Electronics > Beginners
Trying to solder with a cheapo hot air gun.
sourcecharge:
So after receiving the parts, and looking at the 0603 package, I was like, :palm: nope...
So I got some solder paste and a cheap hot air solderer unit.
I got that one from circuit specialist above, and I got this solder paste:
No Clean Solder Paste
https://www.circuitspecialists.com/smd-291ax.html
It doesn't state that it has flux mixed in it, so should I put some flux down on the pads before I put the solder paste on them?
I was planning to practice on a old smd pci card that doesn't work anymore, and try different nozzels, temps, and airflow.
What I'm not sure of is whether if the flux is required.
Bassman59:
--- Quote from: sourcecharge on July 21, 2018, 11:20:51 am ---I once tried to align a small smd to the pad to do just that for 30 mins and I kept moving it off the pad. After carefully taking my time for about an hour, I was able to finally get it soldered correctly.
--- End quote ---
Describe your method and your tools!
Soldering 0805 and 0603 passives is simple. You need a pair of tweezers, a magnifying lens/lamp, and a chisel tip the width of the pads for your soldering tool.
Put a bit of solder on one of the pads. Place the part with the tweezers onto its place on the board. Hold it with the tweezers while you hit the pad you preloaded with solder. The solder will reflow. Solder the other pad. Done.
sourcecharge:
I used a magnifying glass on a stand, it was a 4x.
I use a chisel tip with small diameter solder with a flux core.
I was under the impression that in order to have good solder joints, you have to heat the part up first, then bring the solder to the heat, not the other way around.
I've seen the videos, and heard the comments about putting the solder down on the pads, or on the tip first, but I've been told by an experienced electronics engineer, that this will make bad solder joints.
I took my time to align the resistor to the pad, I tried using tape, I tried holding it down with tweezers, but what felt like forever, it kept moving off of the pads.
I don't want bad solder joints, and I have way too much small smd parts to place.
You might be able to do it, that is a good skill, but I have watched the videos that show what looks like to be a very simple way and professional looking solder joints over many parts.
The parts are placed on the pads that have the paste on them which keep the part in place, and they don't have to be even straight as they straighten themselves out.
I have already purchased the paste and hot air solderer.
I think the paste does not have flux in it, so do I need to put the flux on the pad before I put the paste down.
Thank you for your encouragement, but I will pass.
If anyone has any experience on hot air soldering, and non flux paste, I would be grateful for your help.
sourcecharge:
Never-mind, I noticed the part number and did a quick search and found that it was a chipquick type solder paste which already has the flux in it.
Here's the datasheet:
janoc:
--- Quote from: sourcecharge on July 30, 2018, 06:29:46 am ---I used a magnifying glass on a stand, it was a 4x.
I've seen the videos, and heard the comments about putting the solder down on the pads, or on the tip first, but I've been told by an experienced electronics engineer, that this will make bad solder joints.
--- End quote ---
You don't put solder on the tip of the iron (except to initially tin it) but you do need to put solder on the pads! Unless you have 3+ hands you will have hard time to hold the part & and the solder and the iron at the same time if you don't put solder on the pad first.
You also need to use flux - the flux in the solder wire is not sufficient! That will flash off the moment the solder melts first time and if you don't add extra flux, next time you melt the solder you have poor joint.
--- Quote from: sourcecharge on July 30, 2018, 06:29:46 am ---I took my time to align the resistor to the pad, I tried using tape, I tried holding it down with tweezers, but what felt like forever, it kept moving off of the pads.
--- End quote ---
:o How can a component move off the pad if you are holding it down with tweezers? Something doesn't compute here.
--- Quote from: sourcecharge on July 30, 2018, 06:29:46 am ---I don't want bad solder joints, and I have way too much small smd parts to place.
You might be able to do it, that is a good skill, but I have watched the videos that show what looks like to be a very simple way and professional looking solder joints over many parts.
--- End quote ---
Sorry but the main problem is that you don't know how to solder properly. How are you going to rework the board if something needs getting fixed later?
Good luck messing with the paste ... At least use a hot plate and not hot air if you want to use the paste. You will be far less likely to blow you parts all over the place and scorch the board in the process.
--- Quote from: sourcecharge on July 30, 2018, 06:29:46 am ---If anyone has any experience on hot air soldering, and non flux paste, I would be grateful for your help.
--- End quote ---
There is no "non-flux" paste. Solder paste is tiny solder balls/particles suspended in flux. Once that flux dries out the paste will become useless - that's why solder paste has limited shelf life and needs to be stored in a refrigerator.
I strongly suggest that you actually watch the videos Dave did on soldering (and not random Youtube crap). He shows the basic techniques for through hole parts, SMD, even solder paste and hot air use. Then buy a cheap SMD kit - e.g. one of the Velleman kits, doesn't matter, and practice. Or use a scrap PCB from some device and practice removing and resoldering components.
Tools:
Through hole soldering:
SMD soldering:
Drag soldering:
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version