Unoffical empeg BBS

Quick Links: Empeg FAQ | RioCar.Org | Hijack | BigDisk Builder | jEmplode | emphatic
Repairs: Repairs

Topic Options
#308709 - 29/03/2008 23:57 This Guy Knows Solder!
gbeer
carpal tunnel

Registered: 17/12/2000
Posts: 2665
Loc: Manteca, California
Video on Hackzine

Neat technique on soldering SMT components.
_________________________
Glenn

Top
#308711 - 30/03/2008 05:17 Re: This Guy Knows Solder! [Re: gbeer]
Shonky
pooh-bah

Registered: 12/01/2002
Posts: 2009
Loc: Brisbane, Australia
He's good, but I wouldn't say that's anything spectacular. We call the type of tip a "mini-wave". It has a concave side (that isn't shown in the video that I noticed).

A bit of practise and it's fairly easy to do. He doesn't really explain anything though.

1) Tack down the IC using the corner pins.
2) Apply some flux.
3) Use that technique.

I've never done it "vertically" but it works quite OK for me horizontally and I doubt it would make that much difference to be honest.
_________________________
Christian
#40104192 120Gb (no longer in my E36 M3, won't fit the E46 M3)

Top
#308713 - 30/03/2008 11:11 Re: This Guy Knows Solder! [Re: Shonky]
sn00p
addict

Registered: 24/07/2002
Posts: 618
Loc: South London
Originally Posted By: Shonky
He's good, but I wouldn't say that's anything spectacular. We call the type of tip a "mini-wave". It has a concave side (that isn't shown in the video that I noticed).

A bit of practise and it's fairly easy to do. He doesn't really explain anything though.

1) Tack down the IC using the corner pins.
2) Apply some flux.
3) Use that technique.

I've never done it "vertically" but it works quite OK for me horizontally and I doubt it would make that much difference to be honest.


Same thoughts here. Although if you've never seen a SMD soldered then I guess it probably looks impressive!

Flux, flux and more flux!

I'm guessing that is leaded solder (which is considerably easier to solder with), the joints look awfully shiny. Lead free is a bitch.

Top
#308715 - 30/03/2008 13:31 Re: This Guy Knows Solder! [Re: sn00p]
andym
carpal tunnel

Registered: 17/01/2002
Posts: 3996
Loc: Manchester UK
I still think it's magical (if that's the right word) to see the solder disperse onto the pads like that.

I can certainly see how having the board at an angle would make it easier to work on. My back gives me terrible trouble if I spend too long soldering stuff flat on the table.
_________________________
Cheers,

Andy M

Top
#308722 - 30/03/2008 17:45 Re: This Guy Knows Solder! [Re: Shonky]
wfaulk
carpal tunnel

Registered: 25/12/2000
Posts: 16706
Loc: Raleigh, NC US
I've been looking at buying a new soldering station since my old one has all but given up the ghost. But I'm curious about lead-free versus normal soldering irons. I understand that lead-free solder melts at a higher temperature, so I can understand why a soldering iron without a temperature control could be intended for one use over another, but if a company's product line includes two temperature controlled irons that both have the same temperature range, but one is marketed as lead-free and the other one not, what is the difference?
_________________________
Bitt Faulk

Top
#308723 - 30/03/2008 18:59 Re: This Guy Knows Solder! [Re: wfaulk]
sn00p
addict

Registered: 24/07/2002
Posts: 618
Loc: South London
Originally Posted By: wfaulk
I've been looking at buying a new soldering station since my old one has all but given up the ghost. But I'm curious about lead-free versus normal soldering irons. I understand that lead-free solder melts at a higher temperature, so I can understand why a soldering iron without a temperature control could be intended for one use over another, but if a company's product line includes two temperature controlled irons that both have the same temperature range, but one is marketed as lead-free and the other one not, what is the difference?


We have had *massive* problems with lead free solder, basically the main one is that it doesn't want to solder!

The second problem is that the tips oxidize very easily. Using a watered sponge is now a serious "no no" as this causes the tips to oxidize almost immediately. Instead (as the solder company bloke told us in a meeting) it's back to the old days of re-tinning the tip every time the soldering iron leaves your hand.

We now use the wire wool bundle to clean tips, obviously this is pretty abrasive so needs to be avoided really, but the tips oxidize so bloody quickly that it's almost impossible to not use them.

We generally use JBC irons (the pencil style ones) and had to upgrade a number of stations so that we could get extra heat of out them.

We also are using a number of different solders, one of which uses wax instead of rosin and has a rather sickly chocolate smell when it melts, but nothing beats lead!

Come back lead, all is forgiven!

Top