1. Soldering: Methods, Tips, and Applications
Justin T. Rucker
GeoResources Institute
Mississippi State ERC
Mississippi State University

2. Equipment Soldering Iron Small Needle-Nose Pliers Solder Sucker
Soldering Stand and Sponge
Wire Strippers
Solder
Continuity tester
Flux
Static Safety Equipment
Make sure the soldering iron is over 35 Watts, it’s best to have one that has a variable temperature. Make sure that you have a stand with a sponge. More complicated soldering stations have ESD safe Irons that make sure you don’t damage expensive CMOS parts. They even have butane soldering irons now.

3. Soldering Basics Know where the hot end of the iron is at all times
Never leave a soldering iron plugged in
Always use a table or workstation
Grasp the iron like a pencil
Use a pencil and paper to keep track of connections made
Practice, Practice, Practice
Make sure the soldering iron is over 35 Watts, it’s best to have one that has a variable temperature. Make sure that you have a stand with a sponge. More complicated soldering stations have ESD safe Irons that make sure you don’t damage expensive CMOS parts. They even have butane soldering irons now.

4. “Tinning” For effective soldering, the tip should be “tinned”
To “tin” the tip of your iron:
Melt a small bead of solder on the tip
Brush of the excess solder onto a wet sponge
Always “tin” a new tip immediately
“Tin” periodically while soldering

5. Wires To join two wires together: Strip 1/4th to 1/8th inch insulation
“Tin” iron
Heat wire and place a small amount of solder on the tip of the wire (x2)
Place a small amount of solder onto the tip of the iron and touch the two ends of wire to the iron
Remove the iron and hold steady while solder cools
If available, use heat shrink tubing

6. Through-Hole Parts
Demonstration

7. Chips and Sockets To solder DIP sockets to project board:
Insert socket so the pins come out on the side with the metal contacts, or pads
Secure on the top side with tape
Solder ground pin and power pin first; check to make sure DIP socket is flush
Place a small dab of solder onto the remaining pins; clip any excess leads
Do not melt the DIP socket or the pad

8. Create Power and Ground Busses
Provide easy access
Shorten wires
Create busses:
Use trimmed resistor leads
Run near the power and ground side of components

9. Desoldering Remove soldered components:
Solder sucker
Desolderer
Wicking wire
Pliers + soldering iron
Same tools are used to remove solder bridges
On PCB’s ground pins take more heat to remove because of the ground plane

10. Using Flux
Solder has a rosin core that allows solder to bond with copper.
Rosin is a type of flux
Flux is used to make a quick, clean solder joint
Especially helpful in surface-mount applications

11. ESD Protection
Many CMOS chips are sensitive to Electro-Static Discharge
ESD protection devices:
Special mats
Wrist band
ESD resistant soldering irons
Investing in these devices will save you time and money

12. Safety Notes Soldering Irons are VERY hot(500-800)
If you burn yourself
Immediately rinse with cold water
Bandage
Do not puncture blisters
Seek medical care if burn is 2nd or 3rd degree
Again, always be mindful of where the soldering iron is