[GUIDE] [UPDATE! Part 2] Soldering School - AKA Don't wreck your new AIO board!

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abrugsch
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Re: [GUIDE] [UPDATE! Part 2] Soldering School - AKA Don't wreck your new AIO board!

Post by abrugsch » Wed Jun 28, 2017 2:37 am

dryja123 wrote:
Tue Jun 27, 2017 7:32 pm
Today I finally learned to appreciate a flux pen!

...

Seeing how the joint reacted to the flux, heat, and solder really changed things. On previous practice sessions, I was finding that I had to paint around the joint to get it perfect.
it's a wonderful moment when it all 'clicks'

I was doing some SMD soldering just last night, and was actually having difficulty using the fine-tip and swapped to a fatter one and it literally magic-ed away the problems I was having. the fine tip just wasn't delivering enough heat and the flux pen took care of the rest.

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Re: [GUIDE] [UPDATE! Part 2] Soldering School - AKA Don't wreck your new AIO board!

Post by dryja123 » Wed Jun 28, 2017 12:06 pm

Yes, it certainly is a wonderful moment when everything finally clicks together. Your guide gave me the confidence to start soldering projects and the support of the community is wonderful.

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Re: [GUIDE] [UPDATE! Part 2] Soldering School - AKA Don't wreck your new AIO board!

Post by muniosi » Sat Jul 01, 2017 1:49 pm

Hi abrugsch, great guide! When buying steel wool what grade would you recommend? Coarse or fine? I'm looking at this product; would it work? Thanks!
I've just finished my milk.

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Re: [GUIDE] [UPDATE! Part 2] Soldering School - AKA Don't wreck your new AIO board!

Post by abrugsch » Mon Jul 03, 2017 5:07 pm

I don't think the fine household cleaning stuff would work well tbh (though I've never tried) as it's too fine and rusts... I could be wrong though! Might be worth a try as it's usually cheap enough and easy to find ;)
The coarser stuff tends to be brass or copper (in colour at any rate) and lasts quite a while.

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Re: [GUIDE] [UPDATE! Part 2] Soldering School - AKA Don't wreck your new AIO board!

Post by JadeDragon4866 » Mon Jul 10, 2017 10:42 am

Awesome guide, took your advice and got some practice in and now I'm more confident and ready to start my 3 pending Sudomod projects!! Can't wait to read the next part! :D
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Re: [GUIDE] [UPDATE! Part 2] Soldering School - AKA Don't wreck your new AIO board!

Post by abrugsch » Mon Jul 10, 2017 3:10 pm

JadeDragon4866 wrote:
Mon Jul 10, 2017 10:42 am
Awesome guide, took your advice and got some practice in and now I'm more confident and ready to start my 3 pending Sudomod projects!! Can't wait to read the next part! :D
That is some mighty fine soldering right there. Congrats!
Turn the board over and show the upskirt shot ;)

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Re: [GUIDE] [UPDATE! Part 2] Soldering School - AKA Don't wreck your new AIO board!

Post by JadeDragon4866 » Mon Jul 10, 2017 3:25 pm

Lol here it is, not the best I've done but at least I think I can more than likely solder a RPi to an AIO without destroying it!
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Re: [GUIDE] [UPDATE! Part 2] Soldering School - AKA Don't wreck your new AIO board!

Post by abrugsch » Mon Jul 10, 2017 4:34 pm

Yeah a bit of a mixed bag there but nothing terrible. If you get a flux pen you'd be able to clean those right up. It's mainly just too much solder with some very good looking joints mixed in

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Re: [GUIDE] [UPDATE! Part 2] Soldering School - AKA Don't wreck your new AIO board!

Post by gilbertotron » Fri Jul 14, 2017 12:32 pm

So I've got a couple of questions for ye all.
I've been practicing de-soldering old Network cards, and various PCB's from old TVs and radios.
And I've noticed that my solder sucker will get fouled up pretty quickly - once that happens it loses all ability to suck. So I've to take it apart and clean it and then I've been using copper grease (because it's what I have to hand) to reseal the seals against the tube.
Is this something that happens, or is my sucker shit? And if it is, what are you guys using for resealing it?

Secondly; and this is a shorter question, how the hell do you use solder braid, it seems to work sometimes and not others, randomly.
I've fluxed it and not fluxed it, heated and not heated it and I cannot figure that shit out.

Thanks guys for your help.

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Re: [GUIDE] [UPDATE! Part 2] Soldering School - AKA Don't wreck your new AIO board!

Post by abrugsch » Fri Jul 14, 2017 1:23 pm

Desoldering is a bit of a black art... the sucker sounds normal but for me usually the tubes of sucked solder come out on subsequent presses of the plunger.

As for braid, well as it's copper it's also a really good heat sink... so you usually need extra heat to compensate for that, or pre warm the braid

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