A new year approaches, and with it a new round of conventions to talk about electronics in cosplay. No matter the allotted time, it’s always a crunch, so anything that fits on a handout for later is a boon.
Just as sewing is a core skill of costuming, soldering is vital to electronics…yet the tools rarely include instructions. There are some excellent tutorials and videos, but I wanted to distill the basics to something one could absorb in 30 seconds. I focused on the two main mistakes novices make: heating the solder instead of the parts, and trying to learn on a discount store iron or granddad’s hand-me-down WWII-era elephant gun.
The new soldering card joins our collection on Github. These are all Creative Commons — download, remix, print and share them for your own classes or reference! PDF format, sized for Overnight Prints’ standard business card template.
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Python for Microcontrollers – Adafruit Daily — Python on Microcontrollers Newsletter: A New Arduino MicroPython Package Manager, How-Tos and Much More! #CircuitPython #Python #micropython @ThePSF @Raspberry_Pi
EYE on NPI – Adafruit Daily — EYE on NPI Maxim’s Himalaya uSLIC Step-Down Power Module #EyeOnNPI @maximintegrated @digikey
OK. Good pretty much. More or less. It maybe helps the beginner. But beginners, please read the blurb (copy paste follows): “There are some excellent tutorials and videos.”
Watch/read the tutorials/videos.
If you don’t and rely on these cards, you’ll have something functional that a professional will likely look at and shudder.
To get a good joint doesn’t require too much (check those tutorials and videos!). A joint above and beyond requires more. So.. If you want to be good, please check the tutorials and videos. IF you want to be outstanding do a course.
I did High Reliability Hand Soldering as part of my apprenticeship. (NASA Standard). Here are my criticisms and please, this is just me be a ‘nit-picking’ douchebag.
1) 20-60W Iron. Are you trying to solder copper plumbing in a house? A 15W iron is heaps. In fact a cheap solder station is infinitely better than the best 20W ‘electronics’ soldering iron.
2) 1 – 2 seconds? Do you want a dry joint? Especially if you have a 60W soldering iron?
3) Tips often comes down to personal preference. I can’t stand chisel tip. I use a fine point. I actually found the flow better in my preference. I found the chisel tip tended to ‘lump’ the solder and give more more solder than I needed on a joint.
There is more. But.. Really, a good youtube video does more than these few pictures. Even if you do have to listen to someone dropping the L in solder. The phrase “Soddering” gives me twitches to this day!
Mike is correct,
I have been an Electronic Technician since 1958 and the color code for resistor has always been and always will be forever,"Violet"NOT Purple!
OK. Good pretty much. More or less. It maybe helps the beginner. But beginners, please read the blurb (copy paste follows): “There are some excellent tutorials and videos.”
Watch/read the tutorials/videos.
If you don’t and rely on these cards, you’ll have something functional that a professional will likely look at and shudder.
To get a good joint doesn’t require too much (check those tutorials and videos!). A joint above and beyond requires more. So.. If you want to be good, please check the tutorials and videos. IF you want to be outstanding do a course.
I did High Reliability Hand Soldering as part of my apprenticeship. (NASA Standard). Here are my criticisms and please, this is just me be a ‘nit-picking’ douchebag.
1) 20-60W Iron. Are you trying to solder copper plumbing in a house? A 15W iron is heaps. In fact a cheap solder station is infinitely better than the best 20W ‘electronics’ soldering iron.
2) 1 – 2 seconds? Do you want a dry joint? Especially if you have a 60W soldering iron?
3) Tips often comes down to personal preference. I can’t stand chisel tip. I use a fine point. I actually found the flow better in my preference. I found the chisel tip tended to ‘lump’ the solder and give more more solder than I needed on a joint.
There is more. But.. Really, a good youtube video does more than these few pictures. Even if you do have to listen to someone dropping the L in solder. The phrase “Soddering” gives me twitches to this day!
Hi Phil!
Thanks for mentioning us in this post! It would be much appreciated if you could add a link to our site.
Have a great New Year!
-Kasey
Resistor color code is "Violet" not Purple.
Mike is correct,
I have been an Electronic Technician since 1958 and the color code for resistor has always been and always will be forever,"Violet"NOT Purple!