SEVEN SOLDERING SECRETS

The secret to making good solder joints is to use a sufficient amount of heat. If you don’t use enough heat, your solder joints will appear rough and dull.

Proper solder joints are flowing and bright.

When applying heat, do not apply solder directly to the tip. Add a small amount of solder on the tip of your iron and then touch it to the pieces being soldered. The solder will help carry the heat from the iron to the joint.

Heat the base metal so that it becomes sufficiently hot to melt the solder, then flow more solder into the joint from the opposite side of the part. Once the solder has been applied to the connection, remove the soldering iron and let the joint cool without disturbing it, until all the solder has solidified and cooled.

Avoid using too much heat, and don’t apply more solder than needed.

Always pre-tin components before soldering, especially stranded wire.

Keep your soldering iron clean, and have a damp sponge handy to wipe off the tip oxidation. A clean iron promotes good heat transfer.