When/How did you Learn to Solder?

I learned by watching, and then trial and error, I suspect some of you may have had a more professional approach?

This poll is featured in the recent Round-Up and Review - Projects, News and Polls! - so check it out!

Top Comments

ralphjy over 5 years ago +6

I was fortunate enough to have worked for a company when we did all of our own design and manufacturing - PCBs, assemblies, cabling, systems, software, and even ICs. We had our own through hole and SMT…
DAB over 5 years ago +5

When I got to tech school, I new how to solder, but they took us through a class where they made sure we all used the same process and procedures. After that, we had to fix anything we broke in class.…
neilk over 5 years ago +4

My first attempt at soldering involved using my father's large copper bit device that had to be heated up the gas cooker! This was long before I learned to solder. I still have that iron. One of my friends…

Parents

neilk over 5 years ago

My first attempt at soldering involved using my father's large copper bit device that had to be heated up the gas cooker! This was long before I learned to solder. I still have that iron.
One of my friends at school - we were about 12 or 13 - brought a small electric motor, powered by a 4.5 V battery. Somehow, I managed to persuade him to let me take it home to show my father. Unfortunately, one of the wires on the motor broke away from its solder joint.

Panic!!!!!!!! I managed to fix it and return the motor the next day!

Some years later I pesruaded my parents to buy me a Henley Solon, which I still have, although I haven't used it for many many years.

Neil
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14rhb over 5 years ago in reply to neilk

Hi neilk,

A great story that also brings back memories for me as I too have something similar - a large slug of copper held in the end....no issues with tip getting eroded but perhaps SMT would be awkward
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neilk over 5 years ago in reply to 14rhb

Hi 14rhb

14rhb wrote:

...no issues with tip getting eroded ...
So there is an upside to such a cumbersome beast................
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14rhb over 5 years ago in reply to neilk

<don't try this at home>
Also handy when working in the shed to sear the cheese in a sandwich rather than go indoors to use the kitchen?
</don't try this at home>
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hugohu over 5 years ago in reply to 14rhb

Nice, but like wouldn't that cuase lead poisoning if you're not using lead-free

And wouldn't that be unsanitary
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14rhb over 5 years ago in reply to hugohu

Actually I'd opt for the hot air gun as its a much better wattage and can toast a larger area.

Apparently some lead compounds taste slightly sweet - which is why sometimes young children were found to chew the woodwork in old houses (i.e. the gloss paint contained lead ).
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14rhb over 5 years ago in reply to hugohu

Actually I'd opt for the hot air gun as its a much better wattage and can toast a larger area.

Apparently some lead compounds taste slightly sweet - which is why sometimes young children were found to chew the woodwork in old houses (i.e. the gloss paint contained lead ).
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Children

hugohu over 5 years ago in reply to 14rhb

Yup! That's what I'm planning on.

Mostly to... solder fine pitch SMD devices because I'll be wayyyyy too lazy to do this in the future.

And a rework mat too...

And a ton of solder paste.
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