Getting Started

Appendix 2: Soldering Tutor

ow go and scrounge some broken circuit board

ial

s from a dumpster somewhere.

and

is

e.

to

s a

older. This isn’t rocket science; you should be an expert in a couple of

l that we won’t be using any surface mount parts. That

N

You might have to bust open some discarded electronic device, the older
cheaper the better. Now look at those solder joins. That’s what a good join
supposed to look like. It looks like the solder melted, adhered, and slumped
around whatever it is on. Now use the wick to clean off some joins, and then try
to resolder them. Heat the join area and put the solder to it. Don’t heat the solder
and stick it to the join. Don’t take too long, get it on and get the tip away. ‘Too
long’ is subjective, just get the join soldered as quickly as possible. Piece of cak
If your join is bulbous or looks like it is sitting on the join and didn’t slump in
it, it is a bad solder. If it looks dull and crinkly rather than smooth and shiny, it i
bad s
minutes. And be thankfu
ain’t easy to do with a cheap iron.