Taking off in 3d mode

[Bhujang]

Originally Posted by howaboutme

Thanks all.

Not to derail my own thread...but do you guys use flux or silver solder? and if flux, can someone give me a link to the product? do you apply it just like silver solder? I've heard that flux is better for rc applications.

Lead solder if you can get it. Usually comes with flux built in. I do use extra flux sometimes as well if I need to make use it runs right. Don't breath in the fumes

[Bhujang]

Originally Posted by howaboutme

Yes..Agreed...I just have to dive in.. In the meantime, I think I'll take it to my LHS for a quick job. They don't charge an arm and a leg...plus I bought the heli there.

First lesson always keep your tip coated especially when you pack it away.

Get a good table magnifying glass with light built in and you will be well away. It's really fun soldering and the rewards are great when you finish and look at your work you will be patting yourself on your back soon enough. I learnt as a kid when I was 15 and it kinda stuck. Used to have really old vintage scalectrix cars and also used to fix my old computer Herman din plugs that were always separating and old transistor radios. How things have changed

[howaboutme]

Thanks all!

I'm looking at this solder station:

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXATBK&P=SD

with this jig:

https://amazon.com/dp/B000RB38X8/ref...I282UV5PNW7O46

Still figuring out solder but love the concept of the paste posted above...What do you use as a mat to catch any dripping solder (or does that not happen?)

[Bhujang]

Looks good. I prefer a slightly more watt version but I'm sure it will be just as good.

I'd get a few spare tips as well. From large to small and always use the largest tip you can get away with for that job.

I use that jig also but use this for the nano for precise work...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/5X-Desk-Tabl...-/371808096326

[buildAndFly]

I recently got this soldering station..
https://www.amazon.com/Weller-WLC100.../dp/B000AS28UC
...although I went years with just a 30 watt iron for delicate work such as what you need to do. I also got a fine tip to go with it.

I had the same problem as you with a battery wire breaking off at the board.and had to solder it back on.

The way I approached it was to...
Strip about 1/16" to 1/8" of the insulation off the end of the wire.
Twist the strands together to prevent them from getting separated.
Put some paste flux on the exposed wire.
Get some solder melted on the tip of my iron.
Touch it to the wire to "tin" the exposed wire.

Once that's done you're ready to do the board. In my case I just heated up the spot on the board from one side and then pushed the wire through the hole from the other side. This allowed me to push the leftover broken piece of wire out at the same time. You shouldn't need to add any more solder to the board between what you put on the wire and what's already there.

The biggest thing you need to watch out for is not putting too much heat to the board for too long. The larger the tip and the higher wattage the iron, the more quickly you'll get yourself into trouble. You shouldn't need to have the iron on the board for more than 5 seconds. If it seems like the solder isn't wanting to melt, putting a bit of flux on the board first will cause the heat to conduct from the iron more readily.

If you've never soldered before it would be a really good idea to find a broken radio or something to do a couple of practice runs on.

[howaboutme]

Originally Posted by buildAndFly

I recently got this soldering station..
https://www.amazon.com/Weller-WLC100.../dp/B000AS28UC
...although I went years with just a 30 watt iron for delicate work such as what you need to do. I also got a fine tip to go with it.

I had the same problem as you with a battery wire breaking off at the board.and had to solder it back on.

The way I approached it was to...
Strip about 1/16" to 1/8" of the insulation off the end of the wire.
Twist the strands together to prevent them from getting separated.
Put some paste flux on the exposed wire.
Get some solder melted on the tip of my iron.
Touch it to the wire to "tin" the exposed wire.

Once that's done you're ready to do the board. In my case I just heated up the spot on the board from one side and then pushed the wire through the hole from the other side. This allowed me to push the leftover broken piece of wire out at the same time. You shouldn't need to add any more solder to the board between what you put on the wire and what's already there.

The biggest thing you need to watch out for is not putting too much heat to the board for too long. The larger the tip and the higher wattage the iron, the more quickly you'll get yourself into trouble. You shouldn't need to have the iron on the board for more than 5 seconds. If it seems like the solder isn't wanting to melt, putting a bit of flux on the board first will cause the heat to conduct from the iron more readily.

If you've never soldered before it would be a really good idea to find a broken radio or something to do a couple of practice runs on.

Thank you! Very helpful. To be honest, I probably will just have my LHS do this because I want to get my heli into service ASAP. I have many hours to burn!

Can someone recommend a 60/40 rosin core solder from a place like Amazon? I'd prefer to buy non hobby specific items like this somewhere else to save a few bucks...Thanks!

[howaboutme]

Well..I decided to go rogue a bit last night in terms of soldering equipment purchases..

I chose to go Amazon because a lot of the miscellaneous stuff were just cheaper there and I was able to find a soldering iron w/ good reviews and same (or better) specs than the other one I linked and at a better price point.

Soldering Iron:
https://amazon.com/gp/product/B01DGZ...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Jig:
https://amazon.com/gp/product/B000RB...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Tips (since the iron only comes with one):
https://amazon.com/gp/product/B00GZG...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Rosin Core Solder (I bought 2 thicknesses. One thicker for most rc car jobs and a thinner one for my heli jobs):
https://amazon.com/gp/product/B00030...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
and
https://amazon.com/gp/product/B000G3...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Hoping this all works out!

[Bhujang]

Wow! Very good investment. The iron looks fantastic. Just remember on the lead solder not to breath the fumes in and work in a ventalated area

You will find lots of uses for it beyond the RC world as well for fixing things around the home so,it will pay for itself soon enough. It's good to practice on old electric boards. Removing components then resoldering them.

There are 2 other very useful components...

A solder sucker and flux solder wick remover strip.

The sucker is used to suck already running solder off the board and the wick you can heat over solder to absorb the solder onto it. Be careful with the wick as it can take more than you need again practice on an old electric board off a broken device

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-0mm-Desold...-/141609015244

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Solder-Sucke...HqWX2XahZVXOjw

You will find lots of videos on YouTube of how,to use these two

[howaboutme]

Originally Posted by Bhujang

Wow! Very good investment. The iron looks fantastic. Just remember on the lead solder not to breath the fumes in and work in a ventalated area

You will find lots of uses for it beyond the RC world as well for fixing things around the home so,it will pay for itself soon enough. It's good to practice on old electric boards. Removing components then resoldering them.

There are 2 other very useful components...

A solder sucker and flux solder wick remover strip.

The sucker is used to suck already running solder off the board and the wick you can heat over solder to absorb the solder onto it. Be careful with the wick as it can take more than you need again practice on an old electric board off a broken device

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-0mm-Desold...-/141609015244

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Solder-Sucke...HqWX2XahZVXOjw

You will find lots of videos on YouTube of how,to use these two

thank you! appreciate your help and glad i'm on the right track!

[Bhujang]

Originally Posted by howaboutme

thank you! appreciate your help and glad i'm on the right track!

You are welcome it's what we are here for.

That's a very professional bit of kit and will last the test of time