Soldering wires - how to autofeed exact amounts of solder without special equipment.
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- čas přidán 8. 07. 2024
- Here's a technique I've been using for over 40 years. It makes soldering wires very easy and fast, and precise. Best of all you don't need a third hand!
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At 75 years old and making products for 25 years I never knew this just shows you never stop learning very nice and easy thanks
Indeed, every day is a learning day. Thanks for your comments.
I been solder since a teenager and now retired, never seen such a good technique.
I often use two hands and my knees to hold. Lol
Yeah it's really good
Wow I've been a technician for 38 years and it never occurred to me to do this, Brilliant. Thank you so much.
Thanks for the feedback. Fifty years ago it seemed the obvious way to solve an old problem, and since making the video it made me realise it wasn’t so obvious to other engineers after all.
Thanks for your comment. I thought up this method in the 1970s - it was so obvious I thought everyone did it! I taught my 9yo niece to solder and she uses this method so naturally (to her it's normal).
After 50 years of soldering (seriously) , I discover a new technique. I take my hat off to you.
Brilliant. Thank you for sharing.
I devised this method around 50 years ago as I had to regularly change line-output-transformers where the wire needed no mechanical strength, and thought it was so obvious that everyone must be doing it. Judging by the massive response on Instructables (www.instructables.com/Soldering-Wires-Heres-a-Better-Way) I was wrong!
@@richardlangner I learnt long ago to manipulate 3 things with two hands. The circuit board is fixed (with a vice or otherwise). With one hand I feed solder while holding a tinned and fluxed lead (each via separate finger pairs, while the other hand feeds the tinned soldering iron.
It becomes very natural to do this but it becomes apparent that it is a learnt skill because it's not easily taught.
Oh. How can something this simple and clever stay hidden for so long? This is brilliant! Thanks!
Dear Richard, the "auto feed soldering" method is amazingly smart, I really like it and I will definitely use it. Thank you very much for the selfless publication of this!
I am so glad it will be of use to you.
Thanks for the comment. Remember that you don't need this technique if the joint is mechanically strong (as with through hole components) as you then only need two hands! This method is designed for soldering while holding the wire in place with one hand, and the iron in the other. If you have a lot of connections to do it should be a lot quicker too.
What the… what?! This should be taught everywhere.. good one! Thanks!!
Just as so many others have commented, I thought I had nothing left to learn with this task. I stand amazed. Thank you, brother. ☮️❤️🌈
Thank you sir, for your comment. After a bit of practice I found this technique useful on the larger SMD parts too.
I've been soldering for fifty years and that is a new one for me. Thank you very much.
Thanks for your comment. I thought up this method in the 1970s - it was so obvious I thought everyone did it! I taught my 9yo niece to solder and she uses this method so naturally - to her it's normal.
I've always held the wire between thumb and 3rd finger, and the solder between 1st & 2nd fingers. I can feed the solder into the joint with a bit of nimble finger work, but this method seems much better, will definitely give it a go.
this method is total genius! As a beginner I must try this out
Thanks! I glad my method has helped you.
I'm coming to this 10 months late, but a great technique! Thanks for posting.
With a bit of practice this method can be used on SMD components, and using 0.3mm solder.
That makes it so much easier, brilliant!
I was surprised to see such a useful soldering technique. I will definitely try it next time I solder.
Thanks for the feedback. I was teaching my 9 year-old neice to solder, and after only 2 hours she was up to C&G exam standard. Later I showed her this technique and it's now part of her skill set.
I didn't think I'd like that...but I did, thanks!
Love the slow motion!
The video was all done with my smartphone. AlanB (cameraman) noticed it had a slowmo mode, so suggested we use it.
Very good information
Thank-you for your time and effort
I wish that I had seen this a few years ago when I started soldering. I'll be using this technique 'til the day I die for sure.
Thanks for the feedback. With very thin solder I use this method on SMD parts now, but it takes a bit of practice.
Great tip.
I've surprised to see something new :)
But anyway need 3 steps, strip the wire, apply fluxed solder, make the joint.
Usually the flux leftowers on the blob is enough to avoid making this corn.
Autofeeder soldering iron can reduce steps.
Wonderful Skills. Like this
Oh, brilliant! I will definitely be using this next time!
I wrap 3 turns of 1mm solder around the end of the stripped wire. Now you can solder and fully tin it in one move
Thanks for the suggestion. My method heats the wire, which heats the PCB, which will melt the solder ONLY when both conductors are up to temperature avoiding cold joints. Unless you are very careful with your method, the solder will melt before the conductors are up to temperature. Although... I have seen others use it to good effect .
Nice. Never saw it done that way before, I will give it a try next time I am soldering.
That is simple but very good!
Seems to be genious! I will try this!!!❤
Great idea 😊
Thank you.
Great tip worked great. Thanks for sharing.
Glad to have helped you!
Very good.
Beautiful! I need to get a soldering iron to try it, ...
Thank you!
You are very welcome!
Good idea. Ill do that.
I'm a very occasional solderer(?) and I've done this before, frustration and lack of a helping hand led me to it but it never occurred to me that it's a legitimate technique. I still feel enlightened and somewhat validated to see it in this video.
For the past 50 years I wondered why such an obvious idea (to me) wasn't used by others as it saves so much time amd fumbling!
I now use the technique on SMD but with thinner solder.
@@richardlangner wow I never thought of this technique, and after reading your comment I realize it didn’t cross my mind to use it for SMD soldering either. I do believe this is going to game changer for me and SMD components! Can’t wait to try it now.
@@jcughan It may take a bit of practice at first, and is more suitable for the larger SMD stuff like 1206, 0805 or 0603 sizes. For the smaller stuff like 2020 I use a different technique. Good luck!
@@richardlangner A different technique by hand? Or do you mean using a reflow oven or hot plate - something like that?
@@jcughan By hand of course! I may do a video when I have time.
Thanks this is really helpful. I work with computers so this helps a lot
The technique becomes really useful when you have lots of connections to solder. You'd normally tin each pad first, and that's when you leave the extra solder there ready for the joint, so it's no extra work to do this. Thank for the comment!
Excellent! TYVM
i must try this
Brilliant!
Thank you! I'm so glad you like this method.
That's great!
Ingenious!!!!
Thank you!
Very nice tip o/
Its very cool🎉 but very bad🥲.. just tin the pad then tin the wire, add flux and solder the wire to the pad.. and make sure you have the concave shape,, not big blob of solder like that!
I agree, you can carry solder on the iron and use separate flux, but for multicore solder this method works well and is quick and easy when working on site. As for the shape of the solder on the joint, concave is indeed appropriate for through-hole wires. A wire resting on a pad doesn't have much strength though, so a bit more solder helps here.
Not bad, not bad, not sure if standard production method of tinning the pads and tinning the wire in a pot is faster or slower, should be on par.
Frankly I avoid soldering wire to board at all - poke in or idc or lever operated connectors is still better.
Brilliant! One question: Does this method work with through holes?
I devised this method when (rapidly) soldering lots of hand-held wires on to tags (wire in one hand, iron in the other) and I needed a third hand for holding and feeding in the solder.
You don't need solder auto-feed if the wire is held within a hole on a PCB. Simply feed your wire through and bend the wire's tip so it stays there. You then only need to hold the iron and solder.
Please note that my method does not have much mechanical strength, so only use on small wires that are not subject to stress or movement.
...it seems so basic and obvious now to see it
I've always thought the best ideas are the ones that look obvious!
Thanks for your feedback.
2:37
😮
It looks good, but I'm not so sure. Solder adheres best to a fully heated surface, and there's no way to know if the wire gets heated well enough. Further, the flux in solder is meant to clean the metal for better adhesion, and it not only has very little chance to clean the wire, I have to wonder if some isn't trapped inside the solder bead. With stranded wire, I would be sure - it _will not_ get fully heated, and some flux will be trapped unless you pre-tin the wire or leave the iron tip on the joint for a few seconds, letting the liquid solder transfer heat before it solidifies. You don't mention tinning the wire, but if you use this method, I'd say it was required.
Although unmentioned you can see at 0:55 and 1:46 that the wires are pre-tinned, either way, it's a good point to raise.
I am sorry Chris, I'm a little annoyed by your assessment. Richard's method does not mention at all that it is not necessary to prepare the wire in the usual way, ie tinning. Sometimes you even need to mechanically clean the wire first - but all this is supposed to be done by everyone. This video is about an unusual and I think productive method, not a school of basics soldering.
@@hatter9576 Thanks for explaining my case.
I've use this technique for around 50 years and always had great joints. The PCB is tinned in the normal way when the solder strip is left in place. As for the wire - the iron heats the wire, and the hot wire then melts the fresh solder strip, thereby tinning it.
What I learned from this video: Richard creates cold joints and teaches others how to create cold joints. Brilliant.
Not cold joints! Check the video at 1:47. You will see the iron heat the wire, the wire heats the PCB, the PCB heats the solder. So both conductors are up to temperature before the solder feeds in. How can that be a cold joint?
If you are concerned about the coldness of the joint, you can reheat the now fixed connection as you now only need 2 hands
Your iron is too hot
How can you tell it's too hot?
Yawn. Wasteful both time and materials. Physically weak connection.
Method for people who really do not know how to solder properly.