Precision Soldering for Mortals!

by rwinscot

6.1K15513

Intro: Precision Soldering for Mortals!

If you are working with through-hole components and don't have three or four extra hands to keep everything 'just right.' I've got a technique that might help.

Grab your tools!

  • x-acto knife with #11 blades
  • rosin core solder
  • flush-cut pliers
  • tweezers
  • 2 pin female header (scraps will do!)
  • 1 extra-long male header pin

Really, what is the worst soldering job you've ever seen?

STEP 1: Scraps to Tools

Extract a female end from the two-position header block.

Then, remove an extra-long male header pin and straighten... solder into the female end.

STEP 2: Wrap It Good!

Push the modified end with the soldered-in pin back into the header block.

Ready to make some delicious Solder-Os?

Insert the solder into the remaining female end, and begin wrapping the solder tightly around the extra-long pin.

STEP 3: Solder Springy Thingy

You've made a cool solder springy thingy... which we will reduce to proper proportions for solder joints.

STEP 4: X-acto-ly

With your wicked-sharp #11 blade... begin cutting the solder spring into tiny doughnuts - one or two at a time.

Slow-and-steady wins the race.

STEP 5: Hulk Smash Doughnuts!

Well... maybe not smash, a gentle press of each doughnut will do fine. And, will make a tight ring that will stay firmly in place!

Store your newly made tool and Solder-Os in a baggie to keep them fresh.

STEP 6: Light It Up!

When you are ready to solder-up something... place a tiny Solder-O on the joint. Apply heat to the component first, then slide the iron down into the doughnut.

Voici!

Not too much... not too little... juuuuust right. And, you only needed two hands to do it!

12 Comments

Dave Mc 6 years ago

Barely got to the end of the instructable before trying it for myself, I had an old dead resistor on my desk and some solder, just wrapped the solder around the leg by hand, cut the spring into donuts and flattened them.

So fantastic, this is now they way I am going to solder all joints from now on.

Sir I thank you for a super, super, super idea, I will join AliC73 and bow.

rwinscot 6 years ago

Hoping that this will save a few burnt fingers out there. ;-)

I thank you DavidM496!

PGTampa 7 years ago

Holy smartness!

Way to go - I'm going to make some tonight!

Dazbea 7 years ago

Just when you think the internet has nothing more to give......this happens!!
Life changing

Wrrr 10-G 7 years ago

Ah.. simply brilliant. I came up with something similar (making little V's and hanging them from the to-be-soldered component leg) but this is "the ducks guts", sticking to appropriate slang :)

Jobar007 7 years ago

This is brilliant. I could have used this two days ago, but I'll be using it in the future.

VyomC 7 years ago

This is my first comment on Instructables since I joined. I am commenting because nothing has amazed me until now than this tutorial. This is just too perfect. Just....Puuurrrrrffffeeeeccctttt.

Sir, I request you to share more tips and tricks.