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How do you work on PCB?

post #1 of 6
12/21/10 at 4:26pm
Thread Starter 

I've been looking at some electronics kits, which include a PCB and a bunch of parts, but the main question is how to work on them.

I have a Mastercraft soldering station. There is only one type of replacement tip for this iron, and that cone in too big/thick for delicate PCB work. And no, I cannot afford a Weller.

I can get some very thin solder, though. Currently my two coils of solder are all silver bearing, rosin flux-cored. But when it gets down to 0.064mm (that's right, zero point zero six four millimeters) I don't think they can still make a flux core. So I get some independent flux, how should I apply it?

I do have a simple multimeter. What I'd like to make is not audio-related: clocks, multi-patterned flashing LED's and such.

 

Thank you very much.

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post #2 of 6
12/21/10 at 4:49pm

Buying flux online is can be tricky because it's flammable and harder to ship. Flux pens are less restrictive to ship than bottled liquid flux, though they are not entirely trouble free either. I ordered a flux pen from Newark once and they surprised me with extra shipping costs for it. Digikey carries a variety of flux pens and has a flat $8 shipping rate to Canada. A flux pen is basically a felt tip pen but with flux inside rather than paint or ink.

 

Tangent has a great set of video tutorials on soldering and electronics.

http://tangentsoft.net/elec/movies/

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post #3 of 6
12/21/10 at 5:49pm

One of these? http://reviews.canadiantire.ca/9045/0586301P/mastercraft-mastercraft-solder-station-reviews/reviews.htm

 

It should be totally fine to solder PCBs, and no need to go that small for solder.  I generally use 0.75mm and it works perfectly.

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post #4 of 6
12/21/10 at 7:03pm

I really only use fine tips for SMD soldering, particularly around DACs.  Other than that, I prefer fat tips.  You'll find that it's all about control and technique than anything else.  For general PCB soldering, I like big fat tips.

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post #5 of 6
12/21/10 at 8:34pm
You can also grind a tip down to a size you're comfortable working with.
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post #6 of 6
12/21/10 at 8:37pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by FallenAngel View Post

One of these? http://reviews.canadiantire.ca/9045/0586301P/mastercraft-mastercraft-solder-station-reviews/reviews.htm

 

It should be totally fine to solder PCBs, and no need to go that small for solder.  I generally use 0.75mm and it works perfectly.


 

Yeah, exactly that, only I use an outboard sponge container (and an upgraded sponge).


 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Uncle Erik View Post

You can also grind a tip down to a size you're comfortable working with.


Actually, you cannot with this particular one. Bare copper innards are rapidly exposed as you try to do anything.

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