Learn How to Solder - a How to Guide with Equipment Recommendations - Repair Your Game Consoles!

Summary

This video tutorial aims to demystify soldering, emphasizing its ease of learning despite initial intimidation. The host recommends starting with a basic 'fire stick' soldering iron or investing in a higher-quality Weller model for long-term use. Essential accessories include a wire braid cleaner, solder sucker, and side cutters. Safety tips are provided, highlighting the importance of ventilation and mask usage due to lead in solder. The video covers the basics of soldering, including using a breadboard for practice, changing soldering iron tips, and proper solder application. It also addresses common issues like bridging and removing solder, encouraging viewers to embrace soldering for its versatility in modifying and repairing electronics.

Takeaways

• 😀 Soldering is not as difficult as it seems and can be learned easily with practice.
• 🔧 For beginners, a cheap 'fire stick' soldering iron is a good starting point, but investing in a better-quality iron like Weller is recommended for long-term use.
• 💺 A stable stand is crucial for a soldering iron, with Weller's stand being highlighted for its quality.
• 🧰 Essential accessories for soldering include a wire braid cleaner, solder sucker, solder, side cutters, and solder braid.
• ⚠️ Lead in solder can be harmful, so it's important to work in a well-ventilated area and wear a mask to avoid inhaling fumes.
• 🔥 The soldering iron's tip is the key component that gets hot for soldering, with the chisel tip being particularly recommended for drag soldering.
• 🔌 Soldering involves melting solder onto metal contacts, and the process is quick and straightforward once the basics are mastered.
• 🛠️ Soldering wick is an essential tool for correcting mistakes by absorbing excess solder.
• 🔩 A prototype breadboard is a good practice surface for learning soldering without the risk of damaging valuable components.
• ⏰ High-quality soldering stations heat up quickly, which is beneficial for efficiency, especially when soldering frequently.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video script?

The main focus of the video script is to provide tips and tricks for learning how to solder, emphasizing that soldering is not as difficult as it may seem and offering guidance for beginners.

Why does the presenter recommend a more expensive soldering iron like the Weller over a cheaper 'fire stick'?

The presenter recommends a more expensive soldering iron like the Weller because it comes with a stable stand and better quality tips, which are beneficial for those planning to solder frequently and in the long term.

What are some essential accessories needed for soldering as mentioned in the script?

Essential accessories for soldering mentioned in the script include a wire braid cleaner, a solder sucker, a hot air rework station, solder, side cutters, and solder braid.

What is the importance of using a leaded solder and what precautions should be taken?

Leaded solder is recommended for most soldering tasks due to its effectiveness, but it contains lead which is toxic. Precautions include wearing a mask and working in a well-ventilated area to avoid inhaling solder fumes.

How does the presenter describe the process of changing soldering iron tips on the Weller soldering station?

The presenter describes changing tips on the Weller soldering station as quick and easy, requiring no more than five seconds, and can be done while the iron is hot due to its plastic handle.

What is solder wick and why is it necessary?

Solder wick is a copper braid used to remove excess solder and fix mistakes during soldering. It is necessary because solder loves to go to copper, and the wick absorbs the solder when heated, helping to clean up solder joints.

Why does the presenter suggest starting with a prototype breadboard when learning to solder?

The presenter suggests starting with a prototype breadboard because it is inexpensive and non-functional, allowing learners to practice soldering without the risk of damaging valuable components or projects.

What is the significance of the soldering iron's temperature and how does it affect the soldering process?

The soldering iron's temperature is significant because it determines how quickly the solder melts and how well it flows into the solder joints. A higher temperature iron heats up faster and is more efficient for soldering multiple joints in a short time.

How does the presenter demonstrate the removal of a soldered component like a capacitor?

The presenter demonstrates the removal of a soldered component by heating the solder until it is molten and then gently wiggling the component back and forth while maintaining heat until it pops out.

What is the purpose of using a helping hand tool during soldering?

A helping hand tool is used to hold the circuit board or component in place during soldering, allowing the user to have both hands free to manage the soldering iron and solder, ensuring a more stable and precise soldering process.

How does the presenter handle solder bridges and what advice does he give for dealing with them?

The presenter handles solder bridges by using the soldering iron to heat the solder and moving it back and forth, allowing the surface tension to clear the bridge. The advice given is to be careful with the amount of solder used and to clean up any bridges that occur.

Outlines

00:00

🔧 Introduction to Soldering

The video begins with the host addressing a common concern among viewers about learning to solder, particularly the fear of not being able to do it well. The host reassures viewers that soldering is not difficult and shares personal experience of overcoming the initial intimidation. The video encourages viewers to like, subscribe, and use the notification bell for updates. The host then discusses the types of soldering irons available, recommending a more expensive, higher-quality option for those planning to solder frequently. The importance of having a good stand and the necessity of additional tools like a wire braid cleaner, solder sucker, and side cutters are highlighted. The host also emphasizes the dangers of lead in solder and the importance of safety precautions, such as wearing a mask and working in a well-ventilated area.

05:02

🛠️ Soldering Tools and Techniques

This paragraph delves into the specifics of soldering tools, starting with the soldering iron and its interchangeable tips, which can be changed while hot for convenience. The host demonstrates how to clean the soldering iron tip using a brillo pad and a damp sponge, stressing the importance of maintaining a clean tip for effective soldering. The video also covers the use of solder wick to correct mistakes, explaining the science behind solder's affinity for copper and its surface tension behavior. A prototype breadboard is recommended as a practice surface for beginners. The host further discusses the soldering process, including the use of a soldering station, the importance of temperature control, and the potential hazards of handling a hot soldering iron, including the risk of burns and the distinctive smell associated with such accidents.

10:02

🔩 Practical Soldering Demonstration

The host demonstrates practical soldering techniques, starting with the process of melting solder on the tip of the iron and cleaning excess solder with a brillo pad and a damp sponge. The video shows how to change soldering iron tips safely and the benefits of having a soldering stand. The host then moves on to demonstrate soldering on a breadboard, explaining the process of feeding solder into through-holes and the natural tendency of solder to avoid solder mask. The video also covers how to remove solder bridges, solder capacitors, and trim excess component legs with side cutters. The host advises on the use of a solder pump for removing solder and emphasizes the importance of cleaning the board with isopropyl alcohol after soldering. The paragraph concludes with a reminder of the simplicity of soldering and encourages viewers to practice and ask questions for further tutorials.

Keywords

💡Soldering

Soldering is a process of joining two or more metal items by melting and flowing a filler metal (solder) into the joint, typically using a soldering iron. In the video, soldering is the central theme, as the host aims to teach viewers how to solder, emphasizing that it is not as difficult as it may seem and can be learned with practice. The script provides tips on soldering irons, safety, and the importance of ventilation due to the lead content in solder.

💡Soldering Iron

A soldering iron is a hand tool used in soldering for applying heat to melt solder. The video script mentions different types of soldering irons, including a basic 'fire stick' for beginners and a more professional Weller model with interchangeable tips. The choice of soldering iron is discussed in terms of its impact on the soldering experience and the quality of the soldering job.

💡Leaded Solder

Leaded solder is a type of solder that contains lead, which is known to be toxic. The script warns about the health risks associated with leaded solder, advising viewers to wear masks and work in well-ventilated areas to avoid inhaling harmful fumes. This highlights the importance of safety precautions when soldering.

💡Solder Wick

Solder wick is a braided copper wire used to remove excess solder from solder joints. The video explains how solder wick works by absorbing solder due to its copper content, utilizing the solder's surface tension. It's a crucial tool for correcting mistakes and refining solder joints, as demonstrated when the host shows how to use it to clean up a solder pad.

💡Through-Hole Soldering

Through-hole soldering is a technique where components are inserted into holes drilled through a printed circuit board (PCB) and soldered in place. The script describes this method as a starting point for beginners, emphasizing the importance of using the right amount of solder and maintaining a clean, bridge-free joint.

💡Surface Tension

Surface tension is a property of liquids that causes them to minimize their surface area, as mentioned in the context of solder flowing towards copper pads on a PCB. The video uses the analogy of water not spilling over the edge of a glass to explain how solder naturally flows to metal surfaces during soldering.

💡Solder Mask

Solder mask is a layer of material applied to a PCB to prevent solder from adhering to unwanted areas. The script explains that solder does not stick to the solder mask, ensuring that solder joints are made only where intended, which is crucial for the proper functioning of electronic circuits.

💡Flux

Flux is a chemical cleaning agent that removes oxides from metal surfaces to be joined and helps the solder flow smoothly. The video mentions the presence of flux in the solder mask and the option to use external flux. Flux is essential for successful soldering, as it aids in creating strong and clean solder joints.

💡Solder Bridge

A solder bridge occurs when solder unintentionally connects two separate conductive pads or traces on a PCB. The script discusses how to avoid and correct bridges, which is an important skill for maintaining the integrity of electronic circuits and preventing short circuits.

💡Desoldering

Desoldering is the process of removing solder from a joint. The video demonstrates techniques for desoldering, such as using a solder sucker or solder wick, which are essential skills for correcting mistakes or modifying electronic components. Proper desoldering ensures that components can be removed without damaging the PCB.

💡Prototype Breadboard

A prototype breadboard is a tool used for building and testing electronic circuits without soldering. The script recommends using a breadboard for practice, as it allows beginners to learn soldering without the risk of damaging valuable components. It serves as a safe and cost-effective platform for honing soldering skills.

Highlights

Soldering is not difficult and is one of the easiest skills to learn, despite its intimidating appearance.

Investing in a higher-quality soldering iron, such as a Weller with a stable stand, is recommended for frequent use.

Basic soldering tools include a soldering iron, solder, side cutters, solder wick, solder sucker, and a wire braid cleaner.

When working with leaded solder, it's crucial to work in a well-ventilated area and wear a mask to avoid inhaling fumes.

Soldering irons have interchangeable tips, with the standard pencil tip being sufficient for most beginner tasks.

The chisel tip allows for drag soldering, a technique useful for specific soldering tasks.

Soldering involves melting solder with the iron tip and applying it to metal components or circuit boards.

Using a prototype breadboard is ideal for practicing soldering as mistakes won't cause damage.

Cleaning the soldering iron tip with a moist sponge or wire cleaner is essential for maintaining tool longevity.

Surface tension helps solder stick to copper or metal surfaces and prevents it from spreading to non-conductive areas.

When soldering components like capacitors, bending the leads slightly can help hold them in place while soldering.

Mistakes can be corrected using solder wick or a solder pump, which absorbs excess solder from the joint.

Solder bridges between joints can be removed by heating the solder and moving it with the iron.

A helping hand tool is useful for holding components in place while soldering with both hands occupied.

Soldering small components like wires can be simplified by using gravity and the wire's natural position to hold it in place.

Transcripts

hey everybody welcome back to video game

esoteric and a continuing series on a

technicality where i answer some of the

more technical questions you guys have

and something that i hear in the

comments all the time on all of my

modification of repair videos is

i would love to learn how to do that i

just can't solder and i'm here to show

you some tips and tricks on how to learn

how to do it

so i'm going to tell you right now may

sound surprising and even unbelievable

but it is true

soldering is not difficult at all

learning how to do it is one of the

easiest things you can do i know it

seems intimidating but trust me it's not

before i get too far involved give me a

huge favor go down below hit like

subscribe like notification bell

definitely helps us out

if you feel so inclined and want to

support the channel we got a patreon

link down there as well

but i was intimidated about soldering

too when i first learned how to do it

but what i can tell you is once you

actually start learning

is quick now you have a couple options

when you decide to do it you can buy

what i like to call a fire stick it is a

cheap 15

soldering iron it gets the job done okay

but if you're planning on doing this for

the long term i recommend something like

this weller here

it's 120 dollars but it comes with the

stand which is quite stable

so honestly if you think you're gonna

learn to solder and you're gonna do it

frequently

i recommend actually spending a little

bit more money off the top because the

stand this thing comes with

is incredible you need to buy the stand

separately for that soldering iron you

stay on the right

and it's 10 bucks and it's terrible so

you're already about 20

of the way to a good soldering iron with

those crappy parts

but taking a look here a couple other

accessories you'll need this is just a

wire braid cleaner basically it's like a

brillo pad

you have a solder sucker you can use a

hot air rework station but that's going

to be more advanced stuff

you need your solder of course and then

a pair of side cutters are going to be

useful as well

and some solder braid that just wicks

solder away where you don't want it to

be

and i'll show you guys how all of these

things work in just a moment but these

are kind of the basic tools i recommend

when you're first

getting into soldering but i should make

a note about solder

in and of itself this is made of lead

and most of the time you're going to

want to be using a leaded solder

lead will kill you it can cause cancer

make sure you're wearing a mask when

you're doing this inside in a

well-ventilated area

don't just breathe the solder fumes it's

lead is a few times going to hurt you

i don't know just don't do it but moving

on

when you take a look at a soldering iron

there's just a few parts there's the

handle and then there's the tip

the tip is what gets hot for soldering

and there are so many options

my recommendation is the tip that comes

with the iron is going to be the tip

you're going to use 90

of the time and there are so many

different tips you can get

one that i do recommend that i like is a

basic chisel tip this allows you to do

drag soldering

and i will show you guys how to do that

in a future video if you like this first

one

what i love about this welder is that it

has interchangeable tips

and it has a plastic handle so that you

can change the tips while the iron's hot

you do need to be careful

but you'll see here in real time

changing a tip out takes no more than

five seconds

unscrew it change the tip screw it back

in and you're ready to work with an

entirely different type of tool

and as you get more involved you're

going to start buying more tips for more

uses

but for today's video we're just going

to show you the basic pencil tip

the one other thing you're going to want

is solder wick because you are going to

make mistakes

solder wick's going to fix all of those

mistakes for you it is copper

solder loves going to copper if you put

this wick over

solder and you heat it up with your iron

it is going to absorb

into that wick because for lack of a

better term

solder works with surface tension and if

you've ever seen anybody pour water into

a cup and i go slightly over so don't

judge me

you can get water over the rim of a

glass because the molecules are held

together with

surface tension that water doesn't want

to spill over

and solder is very similar it wants to

go

to metal to copper and it doesn't want

to go anywhere else

what i recommend is just grab a

prototype breadboard this is what i

learned how to solder on

years ago and you can't screw anything

up because it doesn't do anything

don't try your first project on a game

console don't try your first project on

something you care about

get a breadboard and just start

soldering to it because if you make a

mistake who cares these things are like

two dollars and they don't functionally

do anything

but you'll see here as i turn the

soldering station on this is why i

recommend something more in the hundred

dollar range

it heats up incredibly fast that 15 20

fire stick soldering iron

takes about five minutes to heat up or

something like this weller has

micro controls for the temperature and

it'll come up to temperature in about

60 seconds so when you're actually

soldering a lot this makes a huge

difference

and you'll see here as i've sped that up

about 20 seconds it is now to temp

now this is a warning obviously this is

hot it's 340 degrees celsius

if you touch this to your skin you are

going to burn yourself

and you're gonna know you did it for two

reasons one you're gonna feel pain and

two

and i know this sounds gross you're

going to smell roast pork

that's just the reality of it if you

burn your finger with a soldering iron

it smells like roast pork chops

don't know why i guess that's just what

humans smell like but my point is

it's hot be careful with it you will

burn yourself but you only make that

mistake once or twice and you can't do

it too bad

but you'll see here to melt solder all

you're doing is touching the solder to

the tip

and it melts and i'm putting on way too

much here but i'm just showing you

how quick it is and you'll see that that

solder is going to basically sit

on the tip i'm using the chisel tip

right now but that's all it takes to

melt solder

and you'll see here on this project mat

i can wipe it off but the solder doesn't

really want to go there

because it isn't a metal to get all this

solder off of the tip and just to clean

your tip

we'll come in with a little brillo pad

here and we'll just push

the soldering iron tip in and out to get

most of the solder off

you'll also have a sponge with you you

want it to be moist but you don't want

it to be dripping

and this just allows you to drag the tip

of the soldering iron through that

sponge

to remove that additional solder that

you don't need on there

keep your tips clean and they're going

to serve you well for a long time

just don't drag too aggressively because

sometimes the cider will want to shoot

back at you it's rare but it does happen

but taking a look right here at the iron

we can change the tips out on something

like the weller

where that fire stick you need to let it

cool down before you can change the tip

because the screw mount is made of metal

this is at 340 degrees celsius right now

and you'll see

if i just take that tip off i need to

use tweezers

don't forget the tip is hot so just use

a pair of nice tweezers you can pop the

tip out

put it on your project mat and this

silicone will not melt

and then don't forget the heat is still

there do not put

the tip on with your fingers grab the

second tip the one you want to replace

with your tweezers line it up and pop it

right in the hole here

and then we'll just come ahead and put

on that clasp and you'll see i get my

hand a little close to it and it's

slightly warm

doesn't burn but your body's gonna know

when to pull away

we screw that down it starts to heat

back up and within about 20 seconds

we're using a brand new tip which i do

love how quick you can change these out

the only other thing i recommend is a

pair of helping hands because obviously

if we're holding the solder with our

non-dominant hand and the soldering iron

with our dominant hand

we need something to actually hold the

board and what i recommend is keep the

soldering stand on your non-dominant

hand side so you're not

moving your hand to the right where it's

held i've knocked the soldering iron a

few times

and we're going to get a better close-up

soon but all you do with these little

through holes is

you put your iron on the area you want

to solder you advance the solder in it

melts

and that is all there is to soldering

the

metal is going to want to go to the hole

there's copper around it

everywhere where there's not is called

solder mask and these helping hands can

be a little bit of a pain so definitely

tighten them down

and that's as simple as it is we've just

put solder in these through holes

it's as simple as that and i can't

stress this enough the solder does not

want to sit on the solder mask it will

not that's why it's called a mask

and once you get quick at this you can

just go down the line and solder in

components like on this little

micro usb for the mr the daemon bite

adapter it's really easy and if you get

a bridge you can just rub it right out

and i'll show you to do that in a second

but say you want to do something like

install a capacitor this is just through

hole soldering

it's kind of going to be where you start

you're not going to be dealing with

surface mount components

when you're learning to do this and i

will show you guys in a future video how

to deal with surface mount if you want

but say you just want to pop a capacitor

in you're just going to push the legs

through the holes then you're going to

turn the board around and kind of get

the capacitor

as close to the board as you need now if

you wanted to bend it over you'd leave

yourself a little bit more material

but just go ahead and get that capacitor

close and then you'll use the legs as

its own retention system

just bend them out ever so slightly and

that's going to put enough tension

on that cap through the board that if we

turn it over it's not going to fall out

we can now

solder to that at our leisure and we

don't have to worry about it you're

always going to want to be smart about

how you're dealing with gravity because

when you're working with a helping hands

if things aren't retained well

they're just going to fall out we can't

solder things that aren't actually

through the board

so just figure out whatever angle works

for you and get your soldering iron

ready

and now you'll see we've gotten a lot

closer and how easy this is

we're just going to put the soldering

iron on to that through hole and we're

going to advance the solder in

don't use too much don't use too little

less is more you can always add

and you'll see there now we have that

one component soldered in

this is quite hard for me to do because

i'm doing it over the camera so i'm

doing it weird angles use whatever angle

works for you

but you'll see now we've soldered that

capacitor in through those through holes

and it is ready to do whatever it would

be doing in this instance obviously

nothing because this is just a

breadboard i'm not building anything

and once you get that soldered in you

don't want those legs sticking out so

just come in with your side cutters

and snip near the top hold the leg or

whatever you're cutting

with your finger because they do love to

shoot around everywhere

but you'll see here we have two solder

joints there's not too much solder on

them there's not too little

and they are not bridged it is very

difficult to get bridge on through-hole

components

but it can happen and i'll show you how

to deal with that in a moment but say

you want to get this out

what i recommend is you can use the

solder pump but if you just heat up the

solder and ever so lightly pull on those

capacitors

don't pull too hard just kind of wiggle

it back and forth while you maintain the

heat

on that solder and it is molten

eventually it'll pop right out

we haven't ripped out the via which is

the copper plating inside of that hole

and we're good to go you want to get the

solder out just use your

solder wick that little braid right

there and just go ahead and put it on

top of the pad

and apply heat don't wiggle it back and

forth just let that heat sink in

and it's going to go to the braid if you

remove the heat you can totally solder

the braid to the board

that's fine and just keep applying heat

use your soldering tip

kind of to move that off to the side and

it'll pop right out and you'll see we've

got

most of the solder it's really hard to

get everything with that braid

so we'll do is we'll come in we'll just

heat up that pad we'll use our solder

sucker push the pump down

push the button and that hole is now

clear sometimes it takes a few times but

you will get there

but let's say you want to do something

like just screw up intentionally

what i'm going to do is i'm just going

to pop some solder into these through

holes here

and i'm going to do it pretty

haphazardly you'll see that if i try to

put the solder on the mask it does not

want to go there

but the minute i drag that solder ball

on the tip over

those copper vias it's going to want to

sit we've created a bridge

add more solder move your soldering iron

back and forth and surface tension is

going to deal with that for you

the bridge rectified itself and now we

have solder in both of those holes

if i add way too much you're gonna see

it's still really hard to get a bridge

and we have massive amounts of solder

there just

heat your tip up move it back and forth

and you're gonna see that that solder

sits

in those holes if you have a bridge just

use your iron move it back and forth and

that bridge

will clear and when you're done you're

going to see there's a little bit of

solder mask that resin right there and

that's in the core

that's flux we can use external flux in

a tube as well but for this instance i'm

not teaching you how to do that

but just make sure you clean it up with

an isopropyl alcohol

rubbed toothbrush or q-tip just to keep

it clean

but let's say we always want to put a

basic wire into one through hole we need

a jumper wire

a lot of times i will just let gravity

and wire do the work for me you don't

always need a helping hand

you'll pop that wire through the hole

and just go ahead and bend the wire and

get that board to sit up on its own

it takes a second you may need to change

the configuration but it will

eventually like you see here sit just

advance the soldering iron in

move your solder towards that hole and

you're going to go ahead and solder that

wire directly into that through hole

and it is going to be secure if you take

a look at it from the other side and

i'll turn it around in just a second

that wire is exactly where we needed to

be if you want to remove the wire it's

even easier

just go ahead and isolate it and just

pull on it ever so slightly put a little

bit of tension on that wire

use your fingers to hold the board apply

heat to the solder that you already have

on there and it'll pop right out no big

deal

these are just the basics of soldering

this is not a full tutorial

this is to get you in the mood to start

because what i will tell you is

it seems daunting and it is not it's one

of the easiest skills you can learn

and when you get good at it the amount

of things you can do with it are

incredible i've modified so many things

with soldering if you have any questions

or comments so leave them down below if

you want me to continue this series and

show you more me intermediate and

advanced soldering i'm happy to

short of that if you could do me a huge

favor go down below and hit like

subscribe and that notification bell

definitely

helps me out i'll have more videos in

this technicality series a lot of videos

on other topics throughout the week

but definitely guys if you want to learn

how to solder just do it it's not that

bad

see you next time bye

you