decided to learn how to use soldering gun

[sixstringsteve]

a lot of beginners also treat soldering like welding. They melt a blob of lead onto their iron and wonder why the wires don't stick together very well. Solder is not like hot glue, you don't lay a bead of solder between the two wires.

You heat one wire to the point that the wire is hot enough to melt the solder. Touch the solder to the wire (not to the iron), and the wire will absorb the solder.

 

[sLcREX]

Good to know lol. Although I never actually researched the proper way to solder, I would always just put a dab of that pasty stuff on the wires and then I would touch the tip against the solder to have it melt and land on the wires. Let me tell ya....that did not work lol

 

[sixstringsteve]

yeah, a lot of people try that and never have success (or it looks connected, but isn't).

 

[frieed]

If I could afford it I'd have a MetCal but $650 is a little much for what I do..

 

[STAG]

I reccomend rosin-core for clean wires, and acid core if you are trying to solder wires that have that nasty black corrosion on them. This is just my experience, others may agree or disagree

 

[Bart]

Great information. subscribed.

 

[Gravy]

Solder sucker is my favorite tool.
I use it weekly to remove burnt up resistors and micro switches.

 

[airmanwilliams]

I am set now to start practicing tonight when I am off work. Just picked up a cheap iron and hobby station to go with the gun I had bought a couple days ago. Also had to pickup a couple Purple Stuff drinks to calm my shakes alittle.

I also have on order a solder sucker and ofcourse some new led bulbs for the gun because I just had to replace that bulb.

 

[BCGPER]

Since it sounds like you're mostly going to be splicing wires, Google or YouTube "Western Union Splice" and you'll never have one fail.

 

[sixstringsteve]

[video=youtube;BxeDkcAa4Fs]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxeDkcAa4Fs[/video]

[video=youtube;Q9G9gaokqvM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9G9gaokqvM[/video]