World Domination Part One - Learn to solder

[PJPro]

 

[gpi]

Watching those videos has made me realise I was doing it completely wrong. No wonder I had trouble. Now I can't get me tip clean.

 

[Diamond Joe]

gpi:Watching those videos has made me realise I was doing it completely wrong. No wonder I had trouble. Now I can't get me tip clean.

You can buy a little tin of tip cleaner from a well known high street electronics specialist shop - you know the one, sounds like a holiday camp!

It is really important to keep your tip clean. If you have variable temperature control, don't use too high a temperature, that'll make keeping the tip clean much harder.

 

[daveh75]

You can say it you know! MAPLIN
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=3929

 

[Diamond Joe]

daveh75:
You can say it you know! MAPLIN

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=3929

Have to admit that I'm never quite sure what you can and can't mention on here.

 

[idc]

I am going to get this to shove my tip into.......

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SOLDERING-TIP-CLEANER-BALL-NO-NEED-FOR-WATER-NEW_W0QQitemZ220402493616QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM?hash=item33510328b0#ht_1079wt_939

I am defintely getting better at tinning, I now have a few where you see the cable twist and it is all shiney. I am also going to get a helping hand stand with magnifying glass. Both can be had off ebay for under ten pounds.

 

[PJPro]

idc:
I am going to get this to shove my tip into.......

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SOLDERING-TIP-CLEANER-BALL-NO-NEED-FOR-WATER-NEW_W0QQitemZ220402493616QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM?hash=item33510328b0#ht_1079wt_939

I am defintely getting better at tinning, I now have a few where you see the cable twist and it is all shiney. I am also going to get a helping hand stand with magnifying glass. Both can be had off ebay for under ten pounds.

Maplins do helping hands for around £9.

You'll find that you may melt the insulation on the wire when heating up the conductor. The solution is to use wire with a teflon coating...or heat shrink.

 

[idc]

My soldering station is complete. Nothing has cost more than £10. The brilliant wire stripper cost £2 and makes quick work of all wires. The tip cleaner means I do not lose heat when cleaning the tip on a sponge. The helping hands is ideal for gripping phonos and other metal but it crushes cable and bites through the insulation.