orange squeezer question...or two!

[davepedals]

i got a Ready-To-Solder (RTS) PCB from generalguitargadgets.  i'm confused as it has the same white paint like the labeled parts side on the copper contacts of the soldering side!
shouldn't i lightly sand the paint off - or will proper contact be made when i solder?  it may be a dumb question since it's called a ready to solder PCB, but i want to MAKE SURE before i solder the thing and it doesn't work!
thanks!

[chi_boy]

That sounds really odd.  Can you post a picture?

I have built numerous GGG projects and never had any problems with boards.  Sorry to hear about your trouble.  Have to contacted them to discuss?

[davepedals]

I have not purchased many PCB's, but alll of them were COPPER color where you solder.

[jasperoosthoek]

It doesn't look white to me but metalic. Can it be that the pads are pre-tinned with some solder?

It looks fine to me. Copper pads can corrode and will be harder to solder when the unsoldered board gets older (takes a few years).  But tinned pads can corrode too.

[StereoKills]

Those don't look white like solder mask to me, they just look like a silvery color - tinned copper, that's whatcha want.

[arawn]

they are thru hole plated (pre-tinned so to speak) You are good to go. Those are actuallly very high quality boards.

[davepedals]

boy do i feel dumb! the light in my den makes it look white, but the image clearly shows it to be silver!  i think perhaps it's the halogen bulbs i use in the den. thanks!

[davepedals]

wow - this board solders really easy too using a 15 watt iron! so far this build looks cleaner than any i've ever done, as for my soldering skills! but naturally, i'm missing a 10k trim. i wonder, will a 10k linear pot work instead?

[BadIdeas]

You mean, like, wired off-board? A pot is a pot except for taper, and I believe most, if not all, trimmers are linear. All the ones I have are. Should be not problem.

[davepedals]

yes - wired off board is what i meant, same thing eh?