That kinda sums it up.Ventilate that shit, man!
I think that's what it is. I got a new iron and tips in the mail today but it's 60watts and I was quite sure if I should be using that much heat on a board. But the solder wasn't sliding off the tip properly and I was getting through a lot of solderfan works but honestly I just hold my breath while I am soldering a end or whatever. Suck in, solder then blow out. If it takes you longer than 3 or 4 seconds to solder a end you need a new tip and/or iron. Once you get tinnng a tip down with a decent iron it should go really fast.
That works really well. Love how he used the fish filters. Well I've for ideas running through my mind now as old PSUs are ten a pennyFume extractor bro...a few cheapo 80mm computer fans and an old throw away ATX powersupply...blamo
Heck this guy did it WITH a ATX powersupply, just flipped the fan around
Well I have an old wartime radio I could practice on tmrw. I had planned to mod it somehow. I knew it would come in handy eventually. As for cleaning the tip, I've just started using a copper wire ball. I had a browse around for a heatsink clamp. I've never had one supplied with an iron but one will turn up. The chips today did get very hot. And the wires. It amazes me how quickly things heat up as soon as the iron touches them. I'll practice and let you know how I improveI like the kester just to clean the ends Im soldering. It strips away oxidation and I just feel I get better connections with it. Solder you got looks good so really you just need to watch some vids on tinning tips and basic soldering. Ill tell you how I learned. I watched vids and found a old clock radio and sat there for a evening and removing and resoldering stuff on the board. Also practice tinning wire ends as youll want to do that anyways. You guys might laugh but I do not use the sponge or solder cleaning that came with my station I actually use a strip of an old towel to clean my tips. All it takes is a quick, light wipe. It just seems to work better for me.
Once you learn to tin your tips your life will get much, much easier. The goal is solder as fast as you can and as little solder as you can. You want the solder to coat and not blob up. One thing I frequently use on boards if you do not have one is I have a little heatsink clamp that came with a old soldering kit just to make sure I do not fry a chip or ptc fuse or anything.
I think it's like @Superjeep said, that I'm probably spending too long actually soldering each part.Biggest tip I can say is ALWAYS have a clean tip..I use a cheapo brass pad tip cleaner to keep the tip clean
http://www.fasttech.com/p/1522102
I also like using this solder
http://www.fasttech.com/p/1443502
To keep the fumes from bothering you have good airflow or remove it before you breath it
I think it's like @Superjeep said, that I'm probably spending too long actually soldering each part.
Btw, I totally forgot to look on fasttech for solder and bits. I would've thought using a towel would've burnt.
Anyway thanks guys for your helps. It's 3am here so I have to sleep but any advice and links just post away. It's most welcome and I'm copy and pasting it into notepad so I don't forget.
Oh another thing while I remember: when you tin the ends of your wire do you tin it all the way around?
Yeah, i curse like a sailor when i wear those damn things.That kinda sums it up.
Thanks yo The general concensous seems to be get a fan so that's what I'll do tmrw. My head still hurts. I don't like those masks as you swear a lot in them
Gotta love that analogy @Superjeep !.....
As far as tinning the wire or anything for that matter. Once you tin a tip right the wire will suck in the solder very quickly. Think of soldering as a booty call with an ex you do not like. You wanna get in, get hot and get out as fast as possible. I simply put the iron tip on one side and solder on the other and let the wire melt and suck the solder in. Should be perfectly tinned and all wire strands should be coated with no mess. It will simply look like you chromed the copper..
Good luck.
SWEAT! lolYeah, i curse like a sailor when i wear those damn things.
One thing to be super careful about though - if you solder and you breathe it in, make damn certain that you're not using solder containing lead or tin. That stuff will mess with your head, right. It's very bad for you.
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