I can't solder to save my life.

Valium · Post by **Valium** » Sun Aug 17, 2008 11:00 am

30w for me. It gets so hot that it melts the plastic that's supposed to protect my hand from touching the metal, but hey, whatever works.

Super Cameraman · Post by **Super Cameraman** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 6:31 pm

Wow, I totally forgot I made this thread.

I think I got it all figured out. That MAKE video was really good. Turns out I'm doing a few things wrong.

What I've learned:

I should invest in a soldering station with a holder and sponge
I should turn it up to 30
I need a new tip
Maybe I should get a "solder sucker." (Is that really what they're called?)

And I should practice on things that aren't working DS's....

mothatrucka · Post by **mothatrucka** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 6:37 pm

You could make your own station with holder and sponge fairly easily. Large springs from things like rocking horses and door closers work well for that. Just mount it to a board at the desired angle, screw on a plastic jar lid for your sponge, and you're set to go.

Super Cameraman · Post by **Super Cameraman** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 8:06 pm

Hmm, I might try that. Thanks.

I listened to some of the advise, and I actually soldered something right! I took an old guitar tuner and wired a new on/off button, a battery pack, and 1/4 inch audio jack, and LED's to the tuner so all that can be mounted in a project box along with an amplifier made from a cassette player (which I still need to get). When I'm done, I should have a little black box that I can plug a guitar and headphones in and rock out in the night. And, it'll have a built in tuner, which is what I just built now.

Thanks guys!

Turknatr12 · Post by **Turknatr12** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 2:34 pm

I use 15w, I have no complaints. 8.99 at Radio Shack. Never had any problems.

Super Cameraman · Post by **Super Cameraman** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 4:34 pm

Turns out, almost all the things I soldered last night came apart, but I fixed it, and I'm getting a little more confident. Maybe I'll try to work on my dead DS.

hdx · Post by **hdx** » Fri Aug 22, 2008 4:54 am

I'm using a soldering station. It has a lot of power and heat. Also It has hot air. The best tool to mod/repair all kind of electronics. As the other soldering iron I use 30W one. Try soldering on broken items, you will get necessary experience.