How To

Solder: A
Beginner’s
Guide
P R E PA R E D BY:

J O V E N PA L E N T I N O S
What Is Soldering?
Soldering is the process of joining two or more electronic
parts together by melting solder around the connection.
If you were to take apart any electronic device that
contains a circuit board, you’ll see the components are
attached using soldering techniques.
Solder is a metal alloy and when it cools it creates a
strong electrical bond between the parts. Even though
soldering can create a permanent connection, it can also
be reversed using a desoldering tool as described in the
picture.
Soldering Tools
The good thing about learning how to solder is the fact that you don’t need a lot to get started.
Below we’ll outline the basic tools and materials you will need for most of your soldering projects.
1. Soldering Iron
2. Soldering Station
3. Soldering Iron Tips
4. Brass or Conventional Sponge
5. Soldering Iron Stand
6. Solder
7. Helping Hand
Soldering Iron
A soldering iron is a hand tool that plugs into a standard
120v AC outlet and heats up in order to melt solder around
electrical connections. This is one of the most important
tools used in soldering and it can come in a few variations
such as pen or gun form.
For beginners, it’s recommended that you use the pen
style soldering iron in the 15W to 30W range. Most
soldering irons have interchangeable tips that can be used
for different soldering applications. Be very cautious when
using any type of soldering iron because it can heat up to
896′ F which is extremely hot.
Soldering Station
A soldering station is a more advanced version of the basic standalone soldering pen. If you
are going to be doing a lot of soldering, these are great to have as they offer more flexibility
and control. The main benefit of a soldering station is the ability to precisely adjust the
temperature of the soldering iron which is great for a range of projects. These stations can
also create a safer workspace as some include advanced temperature sensors, alert settings
and even password protection for safety.
Soldering Iron Tips
At the end of most soldering irons is an
interchangeable part known as a soldering tip.
There are many variations of this tip and they
come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Each
tip is used for a specific purpose and offers a
distinct advantage over another. The most
common tips you will use in electronics projects
are the conical tip and the chisel tip.
Conical and Chisel Tips
Conical Tip – Used in precision electronics
soldering because of the fine tip. Because of
its pointed end, it’s able to deliver heat to
smaller areas without affecting its
surroundings.
Chisel Tip – This tip is well-suited to
soldering wires or other larger components
because of its broad flat tip.
Brass or Conventional Sponge
Using a sponge will help to keep the soldering iron tip clean by removing the oxidation that
forms. Tips with oxidation will tend to turn black and not accept solder as it did when it was
new. You could use a conventional wet sponge but this tends to shorten the lifespan of the
tip due to expansion and contraction. Also, a wet sponge will drop the temperature of the
tip temporarily when wiped. A better alternative is to use a brass sponge as shown on the
left.
Soldering Iron Stand
A soldering iron stand is very basic but very
useful and handy to have. This stand helps
prevent the hot iron tip from coming in
contact with flammable materials or causing
accidental injury to your hand. Most soldering
stations come with this built in and also
include a sponge or brass sponge for cleaning
the tip.
Solder
Solder is a metal alloy material that is melted to
create a permanent bond between electrical parts. It
comes in both lead and lead-free variations with
diameters of .032″ and .062″ being the most
common. Inside the solder core is a material known as
flux which helps improve electrical contact and its
mechanical strength.
If you do use lead solder, make sure you have proper
ventilation and that you wash your hands after use.
Helping Hand (Third Hand)
A helping hand is a device that has 2 or
more alligator clips and sometimes a
magnifying glass/light attached. This clips
will assist you by holding the items you are
trying to solder while you use the soldering
iron and solder. A very helpful tool to have
in your makerspace.
Soldering
Safety
Soldering Safety
Now that you know what tools and materials are required, it’s time to
briefly discuss ways of staying safe while soldering.
Soldering irons can reach temperatures of 800′ F so it’s very important
to know where your iron is at all times. We always recommend you
use a soldering iron stand to help prevent accidental burns or damage.

Make sure you are soldering in a well ventilated area. When solder is heated, there are
fumes released that are harmful to your eyes and lungs. It’s recommended to use a fume
extractor which is a fan with a charcoal filter that absorbs the harmful solder smoke.
It’s always a good idea to wear protective eye wear in case of accidental splashes of hot
solder. Lastly, make sure to wash your hands when done soldering especially if using lead
solder.
Tinning The Tip
Before you can start soldering, you
need to prep your soldering iron by
tinning the tip with solder. This process
will help improve the heat transfer from
the iron to the item you’re soldering.
Tinning will also help to protect the tip
and reduce wear.
Step 1: Begin by making sure the tip is attached to the iron and screwed tightly in place.

Step 2: Turn on your soldering iron and let it heat up. If you have a soldering station with an adjustable temp control,
set it to 400′ C/ 752′ F.

Step 3: Wipe the tip of the soldering iron on a damp wet sponge to clean it. Wait a few seconds to let the tip heat up
again before proceeding to step 4.

Step 4: Hold the soldering iron in one hand and solder in the other. Touch the solder to the tip of the iron and make
sure the solder flows evenly around the tip.

You should tin the tip of your iron before and after each soldering session to extend its life. Eventually, every tip will
wear out and will need replacing when it becomes rough or pitted.
How To Solder
How To Solder
Step 1: Mount The Component
Begin by inserting the leads of the
LED into the holes of the circuit
board. Flip the board over and bend
the leads outward at a 45′ angle. This
will help the component make a
better connection with the copper
pad and prevent it from falling out
while soldering.
Step 2: Heat The Joint
Turn your soldering iron on and if it
has an adjustable heat control, set it
to 400’C. At this point, touch the tip
of the iron to the copper pad and the
resistor lead at the same time. You
need to hold the soldering iron in
place for 3-4 seconds in order to heat
the pad and the lead.
Step 3: Apply Solder To Joint
Continue holding the soldering iron
on the copper pad and the lead and
touch your solder to the joint.
IMPORTANT – Don’t touch the solder
directly to the tip of the iron. You
want the joint to be hot enough to
melt the solder when it’s touched. If
the joint is too cold, it will form a bad
connection.
Step 4: Snip The Leads
Remove the soldering iron and let the solder
cool down naturally. Don’t blow on the solder
as this will cause a bad joint. Once cool, you
can snip the extra wire from leads.
A proper solder joint is smooth, shiny and
looks like a volcano or cone shape. You want
just enough solder to cover the entire joint but
not too much so it becomes a ball or spills to a
nearby lead or joint.
Proper way of Soldering
How To Solder Wires
Now it’s time to show you how to solder
wires together. For this process, it’s
recommended to use helping hands or
other type of clamp device.
Begin by removing the insulation from
the ends of both wires you are soldering
together. If the wire is stranded, twist
the strands together with your fingers.
Make sure your soldering iron is fully
heated and touch the tip to the end of
one of the wires. Hold it on the wire for 3-
4 seconds.

Keep the iron in place and touch the

solder to the wire until it’s fully coated.
Repeat this process on the other wire.
Hold the two tinned wires on top of each other
and touch the soldering iron to both wires. This
process should melt the solder and coat both
wires evenly.

Remove the soldering iron and wait a few

seconds to let the soldered connection cool
and harden. Use heat shrink to cover the
connection.
Desoldering
Desoldering is the removal of solder and
components from a circuit board for
troubleshooting, repair, replacement, and salvage.
The good thing about using solder is the fact that it
can be removed easily in a technique known as
desoldering. This comes in handy if you need to
remove a component or make a correction to your
electronic circuit.
To desolder a joint, you will need solder wick which
is also known as desoldering braid.
Desoldering using desoldering braid
Step 1 – Place a piece of the desoldering braid on top of
the joint/solder you want removed.
Step 2 – Heat your soldering iron and touch the tip to
the top of the braid. This will heat the solder below
which will then be absorbed into the desoldering braid.
You can now remove the braid to see the solder has
been extracted and removed. Be careful touching the
braid when you are heating it because it will get hot.
Desoldering pump
If you have a lot of solder you want removed, you may want to use a device called a
desoldering pump. This is a handheld mechanical vacuum that sucks up hot solder with
a press of a button.
Using Desoldering Pump
1. To use, press the plunger down at the
end of the solder sucker.
2. Heat the joint with your soldering iron
and place the tip of the solder sucker
over the hot solder.
3. Press the release button to suck up the
liquid solder. In order to empty the solder
sucker, press down on the plunger.