Soldering

This is a page all about the wonderful art of soldering! It covers electronics soldering, jewelry soldering, sculptural soldering, and links to helpful places around the internet to view guides and read more.

Electronics Soldering

Working with circuits, wires, and electrical components. Have a website you love to get parts from, or recommend a certain tool? Add it to one of the categories below!

Video: Soldering - Beginner's Tutorial

Open Hack Nights

Every Friday 6-8pm the makerspace hosts Open Hack Nights.

Come to the Electronics Lab and tinker, share, and chat with other makers working on fun projects!

Recommended Equipment

• Soldering Iron
  • Stand-alone iron with variable temperature. Recommended: Adjustable 30W 110V soldering iron - XY-258 110V
  • Soldering Iron Station with variable temp. Recommended: Weller WLC100 Soldering Station or Aoyue 936
• Lead-free Rosin Core electronics solder. Recommended: Solder - 1/4lb Spool
• Solder Paste for surface mount parts (SMD, SMT)
• Rosin Paste Flux for electronics
• Wire-strippers/clippers
• An insulated work mat. Cork mats are available at craft stores. Silicone mats are nice.
• Helping hands (a pair of pose-able metal clips mounted on a sturdy base). Recommended: Third Hand
• A fan or other means of ventilation

Helpful Accessories

• Heat shrink tubing
• Pliers
• Lamp
• Magnifier
• Circuit board holder

Where to buy stuff

• Online Electronics Hobby Stores:
  • Sparkfun: http://www.sparkfun.com
  • Adafruit: http://www.adafruit.com
  • Makershed: http://www.makershed.com
  • Radioshack: http://www.radioshack.com

• Good places to get parts:
  • Mouser: http://www.mouser.com
  • Octopart: http://www.octopart.com
  • Electronics Goldmine: http://www.goldmine-elec-products.com
  • A Maine-based company: http://www.leading-leds.com
  • Need batteries? http://www.cheap-batteries.com/
  • Parts and kits: http://www.allelectronics.com/
  • Guitar parts and kits: http://www.stewmac.com

• Robotics and 3D Printing:
  • Pololu http://www.pololu.com/
  • Trossen Robotics http://www.trossenrobotics.com/

• Refresher guide on soldering from Sparkfun: https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/how-to-solder---through-hole-soldering

Jewelry Soldering

• The Basics of Soldering - Jewelry 101
• Soldering for crafters

Sculptural Soldering

needs content!