metalhead
Saturn Player
Joined: January 2011
Posts: 76
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Post by metalhead on Jul 31, 2011 14:47:25 GMT
I wouldn't say easy. The solder pads break off way too easily. And doesn't the lacquer on the PS2 burn off when you touch it with the soldering iron? Well it does but it makes a mess of the iron and it stinks. |
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retro
Saturn Player
Joined: October 2008
Posts: 54
Location:
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Post by retro on Aug 5, 2011 21:52:16 GMT
Good soldering practice, wherever possible, is to heat the pad AND the component leg (or wire) before introducing solder. You shouldn't heat up solder then poke a wire into it - you're introducing a cold wire into the mix and you may not get a decent joint that way.
Solder suckers are great - if you don't have any joy with them, you're either using it incorrectly or you don't know how to maintain it properly. It should have a fast, powerful return when you press the button. Other than that, you'd have to invest in a desoldering station.
If you're lifting tracks, it's because you're using a poor iron. Get a temperature controlled iron. The iron should heat up quickly, so as not to damage the board.
From the code, I assume that soldering iron was a Weller. You should be able to use standard Weller tips on it. However, a needle point isn't necessary, and I never use them. I much prefer a small chisel tip (hobbyist irons often come with too large a tip, granted) so you can apply heat to the pad and the component lead.
Tinning is really easy. You're wetting your sponge, right? You want a nice, damp sponge. Tin with a tip tinner/cleaner compound (available from places like Maplin) initially, and then wipe the tip whenever you replace the iron in the stand. Periodically tin with the compound - maybe every few jobs as required.
Definitely practice on something that won't matter. Get some stripboard and a few resistors from Maplin and practice on that, or use a broken radio or something like that. Usually there'll be someone you know who is going to dump something electronic that's broken!
The best wire to use for installing chips and the like is Kynar-style wire - a thin, single core wire. If you do use multi-strand wire, make sure you twist the strands together and tin the end.
Wire strippers are very necessary - they're designed to strip wire to a precise diameter without damaging the strands. If you use cutters or a knife, you will probably cut into the wire itself. And using your teeth is just plain lazy and you could end up damaging your teeth. You'll get a nasty finish, too - and having overhanging sleeving isn't helpful. Do yourself a favour, get a wire stripper. They're cheap and useful. The automatic types are painless to use, and I've even seen cheap versions of them in Pound shops!
Get the right tools, practice before you dive in at the deep end, and even modding a PS2 will seem simple!
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