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Materials:IronSolderBrass cleanerRO waterSponge20-gauge wireComputerHelping HandsPPEWire striper
Heat up IronClean tip with BrassWet sponge with water and rub tip on spongeStrip wire about 1/4inEnsure wire strands are twisted togetherHet exposed wire Gently place solder on wire and put straight through to ensure a nice coat.
Once coated it should be shiny and thin enough to still see some wire outlinesEnsure to let it cool completely to ensure no cold working (creating micro cracks)
Repeat for the second wire
Heat up both tinned ends of the wirePlace together on iron and allow solder to flow and create a bondOnce connected put iron off and allow solder to cool WITHOUT movement
AllowAllow
Soldering - Oct. 2nd, 2025
Overview
This lab was designed to get a good understanding of the simple process of creating a lap joint and soldering a resistor onto a circuit board. Some of the important things that we discussed prior to lab was why we use RO water, which is because there aren't any calcium or mineral deposits in the water that would otherwise stick to the iron. For example, Indiana tap water has calcium and will create a layer of film on the tip and create a barrier from the solder to the iron. This is extremely important to keep in mind when ensuring a good solder joint and connection for mechanical and electrical properties.
Process
Lap Joints
These are my first 3 attempts at a lap joint, and I progressively got better with ensuring a better joint. The first 2 didn’t have enough solder and they were cold worked, mainly due to them being bumped during cooling. The last one isn’t bad, but it definitely could be a little shiny with more solder. This would mean that it would have a stronger mechanical and electrical properties.
PCB
Soldering on a PCB can be a little bit more complicated, so there’s a couple of things to keep in mind when starting a solder joint. As shown in the figure above, it’s important to ensure proper heating of board and pole prior to applying solder. This solder also shows the consequences for different scenarios that could happen when applying solder. Analyzing my solder joints they don’t look bad at all! They definitely could use some work, but they have that volcano shape with a shiny exterior which is optimal! Especially when starting a solder joint on a PCB, it’s important to make sure that the resistor, or other piece, is tight against the board and pulled completely through. If this is not the case, then the piece could get snagged and create cracks in the board and solder.
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