10 useful life hacks with a soldering iron for radio electronics
To solder efficiently and quickly, you need practice, a good tool, and knowledge of dozens of nuances. Let's look at 10 tips and life hacks that will take your soldering skills and convenience to the next level. Many of them are quite well-known, but there are also some fresh ideas.
If the soldering iron tip is too thick, you can wrap a couple of turns of copper wire around it, straighten and sharpen its edge. An improvised tip will work no worse than a purchased one.
To quickly desolder a component with a large number of legs from the board, you can apply a copper braid from a shielded wire on top. Before this, it is moistened in a rosin solution, and then heated with a soldering iron.
Due to hygroscopicity, the molten solder will flow onto it.
If you press a needle from a syringe with a cut-off point against the end of the component leg, then when the solder melts, it will squeeze it out of the board. The needle heats up very quickly, so it will not interfere with melting, and its plastic sleeve will prevent you from burning your fingers.
To make a stand, you need to pick up a small plank and drill 2 holes next to it under one edge.
A wire bent with a staple, with a short and a long end, is inserted into them. The latter is wrapped in a spiral in the shape of a cone.
If the wire falls out, it is better to glue it with hot glue. They also make the legs for the stand. You can put rosin or a sponge on the free surface of the sole.
You can use pliers or long-nose pliers instead of a third hand. To do this, their arms are tightened with an elastic band. After this, the jaws will be able to hold the parts being soldered.
To remove heat from boards during soldering, you can place an alligator clip on the heated metal parts. It will prevent sensitive components from overheating.
For soldering stranded wires and other components, it is convenient to use a rosin solution. To do this, you need to rub it into dust or pick it up, and dissolve the resulting powder in alcohol.
It is convenient to store the solution in a nail polish bottle, as it contains a brush.
Such tips can be easily cleaned with a cellulose sponge soaked in water. It is even better to soak it in glycerin, since it does not evaporate.
You need to clean it when the soldering iron is hot.
If you need to cut glass along a complex contour, then you should go over it with a glass cutter and then with the hot tip of a soldering iron. Due to a sharp change in temperature, it will crack along the previously made scratch.
The back side of the sting can be sharpened using sandpaper.
The resulting blade, when heated, will cut plastic like butter. In the future, for soldering, the tip can be turned back with the working side out.
We also recommend reading the article: 11 tricks and life hacks for handymen and electronics - https://home.washerhouse.com/en/7218-11-hitrostej-i-lajfhakov-dlja-mastera-i-jelektronika.html
1. Soldering small parts with a thick tip
If the soldering iron tip is too thick, you can wrap a couple of turns of copper wire around it, straighten and sharpen its edge. An improvised tip will work no worse than a purchased one.
2. How to quickly desolder multi-legged components from the board
To quickly desolder a component with a large number of legs from the board, you can apply a copper braid from a shielded wire on top. Before this, it is moistened in a rosin solution, and then heated with a soldering iron.
Due to hygroscopicity, the molten solder will flow onto it.
3. How to remove a component using a syringe needle
If you press a needle from a syringe with a cut-off point against the end of the component leg, then when the solder melts, it will squeeze it out of the board. The needle heats up very quickly, so it will not interfere with melting, and its plastic sleeve will prevent you from burning your fingers.
4. How to quickly make a spiral soldering iron stand
To make a stand, you need to pick up a small plank and drill 2 holes next to it under one edge.
A wire bent with a staple, with a short and a long end, is inserted into them. The latter is wrapped in a spiral in the shape of a cone.
If the wire falls out, it is better to glue it with hot glue. They also make the legs for the stand. You can put rosin or a sponge on the free surface of the sole.
5. How to do without a “third hand”
You can use pliers or long-nose pliers instead of a third hand. To do this, their arms are tightened with an elastic band. After this, the jaws will be able to hold the parts being soldered.
6. Heat removal by crocodile
To remove heat from boards during soldering, you can place an alligator clip on the heated metal parts. It will prevent sensitive components from overheating.
7. Preparation of an alcohol solution of rosin
For soldering stranded wires and other components, it is convenient to use a rosin solution. To do this, you need to rub it into dust or pick it up, and dissolve the resulting powder in alcohol.
It is convenient to store the solution in a nail polish bottle, as it contains a brush.
8. How to clean a stainless steel or nickel plated tip
Such tips can be easily cleaned with a cellulose sponge soaked in water. It is even better to soak it in glycerin, since it does not evaporate.
You need to clean it when the soldering iron is hot.
9. Cutting glass with a soldering iron
If you need to cut glass along a complex contour, then you should go over it with a glass cutter and then with the hot tip of a soldering iron. Due to a sharp change in temperature, it will crack along the previously made scratch.
10. Plastic cutter from a soldering iron
The back side of the sting can be sharpened using sandpaper.
The resulting blade, when heated, will cut plastic like butter. In the future, for soldering, the tip can be turned back with the working side out.
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We also recommend reading the article: 11 tricks and life hacks for handymen and electronics - https://home.washerhouse.com/en/7218-11-hitrostej-i-lajfhakov-dlja-mastera-i-jelektronika.html
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