Nonsense with Solder - Introduction
Soldering is like gluing with metal — only way cooler! With a soldering iron and some solder, you can connect electronic components and build your own circuits. Sounds complicated? It really isn’t! Here you’ll learn the basics.
What is soldering, anyway?
When you solder, you heat a metal called solder with a soldering iron until it melts. The liquid solder flows between two metal parts and joins them as it solidifies again. That’s how electrical connections are made — for example on a circuit board.
What you need
- A soldering iron (ideally a soldering station with temperature control)
- Solder (thin wire on a spool)
- A soldering iron stand (so the hot iron stands safely)
- A sponge or brass wool (for cleaning the tip)
- A circuit board or practice board (for practising)
- Components to solder in (e.g. LEDs, resistors)
Safety first!
Important: A soldering iron gets hotter than 300 degrees! Follow these rules:
- Never touch the tip of the soldering iron
- Always put the soldering iron back in its stand
- Work in a well-ventilated room (don’t breathe in the solder fumes)
- Wear safety glasses
- Always have an adult with you
Step 1: Prepare the soldering iron
- Plug in the soldering iron and wait for it to heat up (approx. 2–3 minutes)
- Set the temperature to about 320–350 degrees
- Clean the tip on the damp sponge or the brass wool
- Tin the tip: touch a bit of solder to the tip until it looks shiny silver — this is called “tinning”
Step 2: Insert the component
- Push your component (e.g. a resistor) through the holes in the circuit board
- Bend the legs slightly apart on the back so the component doesn’t fall out
- Turn the board over — you always solder on the back
Step 3: Your first solder joint
Now it gets real! Here’s how to make a clean solder joint:
- Hold the soldering iron to the joint: touch the component’s leg and the copper pad on the board at the same time with the soldering iron tip
- Wait briefly (about 2–3 seconds) — so both heat up
- Add solder: touch the solder wire to the joint (not to the iron!). The solder should flow into the joint on its own
- Remove the solder, then remove the soldering iron
- Don’t move it! Let the joint cool undisturbed
What does a good solder joint look like?
| Good solder joint | Bad solder joint |
|---|---|
| Shiny and silvery | Dull and grey |
| Cone-shaped (like a little volcano) | Ball-shaped (too much solder) |
| Smooth | Cracked or crumbly |
Step 4: Trim the excess legs
If your solder joint looks good, trim the excess leg with side cutters just above the joint. Careful: the cut-off piece can fly off — don’t forget your safety glasses!
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
- Cold joint (dull, cracked): you soldered too briefly or not hot enough. Reheat and add a bit more solder.
- Solder bridge (two joints connected): too much solder! Use the soldering iron to remove the excess.
- Component moves: fix the legs better beforehand or hold it down with tape.
Well done!
You’ve made your first solder joints — congratulations! Soldering is like riding a bike: a bit wobbly at first, but it gets better with practice. Why not try a small project next, like a blinking LED circuit?