Can anybody offer any soldering tips?

[That90'sGuy]

I hope there are other people on this forum like me. I'm trying to do a good job soldering, just things don't seem to work right.

I try and "tin" everything, but I end up with globs of solder on my floor, on my desk...everywhere, but the fraggin' joint. The tip always gets black and I can't get it to get hot enough to melt the solder so I have to melt solder from the side.

All in all, my soldering skills s**k. Can anybody give me any tips?

I really want to install the new pickups myself. I felt awful paying somebody to do the job on my last guitar when I feel I should have been able to do it myself. It's kinda embarassing playing for 7-8 years and not being able to solder a few parts.

Any tips on how to make good connections? I've tried both rosin core solder and I'm also trying this new lead free silver bearing solder. I just can't figure this out and it gets frustrating when I glob it somewhere because I want the soldering job to look good and definitely sound good (poor soldering causes extra hum... that much I know).

 

[\m/(00)\m/]

Re: Can anybody offer any soldering tips?

yeah, dont touch the tip. your skin turns white!! and it hurts like hell!!

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: Can anybody offer any soldering tips?

Lol, I haven't done that quite yet :laugh2:

I really can't figure out for the life of me how to solder anything.

I guess nothing is better than singeing my skin, huh ?

 

[Curly]

Re: Can anybody offer any soldering tips?

there are some soldering tips here

see chapter 2 about halfway down

and, practice

 

[Boston Joe]

Re: Can anybody offer any soldering tips?

This link looks pretty good.

http://www.hillinstruments.com/soldering_tips.htm

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: Can anybody offer any soldering tips?

Thanks guys! Those links were helpful. I never realized when tinning a soldering tip end, solder has to be applied and then wiped off with a sponge. I'm going to have to try this again. Preferably with a new tip

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: Can anybody offer any soldering tips?

Wow. I finally figured it all out. :dance:

Boston Joe's link showed me the way. Learning how to properly tin the iron solved all my problems. Tinning the ends of the wires, making a shallow pool on the pot and everything was a sinch. Making a hard connection was a breeze, I'm sure with time I'll get even better. Right now I'm just psyched that it's working and I'm able to do it rather clean

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Can anybody offer any soldering tips?

Great man, then you can come to Scandinavia on soldering vacation, we have tons of stuff that needs to get out of the door here
You will solder soo much that the routine will sit with you the next 20 years...hehe

 

[kmcguitars]

Re: Can anybody offer any soldering tips?

That was a pretty good link on soldering. i noticed they didn't mention
anything about useing Flux? Right or Wrong that's how I was taught ?
A little bit of Flux goes a long way. When I solder a pot I scuff it like
mentioned and than I put a tiny bit of Flux on the area. Works like a
charm and make the job go easier. I understand Flux may be corrosive
and shoud be used sparinly. But IMHO you need it to maintain your
soldering tip and for desoldering w/t a braid.

 

[Guitarist]

Re: Can anybody offer any soldering tips?

That was a very cool and helpful link Boston Joe....thanks! :fing2:

Chris - glad you got it down, my friend!

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: Can anybody offer any soldering tips?

Great man, then you can come to Scandinavia on soldering vacation, we have tons of stuff that needs to get out of the door here
You will solder soo much that the routine will sit with you the next 20 years...hehe

Haha... "soldering vacation"... sounds like a trip :laugh2:

My poor beatup Epi is calling me in the corner for some new electronics in her

I only soldered in two single coils. I still have the humbucker to do, so away I go :22: :burnout:

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Can anybody offer any soldering tips?

Ah new pickups...always a good thing...
Hehe yeah but here you can use good irons with variable temps and if you mess up, we have a desoldergun

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: Can anybody offer any soldering tips?

Does a $20 Radio Shack iron with variable 20/40watts count?

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Can anybody offer any soldering tips?

:laugh2:Would not last long here