Soldering for dummies?

[Anonymous]

Hey gang, anyone want to point me to a good on line resource for soldering for those that have no clue how it works? I read about how great it is to solder your wires and track pieces and would love to learn more. I am clueless!

Thanks

Jared

[CBQ_Guy]

QUOTE: Originally posted by mrdisco102

Hey gang, anyone want to point me to a good on line resource for soldering for those that have no clue how it works? I read about how great it is to solder your wires and track pieces and would love to learn more. I am clueless!

Thanks

Jared

Jared,

This site might be helpful to you. I just Googled under "soldering":

http://www.epemag.wimborne.co.uk/solderfaq.htm

Don't forget to PRACTICE! on something unimportant until you start to get the hang of it.

Good Luck!

[Anonymous]

D'oh. Dont know why I couldn't have done the same thing. Thanks for the tip and the time it took to look it up.Nifty little website.[:I]


Jared

[Anonymous]

Jared,

Others have more expertise, but the things I found helpful when I asked similar questions awhile back:

1. Clean parts (whatever you are soldering, e.g. track and wire)
2. Good mechanical connection (ie, two parts close together, intertwined, etc.)
3. Rosin core (not acid) solder of a fairly thin diameter
4. Tin wire and tip of iron in advance.
5. Use flux paste.
6. Use tip on iron suitable for job (e.g. small chisel tip for feeder wires on track).
7. Use hot, but not too large an iron, e.g. I use 35 watt for feeder wire to track.
8. Consider solder station (you can control heat, have a place to set the iron while not in use, and have something to clean the tip, e.g. wet sponge).

I am sure there are more things that I have forgotten, but these got me past solder feeder wires to the track on the new HO layout my grandson and I are building. Now I wonder why I was so worried. Good luck.

John
Austin, Texas