The Beginners Guide To Soldering!

[Turbo Tax 1.0]

blasphemy
i <3 lemon juice it makes soldering easier

[FDSMAN]

everyone won't belive me when I say solder now is lead-less...

[A.J. Franzman]

Depending on where you are, it may start getting difficult to find lead-based solder. I believe it is already outlawed for manufacturers in the EU. Fortunately I have close to a lifetime supply for my hobbyist needs already (the lead-free stuff is tin+silver based and cracks more easily than tin+lead).

[Triton]

i use 2% silver flux "racing" solder, its good stuff too, holds great and cunducts heat and electricity really good, about a thousand times better than that crap that comes with walmart soldering iron

[bicostp]

The sodler I use is 25 years old. It might have some lead in it... Probably not though. They haven't made lead paint in 30 years (IIRC)...

Someone should explain tinning. I use this techniwue all the time. Basically all you do is put some solder on each piece to be joined, and you melt the two solder coatings together. It works great for sensitive components (like cheaparsed switches that melt)

[Triton]

i use tinning a lot if somthing doesnt stick right, and when im soldering to pcb traces

[daguuy]

i just tin everything and melt it together like bic, it works great

[Gamelver]

I ALWAYS tin everything I solder......it's always easier to tin both wires (or pins, whatever) than just trying to do it all at once.

[Darth Fett]

My mom has a engraver thingy,and said i should use that instead of buying a soldering iron.Would that work?

[bicostp]

What is it, one of those little rotary, Dremel-type tools for crafts? With interchangeable bits for glass and pottery and stuff? (Probably from Jo-Ann Fabrics or another craft store?)

If so, then it won't work. You need a soldering iorn. They're less than 20 bucks at RadioShack, and are worth their weight in gold and can pay for themselves over time if you use them right.

[Darth Fett]

ooo-kay!Glad i didn't try to use it!Thanks!