My first soldering!

[Elecmox]

Let me show you my first soldering.
This is my first attempt:

This is my second attempt:

Please, be gentle.

 

[DPG]

Just the tip. I would try taking the existing one out (when it's cooled down obviously!) and measure the diameter and length of it.

 

[Elecmox]

Just the tip. I would try taking the existing one out (when it's cooled down obviously!) and measure the diameter and length of it.

I will check that out, I would preffer if I could install more flattened tip, something like this.

 

[DPG]

I will check that out, I would preffer if I could install more flattened tip, something like this.

Yes, that would be better than the fine pointed one for larger joints.

 

[telectrix]

buy a 100 watt weller gun. does most work but on smaller joints you need to be careful of overheating. i used one on TV repairs in the 70's and 80's. did everything i wanted.

 

[static zap]

The strands of the main run are parted, 3 to one side and 4 to the other,

I missed out the step ,crafting hole/gap in straight through cable.
(and damaged conductors attempting to form wanted shape -when cold)

(Also ignore peculiar colour choices -and no sleeving)
--Would this joint ever crystalize grey in time ?--

Point of photo --
practice run - "Have a good laugh"

- heat build-up damaging insulation
- solder wicked along making it hard to shape
( Suspect soldering iron was inadequate - Finished
it off with ....

(More mechanical insulation damage )

 

[Elecmox]

I missed out the step ,crafting hole/gap in straight through cable.
(and damaged conductors attempting to form wanted shape -when cold)

(Also ignore peculiar colour choices -and no sleeving)
--Would this joint ever crystalize grey in time ?--

Point of photo --
practice run - "Have a good laugh"

- heat build-up damaging insulation
- solder wicked along making it hard to shape
( Suspect soldering iron was inadequate - Finished
it off with ....

(More mechanical insulation damage )

Looks like Alien 3.

 

[telectrix]

I missed out the step ,crafting hole/gap in straight through cable.
(and damaged conductors attempting to form wanted shape -when cold)

(Also ignore peculiar colour choices -and no sleeving)
--Would this joint ever crystalize grey in time ?--

Point of photo --
practice run - "Have a good laugh"

- heat build-up damaging insulation
- solder wicked along making it hard to shape
( Suspect soldering iron was inadequate - Finished
it off with ....

(More mechanical insulation damage )

bloody hell. that looks like a plumber's disaster.

 

[Elecmox]

I missed out the step ,crafting hole/gap in straight through cable.
(and damaged conductors attempting to form wanted shape -when cold)

(Also ignore peculiar colour choices -and no sleeving)
--Would this joint ever crystalize grey in time ?--

Point of photo --
practice run - "Have a good laugh"

- heat build-up damaging insulation
- solder wicked along making it hard to shape
( Suspect soldering iron was inadequate - Finished
it off with ....

(More mechanical insulation damage )

Can I give you my neighbour phone number? He has some problems with wires installations in home.

 

[Mike Johnson]

bloody hell. that looks like a plumber's disaster.

But at the very least a plumber would use a soldering iron/gun fit for the job and not struggle with an inadequate iron. How many times does he have to be told?

 

[DPG]

But at the very least a plumber would use a soldering iron/gun fit for the job and not struggle with an inadequate iron. How many times does he have to be told?

You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it buy a big soldering iron tip.

 

[Mike Johnson]

Will a bigger tip help on a 30W soldering iron? Doubt it.

 

[DPG]

Will a bigger tip help on a 30W soldering iron? Doubt it.

Yes, it will transfer more of the heat to the joint due to the larger contact area. Admittedly it will still struggle with the bigger things on that PCB.

 

[Elecmox]

Yes, it will transfer more of the heat to the joint due to the larger contact area. Admittedly it will still struggle with the bigger things on that PCB.

The problem (as mentioned in My first soldering! - https://www.electriciansforums.net/threads/my-first-soldering.186729/post-1639486) is I guess lead-free joints that my soldering iron is not capable to melt due to low heating temperature. I have used sides of tip for larger contact area on joint but no success. Only thing that worked was adding 60/40 solder on joint and then melt it and removed with pump.
How can you tell is solder lead free or not ?
Visually solder joints on PCB look a bit darker, but maybe it's because of time pass.

 

[static zap]

I remember melting solder in a candle aged 10 or so.
( I got my father to solder wires to pcbs )
.. Solid wire wrap wire being a pain for losing it's insultion springs to mind .. But shame of end result prevents any memeory !

 

[Mike Johnson]

I remember using fuse wire to wrap cables together before soldering, my mother never did figure out why all the fuse wire out of the broom cupboard was missing, or how the little burn marks got on the eiderdown, or so we thought.