Help! Anyone any good with a soldering iron????
Help! Anyone any good with a soldering iron????
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Discussion

Kermit power

Original Poster:

29,622 posts

236 months

Saturday 13th February 2010
quotequote all
Hi All,

I have all the symptoms of some dodgy radio connections. Apparently this is extremely common and very easily fixed by doing what is stated here but I am shockingly crap with a soldering iron.

Is anyone on here any good at soldering in return for a couple of pints consumed after the event? Alternatively, is there anywhere I can take it that won't charge me £50+ for what seems to be a fairly simple job?

VerySideways

10,267 posts

295 months

Saturday 13th February 2010
quotequote all
I can do it if you have all the kit - i've lent my soldering iron out to someone but if you have something half decent i can do the job.

Kermit power

Original Poster:

29,622 posts

236 months

Saturday 13th February 2010
quotequote all
I don't have the kit unfortunately, but if nobody else comes on who does, then just tell me what to get.

TomM

662 posts

218 months

Saturday 13th February 2010
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Likewise - I have the same issue with he same unit. I have stripped mine down and it looks like a straight forward job.......but I am no good at soldering frown

Will keep my eye on this thread!

pernod

434 posts

211 months

Saturday 13th February 2010
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I've got the soldering equipment (including a 12v iron if this needs to be done in car?) however I wouldn't trust my soldering skills... happy to loan an iron and solder if there's someone with better hand eye co-ordination out there smile

smack

9,768 posts

214 months

Saturday 13th February 2010
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Got a fancy pro temp controlled soldering iron with fine tips etc. if you want to borrow it.

Robatr0n

12,362 posts

239 months

Saturday 13th February 2010
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scratchchin

I may have a soldering iron laying about at the factory. I'll have a ganders tomorrow morning.

If I do, I'll be at the factory myself working on the S2 from mid afternoon so fill free to pop by. It's in Hayes by the way.

Eta - I can't solder for toffee. You'd need Pete there. laugh

Edited by Robatr0n on Saturday 13th February 22:43

VerySideways

10,267 posts

295 months

Saturday 13th February 2010
quotequote all
smack said:
Got a fancy pro temp controlled soldering iron with fine tips etc. if you want to borrow it.
That's what you need for a job like this.

Unfortunately i am on a driving lesson tomorrow for most of the day.

smack

9,768 posts

214 months

Saturday 13th February 2010
quotequote all
VerySideways said:
smack said:
Got a fancy pro temp controlled soldering iron with fine tips etc. if you want to borrow it.
That's what you need for a job like this.

Unfortunately i am on a driving lesson tomorrow for most of the day.
Just checked, it is a Metcal unit, recommended to me by an electronics engineer mate. No problem if you guys want to borrow it, or probably could do it too...

smack

9,768 posts

214 months

Saturday 13th February 2010
quotequote all
Got T8 Torx bits also if needed.

Frik

13,664 posts

266 months

Saturday 13th February 2010
quotequote all
VerySideways said:
Unfortunately i am on a driving lesson tomorrow for most of the day.
I didn't think you were that bad, Pete.

VerySideways

10,267 posts

295 months

Saturday 13th February 2010
quotequote all
Frik said:
VerySideways said:
Unfortunately i am on a driving lesson tomorrow for most of the day.
I didn't think you were that bad, Pete.
Ta wink

-Pete-

2,914 posts

199 months

Saturday 13th February 2010
quotequote all
Soldering 101:

The things to be soldered must be clean, scrape them until you see shiny metal if necessary. Then make sure they're physically joined in some way before you start, e.g. twisted together, or a wire crimped into a connector. Get the soldering iron hot, wipe it on some damp cloth/sponge/kitchen-towel then melt a little solder onto the tip. The solder must have cored flux, 60% tin/40% lead is normal.

Touch the tip of the soldering iron (covered with a little melted solder) to the wires to be joined. Try to heat both wires. After a few seconds, try pushing a little solder against the wires. Not the tip of the soldering iron. Only when the wires are hot enough to melt the solder, feed more into the wires. Never push solder against the tip of the soldering iron, it will only melt and drop off.

The solder will 'wick' into the wires. Once you have filled the wires where they're twisted, remove the soldering iron and hold everything very steady for 5 or 10 seconds.

Or find someone locally who can do it for you wink

TomM

662 posts

218 months

Sunday 14th February 2010
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Great info - thanks Pete, but this fix requires soldering onto a board. I have stripped the unit down and it just needs the points reflowing (correct terminology?)

I am tempted to give it a go - but I have a shed full of stuff I have previously tried to fix biggrin


Kermit power

Original Poster:

29,622 posts

236 months

Monday 15th February 2010
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Hmm....

So, between borrowing Smack's soldering iron (whereabouts are you, btw?) and then trundling over to Pete's, I could have this sorted! smile

Pete - How far are you from Wokefield Park, RG7 3AE? I'm there Monday - Thursday next week on a course, so could pop over early one evening if convenient? I'd just need to check which evenings we've got course dinners on.

VerySideways

10,267 posts

295 months

Monday 15th February 2010
quotequote all
7.7 miles - sounds like a plan!

smack

9,768 posts

214 months

Tuesday 16th February 2010
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Kermit power said:
Stuff
KP, PM sent.

Kermit power

Original Poster:

29,622 posts

236 months

Tuesday 16th February 2010
quotequote all
smack said:
Kermit power said:
Stuff
KP, PM sent.
Reply just returned, thanks! smile

Kermit power

Original Poster:

29,622 posts

236 months

Saturday 20th February 2010
quotequote all
VerySideways said:
7.7 miles - sounds like a plan!
Right! Got the soldering iron from Stuart this evening... Pete, what sort of time/day works best for you?

I should be able to get out at some point on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday evening, and waiting to see if I'll still be there on Thursday afternoon, or going early to make it to a meeting in the City.

VerySideways

10,267 posts

295 months

Monday 22nd February 2010
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Stuart - nice iron.
4 or 5 dry joints, and about 50 pins reflowed.
Seems to have done the trick.