Solved Soldering problems pls help

[Fezbunny]

So I'm trying soldering for the first time in a while for an rc boat project and am having trouble with he solder not sticking to anything but the iron tip.
It's not sticking to the pcb or the wires. Im using an Aneng sl108 with a 65w power suplex for a laptop and the soldering that came with (i think its unleaded) I've been trying to get this to wok for a while any help would be awesome

 

[Foamforce]

It doesn’t stick because of oxidation and wrong temperature.

Oxidation is fixed with flux. You can either get it in a tube or in a little canister and apply it to the pads and the wire before soldering. However, if your pads and wire are new and not previously soldered, then you can generally just use flux-core solder. Brand matters.

The other issue is that there is a specific temperature range that you need to be in. If you have a cheap soldering iron that doesn’t have a temperature gauge, then it will probably get too hot, which, amongst other issues, will immediately burn off the flux.

If you have a cheap soldering iron, do yourself a favor and buy a Pinecil soldering iron and a roll of Kester 44 solder. Also get yourself a flux pen, a helping hand, and a tip cleaner. I previously thought that soldering was a dark art that I couldn’t master until I got that setup. Now it’s easy and enjoyable.

Good luck!

 

[Fezbunny]

sorry i forgot to say im using 450c and flux and i am using helping hands. and the Aneng sl108 does have a temp sensor

 

[LitterBug]

450c is pretty hot. I rarely need that much heat. Try dropping back to 375c.

Pictures of what you are trying to solder may be of help.

Have you tried tinning the wires first? Same with the PCB pads?

 

[Foamforce]

I’ve never heard of that brand of iron, but it sure looks like basic TS-100 which should be fine.

What kind of solder are you using? It should be thin, flux core, and high lead content. Compare to Kester 44.

 

[Merv]

sorry i forgot to say im using 450c...

Way too hot. I'm guessing you are instantly burning off your flux before it can work.

For small gauge stuff, like connecting flight controller stuff, use 315-320C AND a smaller tip. For heavy gauge stuff, like a XT60 battery connector use 350-360C AND a larger tip. It's best to practice on something cheap, like a blank PCB board. Heat is a component killer, on small stuff, it should only take 1 second or so to solder something. This keeps the heat from spreading to damage your components.

It's only when I solder something very heavy, like landing gear, that I'll turn up the heat to 450C.

Here is a good video.

 

[Fezbunny]

ok so i hadent tryd tinning the wires ill try that next. idk what solder it is its in a tube with a blue lid and it came with the iron.and i tryd it at 320c and it wouldent even melt the solder and 375c barely would but not rely.

 

[Merv]

...i tryd it at 320c and it wouldent even melt the solder...

On my solder station, it says it has reached temp but it takes a minute or so after that for heat to actually reach the tip.

 

[LitterBug]

Is there a lable on your solder? Maybe you have a low/no lead content solder that requires more heat.

 

[Houndpup Rc]

Way too hot. I'm guessing you are instantly burning off your flux before it can work.

For small gauge stuff, like connecting flight controller stuff, use 315-320C AND a smaller tip. For heavy gauge stuff, like a XT60 battery connector use 350-360C AND a larger tip. It's best to practice on something cheap, like a blank PCB board. Heat is a component killer, on small stuff, it should only take 1 second or so to solder something. This keeps the heat from spreading to damage your components.

It's only when I solder something very heavy, like landing gear, that I'll turn up the heat to 450C.

Here is a good video.

1+ This video really helped me!👍

 

[Houndpup Rc]

So I'm trying soldering for the first time in a while for an rc boat project and am having trouble with he solder not sticking to anything but the iron tip.
It's not sticking to the pcb or the wires. Im using an Aneng sl108 with a 65w power suplex for a laptop and the soldering that came with (i think its unleaded) I've been trying to get this to wok for a while any help would be awesome

I suggest getting some quality solder and flux, the stuff Amain hobbies is what I have and it works great!👍 (The solder or flux that comes with soldering irons is usually pretty hard to use in my experience)

Miniatronics Rosin Soldering Flux Paste (2oz) [MNT1065002]

This is a two ounce container of Miniatronics Rosin Soldering Flux Paste. This flux helps clean and pretin the solder tip in preparation of the next... MNT1065002

www.amainhobbies.com

Miniatronics Rosin Core Solder 60/40 (4oz) [MNT1064004]

This solder is not only great for hobby projects but good all electrical applications. The melting temperature for this solder is 374 degrees... MNT1064004

www.amainhobbies.com

 

[Fezbunny]

Thanks all of you! I got it to work turns out it was the soldering iron got some of what you said works great now!