Soldering is a standard process. In this process, you can join two different types of metals together. Solder, a special metal alloy made with tin and lead, helps to join the metals together. To avoid accidents while soldering, please be sure to observe the manufacturer’s safety measures.
First safety measure
During the soldering process, you should avoid inhaling the soldering fumes directly. It contains lead. Use protective glasses and clothes. Solder spatter causes painful burn blisters on bare thighs and forearms, as it can reach temperatures of up to 450° C. Never leave a heated soldering iron on the table, but use a suitable stand.
Never reach for the soldering iron blindly, but look when you get it. Especially with the cheaper soldering irons, the soldering tip and heating element are unprotected. It can even happen that the soldering iron tip sticks to the hand. If so, do not panic and do not tear the solder spatter from your skin. Even if it hurts a lot, it will go away after 2 seconds when it is cold.
Systematic guide for perfect soldering
First, connect your soldering iron and wait for it to reach operating temperature. Now you have to prepare the parts that you want to solder. It would help if you cleaned the solder joint with a unique solution. Once the soldering point has been designed, heat the soldering point for around three seconds. Then add the solder. An experienced user then only needs 1 to 5 seconds for the actual soldering process. More than 5 seconds indicate that the soldering temperature is too low or that the soldering iron has insufficient power.
You must not move the soldered parts while the soldered joint is cooling. Otherwise, cracks will form in the soldering alloy. You must not overheat the components and conductor tracks. It can lead to irreparable damage. Never neglect the intermediate cleaning of the soldering tip. Regardless of the type of soldering tip, a blackish deposit regularly forms there. Cleaning is essential, as it will consume less energy.
Avoid the most common soldering mistakes.
Try to use an adequately large contact area and do not touch the soldering point with one corner of the soldering tip, as it will not transfer enough heat, and the process will take too long. An inexperienced user is tempted to move the solder with the soldering iron. However, it is not the point. When the solder joint and solder are correctly heated, the solder flows around the component connection by itself. It is optimal if you first touch the soldering point with the soldering iron to heat it up and then apply the solder.
Avoid melting the solder first and then bringing it to the solder joint. The components usually withstand considerably more heat than you might think. It is a disadvantage to pull the soldering iron away too quickly and then re-solder several times. It may result in a gray, uneven solder joint with poor electrical properties. It is ideal for heating the solder joint quickly and vigorously and for finishing the soldering process in one go.