Soldering DVD?

[ronlitz]

Can anyone recommend some sort of instructional video for soldering guitar electronics? I'm mystified by the beatiful soldering I see on the stock electronics with the factory solder jobs on some of my basses, and I'd love to be able to do a job like that myself. For example - how do they get a wire hot enough to melt solder, without melting the insulation? Every time I do it, the insulation melts at least a little bit. I've read many posts and articles on soldering, but that's just not the same as seeing someone do it correctly. Any help?

 

[ErebusBass]

A DVD will never replace practice. If you can solder one thing, you can solder anything. Get yourself some wires and some junk parts and go nuts.

I had a heap of broken guitar cables to help get me started. Then I had a heap of broken guitars.

There is no substitute for practice.

 

[jasonbraatz]

It's not a DVD but this Learn to Solder bundle from Make Magazine would do the trick for you.

 

[line6man]

Soldering is really easy once you get the hang of it.
I am guessing that since you want a DVD, you want step by step visual aid rather than just a book or something. Do you have any friends who know how to solder? Perhaps you can have someone who knows how to solder teach you?

FWIW, if you are melting the insulation on the wire, you are either using an iron too powerful for the job, or holding it on the wire too long and getting it too hot.

 

[ronlitz]

Here is a pretty good soldering video I found on youtube - there are many more:



I think one thing to keep in mind is that lead-free solder is harder to work with.

 

[capnsandwich]

This is some good info here. Subscribed.

 

[ronlitz]

A DVD will never replace practice. If you can solder one thing, you can solder anything. Get yourself some wires and some junk parts and go nuts.

I had a heap of broken guitar cables to help get me started. Then I had a heap of broken guitars.

There is no substitute for practice.

I agree that practice is important - but you first have to have proper techniques in order to practice them. I've been soldering (well, attemping anyway) for years, and I'm still terrible - so I need something more than practice!

 

[Jazzdogg]

To keep solder from traveling up a wire and minimizing melting I clamp a pair of locking hemostats on the wire to act as a heat sink.

 

[Milldawg]

I found an awesome DVD by a guy named Terry Downs over on another forum. It completely changed (or FIXED) how I think about and approach soldering.

Do a google search on Terry Downs Music