Good soldering technique — step by step
How to make a clean, strong solder joint — and tell a bad one from a good one
Soldering is electronics' craft in its purest form. It looks easy, but the difference between a good and bad joint determines whether the equipment works reliably for years or fails in half a year. Use this sequence every time.
§Prepare bench and workpiece
Turn on point extraction and clear the bench so you have space and light. Make sure the soldering iron has the right temperature and the tip is clean and tinned. Clean surfaces solder better — so start with clean component legs and clean board.
§Warm the joint — not the solder
The most important rule: heat the assembly itself that is the metal and the solder joint and then bring the solder towards the hot assembly — not towards the iron tip. When the assembly is hot enough the solder melts and flows over the surface on its own. That gives a shiny even joint.
- 01Stir the iron to both bones and solder joint so they warm together
- 02Apply solder against the joint, not directly on the tip
- 03Remove the solder and immediately after the iron — and keep the item still while it solidifies
§Know a good from a bad
A good joint is glossy smooth and forms a small funnel up around the pin. A poor joint can be matte and grainy a ball that has not flowed out or a tin bridge between two pins that should not be connected. Learn to see the difference — your eye is your best quality tool.
§Kontrollér til sidst
Look closely with a magnifying glass where it's fine and check mechanically that the leg is firmly seated. Check that you have not made unintended bridges between adjacent points. Only when both the eye and the measurement are satisfied is the joint complete.