Sludgenutz
New member
Bookmark this link if you have an interest in soldering guitar components, Do-It-Yourself stompboxes, or even simple cap/pot changes!
http://www.curiousinventor.com/guides/How_To_Solder
Even though soldering guitar components/amp components are considered of low importance on the technology scale (compared to wiring an F-22 Raptor)...knowing the basics, and never letting yourself get sloppy is important! It does not matter whether you are working on a Daisy Rock for your niece, or a guitar for Slash/Page/whomever.
A single image is worth 1,000 words. Take a look at the first video from the link above. At 2:52, is a look at the tip of the biggest piece of crap solder iron...sold by the old-ass perma-chumps at Radio Shack! They should be ashamed. I bought a silly $22 dual heat range "solder station" from Rat Shack, and the tip was toasted/oxidized junk after 6 hours of heat time! I am a tech by trade, so this really gets under my skin. I was a dork!
Weller (USA) and Hakko (Japan) are the best of the available brands in the US for regular consumers/end users.
What it comes down to is...practicing with solid methods, and using tools that are up to the task every time. The reason why I am posting this thread in the first place is that I compromised my own skills at my own home for too long! :dunce: I finally got a used Hakko 936 off ebay for $50. It will outlast a case of Rat Shack garbage.
BTW, here is Weller blog on solder tip construction,. It is something Rat Shack doesn't believe in (they don't want your money, even at a higher price point!):
http://weller.blog.com/
Nevertheless, concentrate on your skills, and NEVER put up with a single bad solder joint! :bigthumb:
http://www.curiousinventor.com/guides/How_To_Solder
Even though soldering guitar components/amp components are considered of low importance on the technology scale (compared to wiring an F-22 Raptor)...knowing the basics, and never letting yourself get sloppy is important! It does not matter whether you are working on a Daisy Rock for your niece, or a guitar for Slash/Page/whomever.
A single image is worth 1,000 words. Take a look at the first video from the link above. At 2:52, is a look at the tip of the biggest piece of crap solder iron...sold by the old-ass perma-chumps at Radio Shack! They should be ashamed. I bought a silly $22 dual heat range "solder station" from Rat Shack, and the tip was toasted/oxidized junk after 6 hours of heat time! I am a tech by trade, so this really gets under my skin. I was a dork!
Weller (USA) and Hakko (Japan) are the best of the available brands in the US for regular consumers/end users.
What it comes down to is...practicing with solid methods, and using tools that are up to the task every time. The reason why I am posting this thread in the first place is that I compromised my own skills at my own home for too long! :dunce: I finally got a used Hakko 936 off ebay for $50. It will outlast a case of Rat Shack garbage.
BTW, here is Weller blog on solder tip construction,. It is something Rat Shack doesn't believe in (they don't want your money, even at a higher price point!):
http://weller.blog.com/
Nevertheless, concentrate on your skills, and NEVER put up with a single bad solder joint! :bigthumb:
