I am officially a moron (soldering screwup)

BobWestbrook · #1 05-29-2010, 10:20 PM

I, the moron, somehow with the soldering iron, made a nice little divot on the back of a bass I just spent many hours refinishing with a gorgeous lacquer finish. I didn't even see it happen.

Ah, I can only laugh.

Part of the problem is my underpowered "hobby" soldering iron, which is unceremoniously going in the trash with a few choice words.

Anyone have any recommendation for the best soldering tools?

Bassman Ski · #2 05-29-2010, 10:33 PM

Ugh... I am so sorry to hear that... Nothing like watching your hard work get messed up and it is worse when we do it to ourselves.

As far as soldering irons, I have a few of them. I have the "gun" type that I got from Sears. Yes, it is bulky but it gets the job done fast and gets some nice high heat. I also have a few of the "pen" type soldering irons for the small work.

Keep a good "solder sucker" to clean up the work and remove old solder you cook off

Keep a wire brush to keep the tips clean at all times.

Hope that is the answer you were looking for.

Mr.Bassie720 · #3 05-29-2010, 10:34 PM

Stuff happens brother. Sounds like you've got a healthy attitude about the mishap

paganjack · #4 05-29-2010, 10:40 PM

Hey, at least it's on the back of the bass.

Make sure you get a soldering iron with a stand, then this won't happen again!

"T" · #5 05-29-2010, 10:48 PM

In some American Indian cultures, a deliberate mistake is placed in any artwork or craft because only a God can be perfect.

M0ses · #6 05-29-2010, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by "T"

deliberate mistake

I can't even tell you how stupid and hypocritical I think that is.

**line6man** · #7 05-29-2010, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassman Ski

As far as soldering irons, I have a few of them. I have the "gun" type that I got from Sears. Yes, it is bulky but it gets the job done fast and gets some nice high heat.

You shouldn't be using solder guns for wiring up a bass.
Way too damn hot for small electronics work like this.

Thunder Pulse · #8 05-30-2010, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobWestbrook

Anyone have any recommendation for the best soldering tools?

The Hakko 936 has been almost unanimously recommended.

bassbenj · #9 05-30-2010, 01:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thunder Pulse

The Hakko 936 has been almost unanimously recommended.

Yes. And I join with the recommendation of a temperature controlled iron. I actually have a Radio Shack unit which is very similar to above and sold for the same price, but I got it on sale somewhat cheaper. I'm not sure if they still sell them.

The key is temp controlled plus a stand to park the iron. The stand tends to keep it away from bass finishes, although I can guarantee from experience that you still can get damage if you aren't careful and start waving things around!

The best feature of temp-controlled irons is the rapid heat-up cycle. This saves lots of frustration and keeps you from trying to force soldering with a too cold iron. Also temp-control helps prevent damage from over-heating sensitive parts.

A nice iron like the Hakko 936 along with a wet sponge can turn any "soldering moron" into an expert in short order.

pedulla-2007 · #10 05-30-2010, 02:54 AM

Don't be so hard on your self, as my luck runs about as good as yours. LOL, That is why I always try to pick hard luck songs to sing when I play in my blues gig. ( Born under a bad sign, Further on up the road, Talkin' in your sleep, etc. I would not know how to act if there was'nt some crisis in my life. Get ready for your next mistake, and pray that it is not a big one. Good luck!

mongo2 · #11 05-30-2010, 04:56 AM

Well, at least now you can practice your spot touch-up skills.

blockinlay · #12 05-30-2010, 05:41 AM

The divit's on the back, who's going to see it except you, it gives it character, and a reminder of what not to do. I usually protect the body with newspaper or cardboard taped with masking tape, then only expose the control cavety. If your solder iron is really too weak, I would just get another basic solder pen, like a Weller from any hardware store. You really don't need much more than that. A stand for it is nice to have.

Bassman Ski · #13 05-30-2010, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by line6man

You shouldn't be using solder guns for wiring up a bass.
Way too damn hot for small electronics work like this.

My answer was a "general" answer as to what I own and for what job I use it for (one that calls for 'high heat') Of course I would never use a gun on electronics, that would be silly and destructive at best. If you are going to solder a wire on the back of a pot, being a large flat surface, you are better with a quick pulse heat with a gun rather than sit on the back of the pot for 5 minutes waiting for a good flow. Nothing bugs me more than opening up the back of a guitar and seeing solder bead balls all over the place because someone cant take the time to do the job right.

But YES you are right and a good warning to those new to it, the guns are way too hot for electronic work.

Bassman Ski · #14 05-30-2010, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by "T"

In some American Indian cultures, a deliberate mistake is placed in any artwork or craft because only a God can be perfect.

Interesting... did not know this. Thanks!

BobWestbrook · #15 05-30-2010, 06:54 PM

Thanks for the tips, folks!

Yeah, maybe I'll write a blues song about it.

Soldering Gun Blues?
Marred Finish Blues?

danomite64 · #16 05-30-2010, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thunder Pulse

The Hakko 936 has been almost unanimously recommended.

That makes sense to me. I've had a 926 for years, after getting a job at a place that used them. Once I tried one out, I threw out my assortment of soldering irons and guns. Compared to the 926, they all sucked. A few months back the on/off switch died, and I borrowed an iron at my local guitar store to fix it, and was again reminded how crappy regular irons are. I bought a 936 to fix it right; now I think I'll lend my friend at the shop my 926, and rock his world........

grisezd · #17 05-30-2010, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M0ses

I can't even tell you how stupid and hypocritical I think that is.

Sounded that way to me the first time I heard it, then I understood that it's a sort of acknowlegement that nothing we humans do can be truly perfect. I understand this shows up in cultures all over the world.

Not bad defense of religious practice for an atheist, eh?

Now back to the regularly scheduled thread.

blendermassacre · #18 05-30-2010, 08:10 PM

accidentally soldering the back of a bass is better than accidentally soldering yourself.

**line6man** · #19 05-30-2010, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blendermassacre

accidentally soldering the back of a bass is better than accidentally soldering yourself.

Not really.

If you accidentally burn yourself with the soldering iron, you will heal up and be fine.

If you burn the bass, that burn will not go away!

Bandeira · #20 05-30-2010, 08:55 PM

It's good that we are talking about soldering burns...

I do have a welding burn that the scar won't go away...

I look at it and it reminds me to put gloves when tig welding....