A quick lesson on soldering anyone?

[Triclops]

I did a search,and couldn't find any helpfull info,I want to install my new Bartolini preamp,and pickups this week,and don't want to take it in.can I get a quick schooling? I only have wsolder the jack,battery clip,and hot and ground wires.

[tadawson]

Use about a 20 watt iron (NOT a gun - they will f-up pretty much anything electronic - waaaaay to big!) and heat the part (wire, etc) and then touch the solder TO THE PART, NOT THE IRON! If it won't melt, it's not hot enough yet. When it does melt, it should flow fully into the joint, and then you remove the solder, and then the iron. When cool, the joint should be shiny - if it isn't, then it wasn't hot enough, and the solder has basically crystalized - reheat it.

And wipe the crud off the tip of your iron on a damp sponge periodically - it should be shiny. After you clean it, put a dab of solder on the iron tip ("tinning" it) - a dirty iron won't transfer heat.

And lastly, try to be as quick as you can - too much heat can damage parts, while too little gives poor connections.

Oh, and when joining wires, twist them together first. Solder is an electrical, and not a mechanical connection. There needs to be a mechanical connection before you solder . . .

- Tim

[Triclops]

Thanx tim!

[Son of Magni]

Also, though maybe this is obvious, practice first on some spare wire and/or parts.

[Triclops]

I got er installed,thanx!

[permagrin]

http://www.kingbass.com/soldering101.html

[Hambone]

Originally Posted by tadawson

Use about a 20 watt iron (NOT a gun - they will f-up pretty much anything electronic - waaaaay to big!) and heat the part (wire, etc) and then touch the solder TO THE PART, NOT THE IRON! If it won't melt, it's not hot enough yet. When it does melt, it should flow fully into the joint, and then you remove the solder, and then the iron. When cool, the joint should be shiny - if it isn't, then it wasn't hot enough, and the solder has basically crystalized - reheat it.

And wipe the crud off the tip of your iron on a damp sponge periodically - it should be shiny. After you clean it, put a dab of solder on the iron tip ("tinning" it) - a dirty iron won't transfer heat.

And lastly, try to be as quick as you can - too much heat can damage parts, while too little gives poor connections.

Oh, and when joining wires, twist them together first. Solder is an electrical, and not a mechanical connection. There needs to be a mechanical connection before you solder . . .

- Tim

Good advice.

There is another school of thought regarding the merits of high wattage vs low wattage irons. It boils down to learning a precise technique so that you can harness the efficiency of the very hot irons like my own Weller 100/140 watt gun. This model puts heat in quicker but it's your technique that prevents too much heat from invading the part. You get on and off the work in no more than a second and it will achieve a clean, strong joint. In a specific task to bass maintenance like soldering a pot, my Weller gun makes a solder pool like a moonlit night, and in less than 2 seconds. The smaller wattage guns loose too much of their heat to the casing to be of much use. There's more practice needed to do smaller components but it's pretty easy.

I learned my technique from my father - a lifelong electronics fool and a retired TID (Technician in Depth) for the FAA specilaizing in radar and radio communications. His home workshop looked like a scene from the nursery in Alien with all of the stuff hanging around from it's walls and ceiling. The smell of rosin was like incense in our house.