flux in the solder, like hmmm a stuff crust pizza. ---also---
They have a nice 100watt solder gun which makes heating the wires short order. DONT mess around with the 100watter with electronic though, just keep it to wires, or other non sensitive hardware.

About the smoke:
Oh man, that smoke will burn the *ell out of your eyes. I have never experienced that kind of pain. I learn now just to start blowing as the smoke starts.

Ron

 

What kind of solder do you have? You don't want to be using the lead-free water pipe type for copper wires. Get the flux core 60-40 for electrical use from Radio Shack like mentioned. Also, make sure your soldering iron is the right type & temp (a gun is easier to use than an iron - Radio Shack can help you there, too).

That smoke from the solder is from the flux, not the lead.

 

IF you are working in tight spots, take a piece of something that won't burn easy and attach two clothes pins about six inches apart. Then you can use these to hold the two wires together while you solder. It's not always possible to use the soldering board but it can makes the job easier.
And yes, heat the wires until the solder flows "up" the wire. Don't forget to slip that heat shrink on first!

 

i used to have a problem with soldering. now i don't. you just have to practice. you'll get the hang of it sooner or latter.

 

i always get the gun/iron hot then touch it with the solder just to get a little on it, that way it makes a better heat connection then touch the wires and melt from the opposite side of the gun :lala: