Hello everyone, I was just saying, I'm a bit new to the soldering process... I have a 25watt soldering iron that I suck with... and the tip is all rusted and all. Okay, so I have a PS2 modchip I want to put in, a gamecube LED I need to put in, and the new "Undulited Planuim" PSP modchip I am going to put it, but before I do that, I need to learn! Learn learn learn! Okay, so let me get this right, the 15-watt soldering iron is the idea iron for working with electronics... So I need to let my 25-watt soldering iron go? I'll just put it to the side I guess, maybe it is too powerful for now. I understand that I need the proper solder... which I am going to purchase (20 awg) and the proper wire. (Which is 20 - 22 awg) Okay. Now, since I am buying a new soldering iron and all, can someone tell me what exactly tinning means? Does it mean, letting solder melt on the new tip for a while? I also know I need to clean the tip time from time with a wet sponge to get all of th excess solder off. Is flux also needed. I read that you should get a toothpick and put it on the place that your planning on soldering on. I need a "0.10" soldering tip for the task I am planning on doing to I believe. I am not completey retarded when it comes to soldering, just a bit clueless, that's all. Is anyone here personnaly a soldering professional? Thanks for ALL yout help guys, and I know I'm a big pain. But I really appriciate all of the help. And I am really serious about learning to solder. ultrablADe
well i am a complete noob to soldering, but if i could say something, why don't u just send it in to a solder place or whatever? get a profesional to do it. with all those questions, i don't think u are that, i'll just say, qualified for it, because it seems there is a lot u don't know. send it in. let a pro do it, and don't take the risk of screwing up ur PS2 or GC.
Haha... I had a feeling someone was going to ask that. Becuase, I think it's too much to send of but that isn't even the primary reason. I really want to learn how to do it becuase it is a good talent that I think can be taken out in life. ultrablADe
you need solder for electronics not for copper piping as solder for electronics comes with flux already in the solder. you want solder that is between .05 to 1 mm in diameter. 1 mm is .040". get solder wick to suck up the solder from around the component legs. 20-22ga might still be to thick as might need 26-30ga. what type of tip is the iron as in chisel or pointed. i presume is an solder iron & not a solder gun. 25 watts is good as my weller solder station is about that. sugget you also get a solder sucker. also get some circuit boards to practice on before doing mods on your consols. i have 22years experience working on circuit boards including 4 years at celestica working on sun microsystem boards, cisco systems board & nokia cell phones.
Wow... thanks for all of your help. No, I have a 25-watt soldering iron sitting here and I think that's too much for working on electoronics with small parts such as a ps2 motherboard. It needs a new tip though. And I think I should just go ahead and buy a 15 watt soldering iron correct? Radio Shack should have them.... yes they do. As for the thin solder, do you know anywhere local where I can pick that up? I'll try a hardware store, becuase radioshack doesn't have it. I am going to try some soldering with a few old motherboards that my dad has... (He owns a computer shop.) Thanks for [bold]ALL[/bold] of your help ddp, and when I get done, Ima take a picture of my modchip installed so you can tell me what you think. Also, with the ps2 modchip there is a main bios chip witch alot of wires go on. I read the best way for getting wires on there was to use a razor blade between each little part... do you agree? And thanks again. Here is an image of it if you don't know what I mean: And electronics... (most anyways) already has flux in them you say? So I won't need it? Okay. ultrablADe
the 25watt is good but don't leave it on the board too long as it will delaminate the trace or pad off the board. check electronic supply places for solder.
you really need a 15 watt iron for installing modchips if you read the instructions it should say it; but on the otherhand soldering is easy leave it there for about five seconds throw the lead on the blotch and bam perfect you dont even need solder to apply a modchip i never have
Thanks guys. I'm going to go purchase all of this stuff soon and I just got a spare motherboard to practice on. I read, although electronics have flux in them you should still buy some so I am. I need to also use a magnifing glass lmao.. Thanks again everyone! ultrablADe
