need help soldering (Updated!)

[tom314]

This is my first time soldering, I'm trying to replace the capicitors in my epox 8k7a motherboard. The first time I tried the iron started smoking and smelled like burning. Is it safe to solder in my apartment? I don't want the fire alarm to go off. Any help is appreciated.

edit...

I just tried removing one of the leaking caps in my motherboard but I wasn't able to get it out. I was applying heat to the leads of the cap on the bottom of the motherboard, but the solder holding it in place wouldn't melt. Is my 15W iron not hot enough? How long does it typically take one of those cheap radio shack irons to heat up fully? Or is there something I'm doing wrong here. Any help is appreciated.

 

[etech]

A new iron will smoke some. Open a window.

Do you have the equipment you need to get the old caps out. That will be the hardest part. A solder sucker or tape wick would come in very handy..

When the tip gets warm, wipe it on a damp sponge and than put a little solder on it. Also do that when you are done before unplugging it.

Other than that, can you be a little more specific as to what questions you have?

 

[klein297]

You might want to practice a little before tackling the motherboard.
Go to the shack and get some cheap resistors and a printed board.
Practice soldering and desoldering without burning anything up.
When you get comfy with that tackle the mobo.

 

[tom314]

Thanks for the quick replies. I'm actually waiting on the caps to arrive so I was just going to practice soldering some wires and resistors tonight. I've been doing a lot of reading on how to solder and replace caps in motherboards so I don't really have any other questions just yet. I just got worried when the iron started smoking. I'll crack open the window and start practicing. Thanks again.

 

[mdcrab]

Be sure to use a very fine rosin core solder.

 

[tom314]

I'm using .032 diameter, that was the thinnest they had at my radio shack. Will that work okay?

 

[Nitemare]

Originally posted by: tom314
I'm using .032 diameter, that was the thinnest they had at my radio shack. Will that work okay?

Should be fine, did you tin your tip?

If not heat up the iron and put some solder on the tip

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: Nitemare

Originally posted by: tom314
I'm using .032 diameter, that was the thinnest they had at my radio shack. Will that work okay?

Should be fine, did you tin your tip?

If not heat up the iron and put some solder on the tip

He can also get tinning compound from Radio Shack.

Just make sure you practice a LOT before tacking the mobo. Find an old card that you don't want anymore, and practice removing and resoldering components. It isn't easy without a solder sucker. Desoldering wick will work too, but you have to be patient, and use lots of it.

 

[hevnsnt]

do yourself a BIG favor, get some solder wick (copper braid) and an old soundcard. Play with the sound card first, remove components, add them back....

 

[etech]

I forgot to ask, what wattage soldering iron did you get?

The danger in removing components is lifting the pads that are on the board. There are ways to repair it usually but you don't want to get into that if you don't have to.

Don't press hard with the soldering iron, let the heat do it. Don't hold heat on a joint for too long or the pads will seperate from the board. You can remove with either solder wick or a solder sucker but having both is best. Acutally a vacuum solder sucker is best but you probably don't have access to one and wouldn't want to buy it for one job.

Anyway, good luck and let us know how it turns out.

 

[tom314]

I picked up a solder sucker today at radio shack too, but i'm not totally sure how to use it. After you heat up the solder you want sucked out, you just hit the button on the solder sucker to suck it up? Do you have to remove the sucked up solder aftewards from the solder sucker? or can i just leave it inside? (Does this makes any sense?)

Also, I have practiced tinning the tip and have succesfully soldered two wires together! Unfortunately, I don't have any unused sound cards or anything similiar to practice on with me, so I'll probably have to stick to practicing on resisters, wires, etc. Also, is a wet sponge necessary? or can i just use a wet paper towel or cloth?

 

[tom314]

I forgot to add, I picked up a 15W iron ( the guy at radio shack said anything higher would get too hot for pc's). I think my soluder sucker is a vacuum one, this is the one i got actually...

link here

 

[zzzz]

Originally posted by: tom314
After you heat up the solder you want sucked out, you just hit the button on the solder sucker to suck it up? Do you have to remove the sucked up solder aftewards from the solder sucker? or can i just leave it inside? (Does this makes any sense?)

Yes, "prepare" the sucker by pushing the piston down, so that when you hit the button, the piston wil be released and the solder will be sucked by the vacuum created(if the solder is melted)
Then you should be able to clean the sucker by pushing the piston again

Also, is a wet sponge necessary? or can i just use a wet paper towel or cloth?

Be careful if you use paper towel as it might burn and leave residues on the tip.

 

[tom314]

One more quick question, the tip of my iron has turned from a silver color to more of a gold/black color in some areas. Is this normal?

 

[brxndxn]

OMG.. none of you guys told the man to make sure he's using FLUX.


Dude, use flux when you solder. It's the right way and it's the only way things will stick. Flux is like soldering glue - you put some on each part getting soldered together. Melt a little solder on the tip of your iron, touch the spot with flux, and boom - it will fuse perfectly. Flux smokes a little so I dunno if you were already using it. It is impossible to get things to fuse right without using flux. USE FLUX. For some reason, dumb people like to try their hand at soldering without it.

 

[Antisocial Virge]

Originally posted by: brxndxn
OMG.. none of you guys told the man to make sure he's using FLUX.


Dude, use flux when you solder. It's the right way and it's the only way things will stick. Flux is like soldering glue - you put some on each part getting soldered together. Melt a little solder on the tip of your iron, touch the spot with flux, and boom - it will fuse perfectly. Flux smokes a little so I dunno if you were already using it. It is impossible to get things to fuse right without using flux. USE FLUX. For some reason, dumb people like to try their hand at soldering without it.

If your good you don't need flux, and I used to solder everyday at my job.

 

[mryellow2]

My mother used to work as a circuit board assembler. She would solder for hours everyday and she never used flux =p

 

[etech]

Originally posted by: brxndxn
OMG.. none of you guys told the man to make sure he's using FLUX.


Dude, use flux when you solder. It's the right way and it's the only way things will stick. Flux is like soldering glue - you put some on each part getting soldered together. Melt a little solder on the tip of your iron, touch the spot with flux, and boom - it will fuse perfectly. Flux smokes a little so I dunno if you were already using it. It is impossible to get things to fuse right without using flux. USE FLUX. For some reason, dumb people like to try their hand at soldering without it.

With rosin core solder, you don't need extra flux.

One more quick question, the tip of my iron has turned from a silver color to more of a gold/black color in some areas. Is this normal?

Wipe it on a damp sponge, even a rag and then put some solder on it and wipe it again. It doesn't take much of a wipe, just a quick pass.

 

[AmphibSailor]

Like etech said...

(Rosin core solder has flux inside...so extra flux is unnecessary.)

 

[TechnoKid]

Originally posted by: tom314
One more quick question, the tip of my iron has turned from a silver color to more of a gold/black color in some areas. Is this normal?

This happens when solder burns on the tip. You may be able to sand it off or clean it, but if it becomes too pitted or burnt, then a new tip is needed (If it becomes hard to retin it after cleaning then you may need a new tip) I found this out because I was imporperly soldering (mind you this was when I was like 12 years old and knew nothing of what I know now); I was putting solder onto the tip and then applying it to the joint. I have since leanred the correct way is to heat the joint and then touch the solder. You can "prime" the tip with some solder, but not too much or leave the solder on for too long or it will burn onto the tip. I believe that it it more specifically the flux or rosin that burns.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: brxndxn
OMG.. none of you guys told the man to make sure he's using FLUX.


Dude, use flux when you solder. It's the right way and it's the only way things will stick. Flux is like soldering glue - you put some on each part getting soldered together. Melt a little solder on the tip of your iron, touch the spot with flux, and boom - it will fuse perfectly. Flux smokes a little so I dunno if you were already using it. It is impossible to get things to fuse right without using flux. USE FLUX. For some reason, dumb people like to try their hand at soldering without it.

eh, when was the last time you soldered? 30 years ago?

 

[Jmmsbnd007]

I see no one mentioned what type of solder to use. I recommend 63/37 (instead of the standard 60/40), since it goes straight from liquid to solid, without the pasty in-between state. It's what you want for electronics soldering.

 

[etech]

Originally posted by: Jmmsbnd007
I see no one mentioned what type of solder to use. I recommend 63/37 (instead of the standard 60/40), since it goes straight from liquid to solid, without the pasty in-between state. It's what you want for electronics soldering.

I don't think I have ever used the 63/37 solder, but for just soldering a few caps on a board whatever you find at Radio Shack would work.

A thin 60/40 would do just fine.

 

[tom314]

bump

 

[Eli]

Make sure the part of the tip you're touching to the solder is tinned.

You can tell it's up to temperature when it will melt the wire solder.