Soldering Questions

[ebonalley]

I'm doing my first shielding job and don't know how to solder. Just wondering if you heat up the copper to a point that the solder melts on it or do you just drip the melted solder directly onto the joint point? Thanks

[reedo35]

The solder should flow onto the heated copper. Dripping it onto the joint is absolutely the wrong way and will result in a lumpy "cold joint" that will not hold. There are actually some soldering tutorials on you tube. Here's one.

[MiniMoose234]

Thanks for that link, now I know why I failed so much when I tried soldering my P bass haha. Now I want to get a set so I can work on it.

[Hugh Jass]

Practice first. You have to be careful with how long you heat something. you should only have to contact the surface for a couple of seconds. Too long and you can melt circuit boards and wreck pots.

How do I know? I didn't practice the first time........

It's not that scary once you have done it a few times. Remember that a little solder goes a long way. a lot of people overdo it.

[ebonalley]

Thanks all, especially for link.

[GregDunn]

Yup, if the solder doesn't flow like liquid (it should be at that point!) then you're not going to get a good joint. Heating the surface quickly yet evenly, then feeding solder onto it, is the key to a good job of soldering.