Can't get the solder to hold - I suck at this!

[Marc411]

Started to get my first DNA40 build going, tinned all the wire but when I solder it to the board and let everything cool the wire just moves in the solder joint.

510 pin solder went perfect but the board just will not let me get a solid connection. Any recommendations would be great.

 

[Norrin]

Do you have a hot enough iron? 40W min
You want to heat the wire and board but you need to do it quick so you don't do any damage so a hot iron is necessary. Apart from that you would be better to watch vid tutorials as they can go through everything better than I can explain.

 

[BobC]

Sounds like the board is cold, you need to put the iron on both the board and wire for a second so both heat, also, are you using flux?

 

[Marc411]

Thanks Norrin, the iron is a 60 watt and the solder melts on contact.

Pencil tip, Kester 63/37 .020 diameter solder.

I'll youtube some more video's but I am (I think) doing everything just like the videos.

No flux

 

[Norrin]

No flux? Is the solder fluxed? Your better using flux as it helps clean the contacts so you get a clean joints, but ensure that you don't use too much and you clean it off as it is corrosive.

 

[AzPlumber]

Flux will make a huge improvement in your solder joints.

 

[Marc411]

I'll pick up some flux and a different tip tomorrow. The pencil tip just isn't transferring enough heat to the pad at all.

Thanks for the help!

 

[Flavored]

Had the same issues myself, Marc, when I started doing my Tibs mods. The pencil tip and no flux doesn't cut it. Chisel tip and flux in the solder does much better.

 

[Marc411]

Thanks Flavored, going shopping tomorrow.

 

[rhelton]

I flux every time, I even re-flux the tinned wire it just makes life so easy. Then you just have to tin your iron, touch it to the pad and wire and pull away when it flows. It took me a long long time before I tried this. I had read it, been told it, but was hard headed. I wired a dna board the other day in just a couple minutes it makes life easier.

 

[Marc411]

Outstanding, thanks for all the information folks (not sure guys or gals). This site and the people are always so damn helpful!

 

[herb]

I flux every time, I even re-flux the tinned wire it just makes life so easy. Then you just have to tin your iron, touch it to the pad and wire and pull away when it flows. It took me a long long time before I tried this. I had read it, been told it, but was hard headed. I wired a dna board the other day in just a couple minutes it makes life easier.

I have to admit i'm an atrocious solderer , i was told you need to direct the heat to the device your soldering and then touch the solder to the heated part and it should flow .

Every time i do this nothing flows , i have to always touch the solder directly to the soldering tip and then it never sticks , just a solid ball of solder forms but never sticks , man what a nightmare.

 

[Norrin]

I have to admit i'm an atrocious solderer , i was told you need to direct the heat to the device your soldering and then touch the solder to the heated part and it should flow .

Every time i do this nothing flows , i have to always touch the solder directly to the soldering tip and then it never sticks , just a solid ball of solder forms but never sticks , man what a nightmare.

Sounds like you have a cold iron, if so forget trying to do any circuit boards because you will either get dry joints or heat the board too much doing damage. 1-2 secs touching the parts then add the solder and it should all flow nicely, a little flux will help massively.

 

[herb]

Sounds like you have a cold iron, if so forget trying to do any circuit boards because you will either get dry joints or heat the board too much doing damage. 1-2 secs touching the parts then add the solder and it should all flow nicely, a little flux will help massively.

Thanks , i was talking in general , not about circuit boards , got to figure it out before i try circuit boards. Even when i try to connect two thicker wires together i place the tip of the iron on one wire and then touch the solder next to the irons tip and nothing ever happens .

Seems i have to keep the iron on the wire forever to heat it up.

 

[Norrin]

Thanks , i was talking in general , not about circuit boards , got to figure it out before i try circuit boards. Even when i try to connect two thicker wires together i place the tip of the iron on one wire and then touch the solder next to the irons tip and nothing ever happens .

Seems i have to keep the iron on the wire forever to heat it up.

OK a few things can cause this
1- ....ty iron, if it's not 40W or better bin it and buy a new one
2- Dirty tip, clean it thoroughly with sand paper if needed and always have a damp sponge to wipe it. Remember though that unless you have a great iron when you clean it it will cool a little and needs a few secs to heat up again
3- Wrong type of tip, I would suggest a chisel tip for the type of work we are doing.
4- Tin everything before trying to join them, this will greatly reduce the chances of getting a dry joint

Also watch some youtube vids on how to solder to pick up tips, it's not a hard thing to do but practice is important. I had to do a class for 2 weeks solid when I started and it doesn't take that long to learn, but that's the sort of time it takes to get to being able to do it well most of the time. Admittedly I was working with much better equipment than most hobbiest have but on much much smaller thing, it was fixing things on mobile phones that the machines didn't get right.

 

[herb]

OK a few things can cause this
1- ....ty iron, if it's not 40W or better bin it and buy a new one
2- Dirty tip, clean it thoroughly with sand paper if needed and always have a damp sponge to wipe it. Remember though that unless you have a great iron when you clean it it will cool a little and needs a few secs to heat up again
3- Wrong type of tip, I would suggest a chisel tip for the type of work we are doing.
4- Tin everything before trying to join them, this will greatly reduce the chances of getting a dry joint

Also watch some youtube vids on how to solder to pick up tips, it's not a hard thing to do but practice is important. I had to do a class for 2 weeks solid when I started and it doesn't take that long to learn, but that's the sort of time it takes to get to being able to do it well most of the time. Admittedly I was working with much better equipment than most hobbiest have but on much much smaller thing, it was fixing things on mobile phones that the machines didn't get right.

Thanks a lot Norrin, you have been a big help.

 

[mcclintock]

The biggest mistake a lot of people make is letting the tip oxidize, usually by getting too hot. A new tip should be tinned the first instant it gets hot enough to melt solder. The iron should not be allowed to overheat -- usually actual use will limit temp, but just sitting there doesn't, unless it is a better quality regulated temperature unit. Hot enough is hot enough, otherwise something is wrong.