Excellent soldering video

[Skyhooker]

I found this a couple weeks ago, and suddenly the reason my previous soldering jobs (for my own computers) didn't come out looking so pretty (and, I'm sure, with poor contact) became clear. And just in time for my first laptop power jack repair, too! Thanks to this vid, the repair went extremely well, worked first time, looks beautiful, and I'm sure is stronger than straight out of the factory. I hope you find it useful:

Curious Inventor Guides: How To Solder

(sorry, I first posted this in Hardware and realized my mistake - going now to delete it there)

 

[NYJimbo]

Never forget that youtube is a great source for all things computer.

Go there and do all kinds of searches on "soldering", "desoldering", "bga rework" and so on.

 

[Cue]

Thank you for the link.
I'm a TOTAL novice to this.

But when I grow up (not to be taken literally, I plan never to grow up ) I would like to do it nice like that.
Not start out bad and learn from my mistakes.

 

[nj_computer_repair]

Great video! I saw it a couple months ago.

Thanks for the refresher course!

 

[Rider]

I found this a couple weeks ago, and suddenly the reason my previous soldering jobs (for my own computers) didn't come out looking so pretty (and, I'm sure, with poor contact) became clear. And just in time for my first laptop power jack repair, too! Thanks to this vid, the repair went extremely well, worked first time, looks beautiful, and I'm sure is stronger than straight out of the factory. I hope you find it useful:

Curious Inventor Guides: How To Solder

(sorry, I first posted this in Hardware and realized my mistake - going now to delete it there)

Excellent video. I wish I had that when I was teaching soldering a few years ago. I love how he illistrates why it's important to apply the solder to the component rather than the iron. That is the most common mistake.

The only part I don't totally agree with is when he says not to trim the component after the soldering. Yes, it's a risk that you may damage the joint if you're not carefull trimming but it's almost always nessecary to trim afterwards. Otherwise you end up with too much of the lead protruding from the surface which can make contact with another surface and cause a short.

Good find.

Rider

 

[Skyhooker]

Thanks, glad to help, especially after being away from here for so long!

I'd seen other soldering videos before, but the real "Ah-ha!" moment for me in this one is where he shows and explains the importance of the iron making contact with both the part and the pad on the circuit board at the same time, and then adding a small drop of solder as a heat bridge. Those two things made all the difference, and suddenly I was actually flowing solder and making a metallurgical bond, not just trying in vain to push it into the joint.

Anyway, I'm glad this was helpful!


Sky

 

[Rider]

Thanks, glad to help, especially after being away from here for so long!

I'd seen other soldering videos before, but the real "Ah-ha!" moment for me in this one is where he shows and explains the importance of the iron making contact with both the part and the pad on the circuit board at the same time, and then adding a small drop of solder as a heat bridge. Those two things made all the difference, and suddenly I was actually flowing solder and making a metallurgical bond, not just trying in vain to push it into the joint.

Anyway, I'm glad this was helpful!


Sky

People don't realize it's important to heat the components to be soldered to apply the solder. He mentions flux but it was misleading showing the flux core solder. True, there is flux core solder but you still need more flux to do the job properly. Flux is messy but it makes the job so much easier and reliable. Use plenty of flux. My preference is paste flux, it's easier to apply IMO.

Rider

 

[NYJimbo]

People don't realize it's important to heat the components to be soldered to apply the solder. He mentions flux but it was misleading showing the flux core solder. True, there is flux core solder but you still need more flux to do the job properly. Flux is messy but it makes the job so much easier and reliable. Use plenty of flux. My preference is paste flux, it's easier to apply IMO.

Rider

I would never go back to soldering without added flux. The stuff just makes lead fall in love with what ever metal it comes in contact with.

 

[JosephLeo]

I might not be a chemical expert, but I would still avoid using lead in solder even though it's "safe". It's more like "safe-enough" which is never enough when dealing with lead.

That's why all my solder is RoHS free.