Soldering Tips

there's a small bench-top device, that's got a little bit of weight to
it, that has about 4 very adjustible arms with aligator clips on the
ends and a magnify glass. might be called a "third-hand".
I picked one up at expo last year for $3.

Jer

On 23 Sep 2005 15:09:02 -0500, BOGUSevileyeBOGUS RemoveThis @mindspring.comBOGUS
(John Bigbooty) wrote:

>So, can anyone provide me with some tips. My soldering jobs are taking
>way too long because of this problem.

For one thing, a good solder joint consists of a solid mechanical
connection as well as a good solder connection. To make a good
mechanical connection the wire should go through a hole or wrap around
whatever it is you're soldering it to. If you've done that right you
won't have to hold the wire while you solder it.

On 23 Sep 2005 15:09:02 -0500, BOGUSevileyeBOGUS DeleteThis @mindspring.comBOGUS
(John Bigbooty) wrote:

[...]

>
>So, can anyone provide me with some tips. My soldering jobs are taking
>way too long because of this problem.
>

A cheap third hand might be found in your closet. If you have the kind
of hangar that has two spring clips on a rod used for hanging pants
you can often remove the rod and clips. The clips slide up and down
and rotate on the rod. So you can use one clip to clip onto something
under the playfield to hold the rod in place and position the other
clip to hold a microswitch or something else that needs to be
soldered.

Depending on the environment, a mechanical connection may not be
necessary or desirable. In pinball, mechanical connections tend to
spray solder everywhere when you take them apart. The main thing is
enough connection between the parts, and a correct solder joint.

Lots of standards here, and all good as long as the joint is good. If
the soldering has problems, then they all fail.

I just have one thing to add. When soldering on the underside of the
playfield put some kind of cloth below what you are trying to solder.
There's nothing worse than a solder drip causing a short.
Dom

Mechanical connection is recommended in most cases.

If doing wire to wire this is what you want:

http://workmanship.nasa.gov/guidadv_recmeth_wusplice.jsp

If soldering wires to coils or switches, thread the wire and bend it so
there is a mechanical connection.

Medical forceps type pliers which lock make a great set of extra hands.

I think I got mine at radis shack.

If soldering components to Pcbs, a board vice is helpful:

http://www.panavise.com/nf/vises/vises_cbholders.html

You can also insert the legs of components into the solder pads and then
bend the legs slightly on the back side to lock the component in at the
desired height.

Hth.

Otto

CARGPB11

My web page: http://home.bellsouth.net/p/PWP-Ottoslanding

"John Bigbooty" <BOGUSevileyeBOGUS.RemoveThis@mindspring.comBOGUS> wrote in message
news:43355f59.99247515@news1.newscene.com...
>I admit it. I'm a relative newbie when it comes to soldering. However,
> I can manage to solder a good joint IF I can manage to hold everything
> still.
>
> The problem is I don't seem to have enough hands. Assuming I'm trying
> to solder one wire to one part, I need one hand to hold the part, one
> hand to hold the wire, one hand to hold the iron and one hand to hold
> the solder. That's FOUR hands. Unfortunately, I've only got 2.
>
> So, can anyone provide me with some tips. My soldering jobs are taking
> way too long because of this problem.
>
> Mark
> Norcross GA

Martin had it right.

Called a hemostat

Otto

CARGPB11

My web page: http://home.bellsouth.net/p/PWP-Ottoslanding

"Otto" <ottondebremove&%$*@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:0xZYe.1086$op4.980@bignews6.bellsouth.net...
> Medical forceps type pliers which lock make a great set of extra hands.

On Fri, 23 Sep 2005 16:30:47 -0400, "Otto"
<ottondebremove&%$*@bellsouth.net> wrote:

>Martin had it right.
>
>Called a hemostat

Hemostats come in handy as heat sinks too. You can put them on the leg
of a microswitch between the solder joint and the switch to keep the
switch from overheating and to keep flux from dripping into it.

What! Were Clays guides not enough?!!!

http://marvin3m.com/begin/index.htm

~

I'd say practice removing parts from a junked VCR to start.

Have fun, Karl.

> Don't ever put solder in your mouth. It has this stuff called lead in it
> ughh.
>
> Woz

Oh come on, I do this all the time ever since I learned to solder at
about age 6 or so! Please... It's not like were eating the stuff.

Karl.

BOGUSevileyeBOGUS RemoveThis @mindspring.comBOGUS (John Bigbooty) wrote in
news:43355f59.99247515@news1.newscene.com:

> I admit it. I'm a relative newbie when it comes to soldering. However,
> I can manage to solder a good joint IF I can manage to hold everything
> still.
>
> The problem is I don't seem to have enough hands. Assuming I'm trying
> to solder one wire to one part, I need one hand to hold the part, one
> hand to hold the wire, one hand to hold the iron and one hand to hold
> the solder. That's FOUR hands. Unfortunately, I've only got 2.
>
> So, can anyone provide me with some tips. My soldering jobs are taking
> way too long because of this problem.

Almost never do you really have to solder something in mid air while
working on a pinball machine. Normally a part is mounted, then you
solder whatever you have to solder to it, so that gets you one free hand.
If you can't solder in the position that the part is permanently mounted
in, find a coil bracket somewhere nearby and use some electrical tape to
hold the part steady.

Normally, you 'tin' the wires first before doing much of anything. I.E.
heat the wire up, melt some solder on it, and then let it cool. You may
or may not do the same thing to the other end, depending on the
particular job at hand. That frees up another hand.

If you find yourself in the situation where you need three hands to tin a
wire (one on the pliers to hold the wire, one on the iron, and one to
hold the solder), get a long piece of solder and hold it with your teeth.
And pay attention or you'll burn your lips off. And obviously, don't
bite through it!

Maybe won't help you with soldering wires but I found the following tips
helpfull:

http://www.circuittechctr.com/guides/guides.shtml

On 23 Sep 2005 15:09:02 -0500, John Bigbooty wrote:

>>I admit it. I'm a relative newbie when it comes to soldering. However,
>>I can manage to solder a good joint IF I can manage to hold everything
>>still.
>>
>>The problem is I don't seem to have enough hands. Assuming I'm trying
>>to solder one wire to one part, I need one hand to hold the part, one
>>hand to hold the wire, one hand to hold the iron and one hand to hold
>>the solder. That's FOUR hands. Unfortunately, I've only got 2.
>>
>>So, can anyone provide me with some tips. My soldering jobs are taking
>>way too long because of this problem.
>>
>>Mark
>>Norcross GA


Regards
Frank-Rainer Grahl
(frgrahl@REMOVE.ME.gmx.net)

Hmmm. (This explains a lot, now.....)

--
Fred
TX
CARGPB#8
******************



"Karl" <hondaruehs.DeleteThis@aol.com> wrote
>
> > Don't ever put solder in your mouth. It has this stuff called lead in it
> > ughh.
> >
> > Woz
>
> Oh come on, I do this all the time ever since I learned to solder at
> about age 6 or so! Please... It's not like were eating the stuff.
>
> Karl.
>