Simple soldering guide with cheap kits.

same

As radio shack here in the states is going under I bought a ton of their kits such as make your own clock and a make your own theremin. I definitely have improved at soldering after watching you. Thanks!

I started at a young age by tinning wires for my Dad with a Weller heavy duty soldering gun. To this day I still hate those with a passion. After doing basic projects with that monster and then getting my first pencil type iron it was a dream to use.

Lostngone

I wonder what temperature the tip gets up to on the 40W iron. I may have to give that a test.

Big Clive

I bought the 25W one.

Big Clive

Which soldering iron did you buy from CPC? I can see 25W, 40W and 60W models

I'm competent at soldering but still enjoy videos like these. Keep 'em coming, Clive.

Nice video. Could have used some information on recommend temperature and soldering iron tips. Looks like the cheap iron you used had a pointed tip, but your usual iron had a chisel tip - what is best? Also what gauge of solder wire. I am a complete novice so this video is exactly the kind of thing I need. Thanks

Kevin Leah (AKA Zoinks!)

I generally try to avoid surface mount components as much as possible as they can be very fiddly to solder. But one day I'll have to embrace surface mount stuff.

Big Clive

Farnell is Element14. In the US, they are branded as newark.com. (Confusingly, out of Chicago and not Newark - though it is named after Newark where the first US radio station was.) I like them and use them often. They have a wide variety of soldering irons for under $10, including up to 45 watts. They even have an honest-to-God Weller for $15, but it's only 15W.

Very useful video. Do you have plans to demonstrate surface mount component kits in future please?

Thanks Clive. Was hoping you were going to do something like this. Just what I need.