Soldering????

[Callum Jackson]

My assessor is insistent I get soldering evidence for my folder, I have no idea what I'll solder I have
Never soldered at work... I've got a solder gun I basically need to make it up and mock up a couple photos.
Can any suggest anything I can solder? I was thinking a LED for a emergency lightreatment and maybe a battery pack?

Any help would be very appreciated I'm at a bit of a loss.

Thanks guys

 

[telectrix]

you could solder some T/E for a joint. have the heat shrink ready to slide over.

 

[Darkwood]

Have you been taught the basics of soldering on your course or are they expecting you to be coached at work?

 

[SJD]

Every now and again, I use heatshrink solder connectors (a bit like the heatshrink crimp ones, but a ring of solder instead of a crimp tube). I normally use a hot air heat gun to melt the solder. Today, I used half a dozen to repair some stranded 12V lighting cables (cable too thin for crimps). Good to have these with me as an alternative.

My conventional soldering iron, I mostly use for repairing printed circuit boards nowadays - changing failed components.

 

[Callum Jackson]

I never thought of doing a joint that's a good idea i can do one T/E joint and maybe a joint for a set of dimming pairs or maybe ill grab an old EM fitting and just say i'm replacing a battery pack.

and no i've never be taught how to solder at college they seem to expect it to be on the job but i asked my boss the last time he picked up a solder iron and i think he said about 8 years ago to fix a control circuit on a motor or some gaff but that's was years ago seems like a strange requirement.

95% through my folder now i'm getting very used to the answer "Because that's what the IV wants" i've stopped questioning.

 

[Darkwood]

I would in your case then do some research or you will more than likley end up with poor/dry joints etc, which you won't be able to identify by simply looking... just read up on the basics and the do's and dont's with regard to soldering and you should be fine.

 

[Richard Burns]

Soldering the leads onto waterproof LED strip would be a good one for accuracy and preparing the points ready for soldering. Causes me a nightmare anyway!

 

[Marvo]

Go spend a couple of quid on LED's and a battery holder, ask your boss for a couple of meters of 1mm panel wire, download the guide and give it a bash.

https://www.protostack.com/download/NASA Student Handbook for Hand Soldering.pdf

 

[amlu]

and a good quality solder too - do not get the unleaded stuff, thats for plumbers
63/37 0.8mm Tin Lead Rosin Core Soldering Iron Wire Reel. UK SELLER | eBay

i use a small gas powered iron daily on the job - when ever a proper maintenance joint is required... good skill to learn.

 

[Callum Jackson]

Thanks for the advise guys I'll have a little think and a talk to my boss see what I can come up with. And yeah think your right probably something that I should learn properly if I have to do it anyway! I'm sure at some point I'll need to do it for real.

 

[ruston]

If you hurry soldering,you might as well not bother.
That is a cracking guide from Marvo , and good advice from everyone.

 

[shanky887614]

Thanks for the advise guys I'll have a little think and a talk to my boss see what I can come up with. And yeah think your right probably something that I should learn properly if I have to do it anyway! I'm sure at some point I'll need to do it for real.

if you cant get 63/37 60/40 is more readily available.

have a look on yourtube im sure element14 did some video guides on soldering and tinning.

tinning is always a good idea to help it stick and put a little solder on the iron then on a damp sponge to clean it.

(i think eevblog has a video guide as well)


www.makezine.com/2007/01/05/soldering-tutorial-make-v/

 

[Darkwood]

And if you have never burnt yourself with the solder iron by accident then you haven't crossed the crucial step to becoming a competent solderer :smartass2:

 

[shanky887614]

And if you have never burnt yourself with the solder iron by accident then you haven't crossed the crucial step to becoming a competent solderer :smartass2:

im thick skinned dw, ive gone **** thats hot a lot but not actually burnt myself yet except when i dropped some molten solder on my leg ouch

 

[ruston]

And if you have never burnt yourself with the solder iron by accident then you haven't crossed the crucial step to becoming a competent solderer :smartass2:

Especially the gas vent.