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Post by Chris on Jan 19, 2015 8:57:30 GMT
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Post by Chris on Jan 19, 2015 9:02:17 GMT
Not the best but £4 on gumtree!! Thinking I can improve the ends with a grinder to make them a wee bit more precise.  |
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Post by MartinT on Jan 19, 2015 9:07:22 GMT
Ok, I'm wincing!
You need to clean the components before soldering. Are you using multicore electronic solder, including flux? It looks like the flux isn't cleaning the contacts and encouraging solder flow. Use heatshrink sleeving to finish off nicely.
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Post by Chris on Jan 19, 2015 9:38:57 GMT
Heartless. Utterly heartless.  All the components were all old stuff just lying about coz I knew I'd arse them all!! It's a silver solder used and I think I clipped the plastic coating a couple of times that didn't help!! Please realise as well none of these are getting used for anything - just practice! |
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Post by Stratmangler on Jan 19, 2015 9:41:31 GMT
Urghhh!!! That's not a pretty sight!! Those soldering guns are not ideal. Have you got a bin to store it in until the local council do you a favour and take the contents away? The bit about flux is seconded - if you're not using multicore solder you need to get a tin of flux. You could do a lot worse for an iron (you have done) than getting something like the Antex iron here www.maplin.co.uk/p/antex-30w-soldering-iron-includes-stand-n11by |
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Post by Chris on Jan 19, 2015 9:49:34 GMT
Yeah a better one is on the cards! Had a look at Maplins ones yesterday. Not getting one just now as I'm due away on Wednesday so just got that crap one to see if I even stood a chance...guess not!!
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Post by John on Jan 19, 2015 10:04:50 GMT
At least you having a go Chris
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Post by Chris on Jan 19, 2015 10:09:11 GMT
Waaayyy!! Hooray for John! You're my new favourite here now John.  |
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Post by MartinT on Jan 19, 2015 10:47:11 GMT
Ok, ditch the silver solder as it may be for plumbing or some other purpose? It must be multicore, i.e. have the flux in it. Sorry for the criticism, it's a good effort and everyone starts badly with soldering  |
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Post by tony on Jan 19, 2015 12:16:30 GMT
My soldering is equally bad....watched you tube videos, helped a bit but not much! As John said, it good you gave it a go- everyone has got to start somewhere. Dare say with a bit of practice you could be knocking up ICs at a fraction of the cost to buying them and having a bit of low cot fun trying cables and plugs. As you improve it would be good if you pass on your knowledge to help out others like myself that are starting out.
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Post by ChrisB on Jan 19, 2015 14:39:45 GMT
Good effort for a first try, I reckon, Chris.
With those crimp connectors, you have a good chance to make a sound connection before you start to solder - squeeze the bejeezus out of them first!
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Post by zippy on Jan 19, 2015 14:56:30 GMT
One of the big problems with soldering is keeping the darn wires still - especially if you're soldering 2 together ! I thoroughly recommend you get a 'helping hands' vice e.g. link |
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Post by Sovereign on Jan 19, 2015 15:33:13 GMT
Good effort Chris!
Top tip, solder each item before you solder them together i.e.. If soldering the silver speaker wire to the spades, clean the end of the iron with a damp cloth, put solder on the end of your iron solder the bare copper wire on its own, solder the spade on its own. When you have done this, then solder them together as normal, you will probably find this really helps things. By the looks of the pictures you might not be getting the components hot enough so the solder is not able to flow.
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Post by Eduardo Wobblechops on Jan 19, 2015 15:52:10 GMT
Well done for having a go mate, a bit of practice and you'll be an old hand. Good advice to put a bit of solder on each part before soldering together, it helps with heat transfer in the final joint.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 19, 2015 16:01:38 GMT
Good effort Chris! Top tip, solder each item before you solder them together i.e.. If soldering the silver speaker wire to the spades, clean the end of the iron with a damp cloth, put solder on the end of your iron solder the bare copper wire on its own, solder the spade on its own. When you have done this, then solder them together as normal, you will probably find this really helps things. By the looks of the pictures you might not be getting the components hot enough so the solder is not able to flow. I've been soldering for 40-odd years (early start at age 16), and even I stuff it up sometimes, with air rapidly turning blue. The distinctly non-recommended trick when trying to solder two wires, assuming one wire is roughly in fixed position is to hold other wire in one hand, soldering iron in the other and solder held in teeth. I do it, which is not to say you should. The space industry require that when two wires are spliced in that way, that they should first be lashed together with a length of fine wire to hold them in mechanical registration before soldering. Heatshrink sleeving has to be transparent - every joint is 100% inspected and signed off, and transparent heatshrink allows that to be done. Oh - and don't ever use lead-free solder. It has a high melting point and always produces grainy looking joints. Use good old fashioned 60/40 tin/lead (One audio manufacturer I know has lead-free on the bench for when health and safety visit, but actually use regular 60/40 for manufacture). Or for something even nicer to use 36%tin, 42% lead, 2%silver. All multicore fluxed, and available from Farnell/RS/Rapid etc. No solder is cheap, BTW And everyone is correct - practice is absolutely the best way to learn to solder. |
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Post by Chris on Jan 19, 2015 17:32:32 GMT
Cheers lads! It's all good crack! Think you all realise I'm in it for the laugh!!  Keep you all updated with my progress.  |
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Post by jazzbones on Jan 20, 2015 15:33:13 GMT
I get my wife to do all my soldering as in her early work life she was trained to work on circuit boards and the like. She still has the touch and has taught me how but I still get her to do all my soldering for me... its that delicate touch I think.
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All the components were all old stuff just lying about coz I knew I'd arse them all!! It's a silver solder used and I think I clipped the plastic coating a couple of times that didn't help!! Please realise as well none of these are getting used for anything - just practice!
