how's my soldering work?

[eric22rr]

I posted a few days ago about soldering. Well, I got around to putting the '59 (neck) into my Gibson LP Studio (a lefty, in case anyone is confused by the photos). I just wanted to open it up to comments on my soldering work. I think it's pretty sloppy, but it's holding mechanically, and sounds great. I was suprised at how much easier it is to solder PCBs as opposed to bigger parts like these!

http://photobucket.com/albums/f170/eric22rr/

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: how's my soldering work?

Except for the top and bottom, all the choices appear to be the same.

 

[wildstar]

Re: how's my soldering work?

Looks better than mine, so I gotta say: VERY GOOD!!!!!!

Heh.

 

[JacksonMIA]

Re: how's my soldering work?

Looks pretty good. I'm glad you included a poll, even if the options are the same.

 

[theodie]

Re: how's my soldering work?

Get a 40w iron to give it some more heat so the solder will flow alot better. Thats the only problem I see. The solder needs to flow better.

 

[XSSIVE]

Re: how's my soldering work?

same as odie said...it doesn't look like your iron is hot enough. the solder seems a bit clumpy...but it should work and hold.

-Mike

 

[greco]

Re: how's my soldering work?

I agree ++with the above comments from "theodie" and "xssive"

A good joint ( solder ....that is) should be more smooth and should shine.

Being that you are happy with the results and the guitar is working, you might just want to let it go at that.

I'm hoping to start to build my own small tube amp and I really want my soldering/wiring to be as perfect and neat/tidy respectively as I can manage.

You have to decide how much more time and energy you want to put into this.

Someone is likely to call me on the perfectionist attitude, but I do work on other people's guitars and they want it to be of a certain quality.

At least you took on the challenge and learned some new skills.

Did you enjoy doing this type of electronics/working on your guitar ?

It can be somewhat "addictve" after a while when you see how certain changes can alter the tone, control, etc.

Cheers

Dave

 

[Akrin]

Re: how's my soldering work?

Except for the top and bottom, all the choices appear to be the same.

I think I'm the only one that 'got' the poll. :laugh2:

 

[kallsop]

Re: how's my soldering work?

I say - quite bad but functional. Definitely need more Watts in the iron, or a temperature controlled iron, or leave the iron on the pot body for more time. The solder will become a thin liquid, that's when you know it's hot enough. The pot bodies are robust and will take a lot of heat without damage. Be more careful with the 3 terminals though, too much prolonged heat there can cause damage.

I've taken soldering classes for certification to solder on military electronics. That was about 30 year ago, but you never forget One trick is to put the iron on the pot, then apply solder very slowly until it flows easily into the pot body, then add the wire. The hot solder forms a better thermal contact to the pot body than the iron alone and you'll get the most out of an underpowered iron.

 

[greco]

Re: how's my soldering work?

eric22rr

I didn't want to seem critical in my response. Sorry if it came across like that.

My initial soldering attempts looked much worse than your pics !!! My first attempts looked like dried bubblegum and volcanic rock

Kallsop is making a good point. Making a small liquid solder "puddle" first on the back of the pot will give you better results. Also , a variable wattage/temperature iron is fantastic if you intend to do a fair amount of soldering. I bought a hobby style one for about $60.00 USD, but I think I paid too much (typical in Canada). I'm sure you could get it for less. Weller makes a variety of decent irons with quality tips that can be replaced (and they have a varity of styles of tips to select from). Maybe you don't want to get into that level of expense.

The first time you burn yourself, you will be fully initiated.

Dave

 

[Sludgenutz]

Re: how's my soldering work?

Your work is completely serviceable for the job. I do see a general lack of excess flux that can help make a shiny solder joint...along with proper heat.

There are finer points to soldering, and one of these is the addition of a brush on rosin flux (like a nail polish brush bottle). I do not rely on the tiny amount of flux rolled into the core of rosin. This amount is barely adeaquate for PC boards, and is not reliable enough for larger solder joints where the flux "cooks off" before the work is done.

Solder residue may be removed with various products...I would not recommend sprays in a control cavity. I like 100% alcohol on a swab.

Flux pens, and flux paste are available too.

 

[greco]

Re: how's my soldering work?

There are finer points to soldering, and one of these is the addition of a brush on rosin flux (like a nail polish brush bottle). I do not rely on the tiny amount of flux rolled into the core of rosin. This amount is barely adeaquate for PC boards, and is not reliable enough for larger solder joints where the flux "cooks off" before the work is done.

I like 100% alcohol on a swab.

Flux pens, and flux paste are available too.

Thanks for your comments!

I've read about brush on flux/paste and wondered if it would help to do a better job. Didn't know about the pens.

I use alcohol on a swab also. Works great.
Do you clean the flux off because of the potential for future corrosion? (This is the reason I was given.)

Dave

 

[Sludgenutz]

Re: how's my soldering work?

Do you clean the flux off because of the potential for future corrosion? (This is the reason I was given.)

Dave

Yes.

Flux pens are better for flat PC boards. Paste will cling. I like brush-on.

 

[eric22rr]

Re: how's my soldering work?

I agree ++with the above comments from "theodie" and "xssive"

A good joint ( solder ....that is) should be more smooth and should shine.

Being that you are happy with the results and the guitar is working, you might just want to let it go at that.

I'm hoping to start to build my own small tube amp and I really want my soldering/wiring to be as perfect and neat/tidy respectively as I can manage.

You have to decide how much more time and energy you want to put into this.

Someone is likely to call me on the perfectionist attitude, but I do work on other people's guitars and they want it to be of a certain quality.

At least you took on the challenge and learned some new skills.

Did you enjoy doing this type of electronics/working on your guitar ?

It can be somewhat "addictve" after a while when you see how certain changes can alter the tone, control, etc.

Cheers

Dave

Yes, I loved it! I had a great time! I practiced some on an old pot to begin with, and it was much better. I think the quality of my soldering iron tip got really bad by then. Also, I think it was a bit loose. I need to work on better preserving my soldering tip.

I want to get my hands on as many old pots as i can to practice on! It is VERY adicting, and liberating too.

 

[eric22rr]

Re: how's my soldering work?

yeah, sorry everyone for messing up the poll. I should have put "on a scale of 1 to 10... and then put 1, 2, 3, etc. I looked at it afterwards and that, "what was i thinking?! ahh!" but i couldn't go back and edit it.

 

[BowerR64]

Re: how's my soldering work?

Thats a nice camera for a point and shoot. Amazing out good the closeups are.

 

[Alvin Lee Fan]

Re: how's my soldering work?

The soldering looks ok. It looks like the lack of a shiny solder could also be because you wire-brushed to clean up afterwards? I do the same thing, it takes my once shiny joints and gives them a dull look, but they're good and solid.

How did you find soldering the braided wire? I have to do a Gibson pickup job soon and It'll be my first time dealing with a braided wire.

While you're in the soldering mood, take the tone cap connections on your vol pots and move them from where they are now over to the middle lug. That's the vaunted '50s mod. You thinkyour guitar sounds great now, try that out!

 

[sosomething]

Re: how's my soldering work?

Better than mine, but not great. You have the same problem as me - a crap soldering iron.

 

[greco]

Re: how's my soldering work?

Yes, I loved it! I had a great time! I practiced some on an old pot to begin with, and it was much better. I think the quality of my soldering iron tip got really bad by then. Also, I think it was a bit loose. I need to work on better preserving my soldering tip.

I want to get my hands on as many old pots as i can to practice on! It is VERY adicting, and liberating too.

Glad you enjoyed the process. Great pics by the way !

If you intend to do more of this type of work, you should consider buying a better iron. IMHO

I'm glad that you posted this. (Both times)
I've learned a lot.

Soldering is a fundamental and somewhat "critical" skill that most of us can usually improve on.

Let me know if there is a shortage of old/dead pots in Tucson , I'll send some.

:beerchug:

Dave

 

[Fusion1]

Re: how's my soldering work?

You think soldering is addicting now? Try this iron and you won't look back. Weller WES-50 now called the WES-51. I think I saw the same iron on MJ's workstation in the custom shop that she uses.