My first soldering experience...

[lazerphea]

...EPIC FAIL!!!
Tried to solder over a perfboard the Hemmo fuzz, and came out a huge mess!
First of all, I fried the transistors (eheheh).. now I read 0.0V on each of their pins, so no sound at all.
Then I messed up with the solder all around...
Maybe I realy have to check the how-to-solder FAQs!

[bioroids]

Maybe you should start practicing with resistors, so you don't fry anything.

I hope they were not germaniums! I think they may not be fried anyway, you may simply have bad solder joints.
Try to remelt them, and see what happens.

Do you have a decent iron? I remember when I started, using a knife heated on the stove... try to solder something with that!!!

And do check the FAQ's!

[Ripthorn]

You would not believe the difference a decent iron makes.  When I got back into it a few months ago, I thought I had lost all the touch, but then I bought a good station and turns out I was just using terrible equipment.

[Boogdish]

search for "how to solder" on youtube, there are a few good videos.  You might also try socketing your transistors so there's no chance of frying them with your iron.

[Potatoolay]

x10 on sockets. Even with heatsinks Ive still managed to fry a couple.

[lazerphea]

Thanks guys!
I think I have a decent solder iron: small sharp metal tip, 20W/130W.
I asked for transistor socket but they didn't have them... :\ Maybe next time it'll go better!
Just one question: do I have to throw everything in the trash (except pots...) Or o I have to de-solder the caps and the resistors and reuse them??

[arma61]

I asked for transistor socket but they didn't have them... :\ Maybe next time it'll go better!

Ciao

u can use IC sockets, just cut them at the needed length

http://www.banzaieffects.com/6-pin-precision-socket-pr-17640.html

Armando

[demonstar]

Just one question: do I have to throw everything in the trash (except pots...) Or o I have to de-solder the caps and the resistors and reuse them??

If you can unsolder them O.K. then you can re-use the caps and resistors too. You'd be very unlucky if you managed to fry them! The transistors could be O.K. but also could not be. There's also good chance they'll be O.K. until you try to desolder them. (It's a game of probability.  )

You can get special gear for desoldering but I just try not to make mistakes or if I do I scrape the solder away with the hot iron. In your case it's pointless paying for desoldering kit just to save a few caps and resistors. If you can't get them unsoldered just sling it if you're sure it's all not fixable, and buy new. The Resistors and caps are generally the cheapest parts you use.

Good Luck!

[caress]

just trash the stuff and start fresh... de-soldering can be a PITA if you're not comfortable with it.

[jimma]

This video helped me a LOT:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_NU2ruzyc4

[lazerphea]

It works!!! IT WORKS!!!!
I just forgot to solder the two voltage divider's resistors together!
Still my solderings are something to be ashamed of...




Practice makes perfect... I hope!

[PoopLoops]

Is that black solder or is everything just fried like that? 

How do you know what is a good soldering iron and what isn't?  Lots of profanities are said when I solder something at home, but when I worked at my school's electronics lab it was real easy to do it.  Only real difference was the soldering iron.  For some reason mine gets covered in I guess burned solder or something and it won't conduct heat well and solder will ball up on it instead of sticking to it.  I use a wet sponge any time I am done soldering a connection, but that doesn't seem to help.  The only thing that seems to work is taking some fine sand paper and scratching away whatever it is that is covering the tip, uncovering the copper surface.  I have to do this pretty often, too.  What am I doing wrong?  I never had to do that at school.

This is the one I use:

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062738

[German]

No, I think there is just too dark. Normal solder, look how it lays on contats

[Zben3129]

Make sure you are not using lead-free or ROHS solder. Its useless and will do exactly what you described. I'd use 60/40 tin lead



Zach

[GREEN FUZ]

 I had exactly the same issue you describe when I first started. You need to keep the tip tinned regularly when not actually using the iron. This will help to prevent the tip corroding. Only use the sponge to clean the tip prior to soldering.

[oskar]

+1 just wipe the tip before you solder and take a drop of tin on the tip to assist in transfering the heat.
Don't press with the tip.
To protect the tip at all times is a virtue. It has a limited lifespan.
Also make sure the sponge is moist not wet. Rinse it in water and then squeeze out all the water you can.

[Ripthorn]

I actually really like the brass tip cleaner that comes with the xytronics irons.  You can buy just the tip cleaner from electronics supply places like Howard Electronics Instruments.  I find that it works really well.  But make sure to keep that tip tinned, it helps to effectively transfer the heat.

[smallbearelec]

For some reason mine gets covered in I guess burned solder or something and it won't conduct heat well and solder will ball up on it instead of sticking to it...The only thing that seems to work is taking some fine sand paper and scratching away whatever it is that is covering the tip, uncovering the copper surface.  I have to do this pretty often, too.  What am I doing wrong?
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062738

This is a known issue. Radio Shack iron tips are not well-cladded, and this is exactly what happens to them. A good soldering iron will be your most expensive tool investment, but it will save a lot of frustration. I carry a couple of Cooper Tool/Weller models:

http://www.smallbearelec.com/Detail.bok?no=377

and other people here will recommend Hakko and other makes. Spend the money, and you'll notice the difference immediately.

Regards
SD

[PoopLoops]

Couldn't I just buy a better tip?  Or will they generally not fit other irons?  The iron itself is okay as far as I can tell.

[lazerphea]

No, I think there is just too dark. Normal solder, look how it lays on contats

Yeah, I think that could be an effect of my camera's flash over the solderings