Soldering PCB boards

[wullymc]

Hi guys,

Having fun putting together my Paramounts. 

I have put together the PCB boards for the Power and had no problems soldering them.  I tend to check continuity after completing the boards and everything looks good!

I am now on the Soft start PCB boards and am finding it a little frustrating.  My middle aged eyes and the small joints; I am finding it difficullt.  In the end, I ended up buying a new soldering station that came with 10 different tips.  I tried the smallest tip thinking that it would be great but have had troubles with getting the solder to flow because the tip is so small. 

What tip size would you recommend for the smaller size PCB boards?  I would like to build a Beepre next but again that has small PCB boards.

Any hints or advice.  I have already completed the Crack (no speedball) and Quickie with PJCSS so I have gotten some practice with soldering but would gladly take any advice. 

Thanks!....Dave

[roscoe primrose]

Use a normal size iron, and get some magnifying glasses....

Roscoe

[mcandmar]

2-2.5mm chisel tip is the easiest to use as you can heat the solder pad and part at the same time.  The tiny pointy ones are really only useful for soldering SMD components, or to get onto a single leg of a chip on a PCB.

[Chris65]

Used a 1.6mm chisel for my BeePre build, worked well.
Some useful info on tip selection from Hakko: http://www.hakko.com/english/tip_selection/selection_1.html

[Grainger49]

Use a normal size iron, and get some magnifying glasses....

Roscoe

Me too! 

I have a lighted magnifying glass and it keeps the smoke out of you face as well.  You want a tip that can heat the trace on the PCB and the component lead at the same time.  If the solder is not bonded well to the trace on the board it will fail.

[Doc B.]

Like Chris I prefer a little narrower chisel tip around 1.5mm for PC boards. But I think the other guys here at BHQ feel the wider tip gets the heat into the joint faster.

[wullymc]

Thanks guys for the feedback.

I will try the small chisel one tonight.  I have also got a magnifying lamp which should help!

Take care...Dave