How To SolderHow To Solder

By: Stephen EiblingBy: Stephen Eibling

IntroductionIntroduction

What is soldering?What is soldering?

Steps of solderingSteps of soldering Prepare MaterialsPrepare Materials Add piece to be solderedAdd piece to be soldered Heat up the contact pointsHeat up the contact points Add SolderAdd Solder Remove soldering ironRemove soldering iron

DesolderingDesoldering

What is soldering?What is soldering?

Solder is a metal that liquefies after being heated for a Solder is a metal that liquefies after being heated for a short period, and then becomes solid again shortly after short period, and then becomes solid again shortly after removing the heat source. It is most commonly used in removing the heat source. It is most commonly used in ensuring connections in copper piping, as well as the ensuring connections in copper piping, as well as the main method for securing computer chips to silicon main method for securing computer chips to silicon boards.boards.

While soldering copper pipes is similar to soldering parts While soldering copper pipes is similar to soldering parts to an electronic board, there are enough differences to to an electronic board, there are enough differences to warrant a separate method for each process. Therefore, warrant a separate method for each process. Therefore, this example focus on soldering chips to an electronic this example focus on soldering chips to an electronic board.board.

Step 1: Prepare MaterialsStep 1: Prepare Materials Heat up Soldering IronHeat up Soldering Iron

Have the materials ready to be Have the materials ready to be solderedsoldered

Gather any other materialsGather any other materials Solder – Is usually supplied in Solder – Is usually supplied in

long, thin coiled wirelong, thin coiled wire Tape – To hold parts down in Tape – To hold parts down in

placeplace Desoldering Material – In case a Desoldering Material – In case a

mistake is mademistake is made Clamps – Useful for holding the Clamps – Useful for holding the

board at a certain angle or in board at a certain angle or in placeplace

Wet Sponge – Useful for cleaning Wet Sponge – Useful for cleaning the tip of the soldering iron in case the tip of the soldering iron in case solder builds up on it.solder builds up on it.

Step 2: Add piece to be solderedStep 2: Add piece to be soldered

Place piece on the Place piece on the board in the correct board in the correct spot.spot. Usually will be a metal Usually will be a metal

pad for the pin (the pad for the pin (the little ‘feet’) of the piece little ‘feet’) of the piece to rest onto rest on

Secure the piece in Secure the piece in place, or be sure you place, or be sure you do not move it while do not move it while adding solder. adding solder.

Step 3: Heat up the contact pointsStep 3: Heat up the contact points

Using the soldering iron, heat up the point Using the soldering iron, heat up the point of contact between the pin and the board.of contact between the pin and the board.

This step doesn’t take very long, and is This step doesn’t take very long, and is sometimes combined with Step 4 to speed sometimes combined with Step 4 to speed up the process.up the process.

Step 4: Add solderStep 4: Add solder While the pin and connection While the pin and connection

point are sufficiently heated, point are sufficiently heated, add solder to connect the two.add solder to connect the two. This is best done by touching This is best done by touching

the tip of the coiled solder the tip of the coiled solder between the pin and between the pin and connection point.connection point.

Most of the time, you should Most of the time, you should not remove the soldering iron not remove the soldering iron while trying to add the solder.while trying to add the solder.

Note: If the solder begins to ball Note: If the solder begins to ball up on the tip of the soldering up on the tip of the soldering iron during this step, clean off iron during this step, clean off any solder on the tip, and any solder on the tip, and repeat Step 3.repeat Step 3.

Step 5: Remove the soldering ironStep 5: Remove the soldering iron

After having the After having the solder connect the pin solder connect the pin to the board’s to the board’s connection point, connection point, remove the soldering remove the soldering iron carefully, and the iron carefully, and the liquid solder should liquid solder should solidify.solidify.

DesolderingDesoldering

Desoldering is useful if Desoldering is useful if you added a part in the you added a part in the wrong place, or you wrong place, or you ‘bridged’ two pins or ‘bridged’ two pins or connection points. connection points. Bridging is the process Bridging is the process of creating a path for of creating a path for electricity to flow that is electricity to flow that is not desired (in our case, not desired (in our case, from one pin of a chip to from one pin of a chip to another directly).another directly).

Helpful WebsitesHelpful Websites

http://www.elexp.com/t_solder.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soldering

http://mccworkshop.com/setup/soldering3.htm