I've watched lots & lots of soldering videos, this is to the point, great detail, not to much waffling and has really helped me improve my soldering skills. Thanks!
Thanks for the Great video. I haven't done any "real" soldering since I left the Air Force too many years ago. I'm going to a job interview tomorrow for a position involving soldering. Thank you for giving me some insight into current techniques.
When I was 8, my father started to teach me to solder. He was a life long Ham(radio amateur). Mum came into the workshop and said "Don't let him play with that soldering iron, he'll burn himself." Dad said "Yes, but only the once.". He was right!!!! By the way, dunk the braid in flux, much better.
Reminded me of when i was 11 i picked up the soldering iron to repair a universal power adaptor for my walkman. I ended up burning my leg real bad. Dad found out first and did not think much of it , mom found out she was like the soldering iron is not a toy u better not play with that again. of course i did NOT listen to her. 20 years later i asked her remember when i burned myself with the soldering iron? Aren't u glad i did not listen to you years ago ? i would not b able to repair your projection tv today.
Personally I think you are the BEST tech teacher I have ever watched. Very easy to understand and you explain things very clearly. Thank you for that sir. Keep up the great videos.
Thank you! As an old DIYer Jack of all trades, I often crudely desolder & resolder items. Just watching this has greatly improved the quality of my projects & expanded the range of what I'll tackle.
this has been SO helpful. I'm going to be doing my first solder job soon swapping two 8 pin ICs on a hard drive PCB. I'll have a lot more confidence now thanks to your video!
Thank you for this actual real time video. Very informative and instructive. I'm just starting with SMD and will likely be needing to R & R components alot until I've got some good practice at soldering SMD parts. Thanks again!
after watching endless hours of tutorials showing how you're supposed to use reflow stations, custom tips, even preparing and heating up the solder with wire templates -- i come here and i learn i was holding it wrong the whole time. Somebody give Mike a medal. Please. How come nobody speaks of this. Pure genius. Wish i knew this before - would help me save a ton of time, frustration and a few PCBs..
When you thought you've got too much flux on a the board, just double it... you'll thank me later. ;D I bought so much CW3220 flux that I think I'm gonna bathe in it for a while. xD
60 years of soldering experience here, and still ruining SMD components. I never heard about this low-melt alloy method. Will order the material this weekend. This is a great instruction video, well presented. Thank you so much.
I bought a 1 pound block of low-melt alloy from eBay a few years ago. I think it was about $15. It's about half gone and I use it daily. Compared to the cost of chip-quik, it's practically free. When I have big globs of it to remove after removing a component, I let it cool and then flip the board and remelt it. Most of it will just fall off the board ,and a light tap will even clear the through holes. It greatly reduces the amount of wick I need to use.
Why so much desoldering? Do you provide upgrade services for people? Not asking because I need it; just curious. Are you still desoldering this often in your work?
Mike: Of ALL your great and helpful videos I've seen from you in the past, this one in my opinion eclipses them all! Here, I'm thinking that I have to get all this equipment to properly do SMD work. Obviously, from what you have demonstrated here, I don't. I've already ordered the "de-soldering alloy rod" and "practice board." Bravo my friend! Tom PS More like this in the future would be greatly appreciated.
It doesn't get any better than this! You've taken it to the level that no one can go beyond. I've been soldering since 1959 and you go me looking at soldering with a new look. I really stopped the video and ordered the flux you recommended. Thanks so very much for the information.
Just wanted to say thank you! I had to replace failed op-amp in little phono preamplifier. Your video helped tremendously. Removing microcircuit was a breeze. I couldn't do all terminals in one run, had to remove a couple of bridges, but overall the repair was quick and clean. Flux flux flux!
Great informative video! I've never messed with surface mount, but plan to. I was trained in electronics in the Air Force in 1970, and dealt with through the board circuitry. The explanation of flux in Tech School was that as it vaporized with the application of the soldering iron heat, it created a small atmosphere envelope around the area to be soldered, preventing surface oxidation caused by oxygen, which forms on the metal and actually acts as an insulator against the flow of the solder to the metal component. And as you said, more is better with flux. Thanks for the demo.
this is actually one of the other effects of flux. for the Surface mount stuff i would really recommend starting with the biggest parts, with the least pincount and the biggest pitch so basically These huge-ass resistors, what is it an 8th of a watt one, at least really really big. they are dead simple to solder. watch the Video on bigclives channel where he tried smd and did basically exactly that… then you know a) which parts i mean and b) Maybe you have an idea what to start with
for someone who has no experience like me this is pretty cool. I have a key fob needing fixed and thought I'd see what I could learn and there is alot.i wish I had your experience sir you know your stuff.thank you for video.
mate thank you so much for your video. I was having a hard time to desoldering some ic's from a laptop board and couldn't figure out what was wrong. I learned something today. thank you!!!
Thanks for the great information on soldering and de-soldering. Using the fiberglass brush for cleaning is a very good idea since I use them in my watch and clock restoration and repair work. I have a bunch of electronic kits to put together and need all the help I can get! Thanks again.
I have been in the electronics manufacturing and engineering industry for about 14 years and never heard of that RSA solder until your video. I will definitely have to get some of that for work!
One of the best tutorials Mike. It's nice to see one for us that don't have fancy tool sets. The part about how to get rid of bridging was particularly interesting. FLUX, CLEAN, repeat. Works well when you need only a few cycles, but it seems you can't expect top do this too often. I used a paste flux, maybe the liquid flux has better chemistry for cleaning. However, removing a particularly stubborn bridge across 3 of the 0.5mm pitch leads of a FPC flat cable connector I ran into problems, after somewhere around 10 cycles. The Isopropyl alcohol seemed to mix with the paste flux and left something like goop in the hidden places of the connector. More Iso did not remove the goop. This caused me serious problems, because I could not get proper connection to the flat cable. I had removed the bridge, but had a connector that was not useable. I had to buy a new motherboard. My bad. Nobody else's.
I just did the MARS mod on a brand new Kenwood TS-590SG. You have to unsolder one resistor. One itty bitty teeny weeny spec of dust of a resistor. Look away and you might not be able to tell what is dust and what is the resistor. The mod was successful, but I definitely prefer working on 1970s and 1980s radios due to the component size.
Sometimes ya just gotta say "Flux it !". Thankyou for your inspiring video. My shaky hands have had me intimidated by smd, If only there were tools to minimize that impact.
Mike, you are an excellent speaker / teacher. I viewed your video months ago as I was looking for learning how to remove a component (chip) on a rotor controller. I sent for the flux / allow and the component. When I received the flux / allow, I practiced on a sound card that I had in the jewel box. Removed several tiny components. Yeterday, I worked on the board that needed fixing. I practiced on the sound card again and then did the actual work. It went all well and the rotor card is working as it was new! Thanks for allowing me to experiment!
@@kimogsus ill bet your both glad you got em when/if you end up working on say a 400-1000$ video card just a thought i have no experience with this but i know i would feel a lot better if i was working on a massively expensive board that looks like some of these gpu's i have looked into they are crazy packed in some places!
Excellent video. I'm a printed circuit board man from way back when. Yep lots of flux and a bit of patience and a minimum amount of tools one can build or repair a lot of stuff or learn to make your own circuit boards. Thanks again for the refresher tutorial.
I didn't even know desoldering alloy existed. What a life saver! I have made a mess of quite a few SMD desoldering tasks because I'm being too frugal to purchase a full on hot air rework station. I'm going to have to get some of this stuff.
Mike, Thank you ! excellent explanation with really good practical down to earth techniques. Even though I know about the importance of FLUX, the emphasis on the abundance of flux apparently makes the difference. observerms
Thank you, thank you, thank you!! You helped me more than you could imagine!!! I ordered the needed parts as soon as I was done watching your unedited demo. Am trying to replace an LM4863 ic from a small amplifier.but I could not remove it with just a soldering iron and a soldapult. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
I like your tutorials and other videos. Especially since they're mostly on ham and other radios, which I want to learn to fix and use. Great learning experience. The only thing is like to see is links to the products you use. I know that would probably take up more of your time, which that is why its not a big deal, and I'm grateful for what you have here. Thanks!
Best tips I found on the tube to date ,I only ever used wick ,WOW ,thanks for making learning fun ! And passing on such wonderful time and money saving tips ,I'm just starting out ,I have a steep learning curve ahead of me ( done 1 year of soldering de soldering work and a little reverse engineering ,I've ripped pads off boards due to not knowing about this !!! Bless you for this video !.
I never knew that stuff even existed!? Thanks for the Heads Up. Did not know about the Practice Boards either! Lots of good stuff in this Video. Thanks for making!!!
Man you are good. when you have learned how soldering works it is easy to know when someone knows what they talk about. you took me back to 1987 when i was in school with Mr. Maddox. I really appreciate you showing me what i have been doing wrong. it has been decades since i have done any soldering or repair. I really appreciate your presentation. You helped me to remember old stuff and taught me some new things. James
I came for the desoldering tutorial, but ended up learning more about soldering than my father ever thought me... Thank you! You have actually given a remnant of a childhood nightmare a new life.... That little jar of ....that stuff... in the violin case, in the hall closet, that hasn't been opened in 20+ years.... Can be titrated into something useful?!?!!!! (I don't hate my Violin, I just hate the thought of Me playing it, turns out, my 'playing' is a violation of the instrument... Now that I look at the open case, minus the rosin, it brings a tear to my eye, I came to a conclusion, I will be donating it to the local Youth Orchestra tomorrow, I'm sure they have some extra rosen laying around...) Funny how a random RU-vid vid on Soldering can spark such such emotion...
Mike! That was just brilliant. Awesome actually. Just not only the techniques but the presentation. So inspiring and fascinating indeed. You are a gift from heavens. 😀 One of the best descriptive videos I've ever seen. Love ya. Thank you so much indeed. Hugs and good luck to you and yours. Cheers! 😍👍
Thank you! Now , with some practice first, I can add that CTCSS board to my Stryker SR-94HPC radio. The installation requires the removal of 2 surface mount resistors.
Hi Mike a man after my own heart ,Flux,Flux,Flux ,thats how i was taught back in the 80s ,"any doubt Just REflux" flux 3 times solder once. thanks again for passing on great tips.Have a nice Christmas everyone ,Take Care for now, Mac
Mike i've been soldering for many years and you taught me a few tips today. thankyou. The only thing you didn't cover . .vision or magnification ideas. thx.
I been soldering smd components for more than 30 years. Soldering smd with lead solder is very easy but using lead free solder is total diferent. I have a digital microscope and a stereo microscope, last one is my first option always. Cheers.
I am very grateful that you show me this precious video specially about the SMC practical board and all the related soldering technical skill and materials..
A good and needed video! :) And an interesting narration. Congrats and thanks. Even though I've repaired some SMT devices, including one laptop, I've learned something - these helpful nuances when someone presents his approach to rework. :)
I am old school solderer who used to do thru-hole solder. I never got a chance to do surface mount soldering because of being electronics technician today doesn't do much component level repairs; it is more swapping boards. But I am getting ready for new job that does component level repairs involving SMD's Your and other videos are very helpful
Glad I saw this, to be honest I've completly avoided surface mount. I'm gonna have to start practicing on some practice boards. It would really be useful to be familiar with SM boards.
I have totally destroyed circuit boards trying to remove surface mount electrolytic capacitors, I ripped the lands clean off under those caps so this would be a godsend to replacing thos damn unreliable SME componants
@@rogerd4559 haha, my first SMD repair try was exactly that - replacing multiple electrolytic caps, and I ripped off the pads... That was before I saw this video.
@@eugent My deepest condolences on your deceased circuit boards.as I have done that as well! I got lucky when I replaced most of the caps on my computer motherboard that were through-hole and the SMD's were all good!
@@rogerd4559 Practice, practice, practice. If you don't have a lot of dead SMD components laying around, head to Goodwill or Salvation Army. By the time you solder/desolder everything from an old $2 router, you'll have this sh*t mastered. I've been stripping all components off old boards lately and organizing / storing them. Places like Digikey is such a ripoff and a lot of times you'll have the exact part you need in your electronics junk drawer.
Now I understand why Louis Rossmann uses so much flux !! And under the microscope, it seems even more. GREAT VIDEO Mike. Thanks for all the good advise 🙏🏽
Thanks, Mike. I've been repairing and restoring tube receivers for about four years now. This year I'm challenging myself to get more technical and take my skills up a notch to the surface mount realm. You've cleared up alot of things in a 30 min video. Anyone ever tell you your voice sounds like Randy Quaid (Cousin Eddie from National Lampoon's)? Thanks again.
"A lifetime times ten" that's not what my father was thinking, I still got some of the stuff he bought back in the 70's, his soldering iron, multimeter, vice, wrenches, mics, other stuff I use without knowing the name of...
GREAT VID!!! After seeing this vid I think I can do at least some work on smd stuff. THANK YOU for the great vids that you make and put on you tube. A lot of us realy like them even if we don't say it. Again thank you. :) :) 73's to ya and yours.
I like using an "irrigation syringe" to apply liquid flux. You needed to brush on 4 or 5 times, but with the syringe you can add as many drops as you want with one motion.
Very good video Mike, Im in the beginning stages of electronic and soldering etc and this was something I have wanted to know how to do for some time now. Again, good stuff!!!
Fantastic! There is a customer’s board on my work bench that has been waiting for a miracle. I think thats what I just witnessed. Thanks Mike. I owe ya one. If you need to know how to change the spindle bearing on a mill or wire a three way switch, let me know.
MikesRadioRepair+ I like this method, but there's so many I even used a car light, a halogen bulb with a reflector and the oven, a toaster oven, a reflow hot air gun and a long bamboo stick to move it off the board. Liquid Solder works great for SMD and I solder the same pins as you do. I like you.
Just searched the bay for smt practice board and found a kit for a whopping $1.21. That'll be a nice surprise when it arrives after forgetting that I ordered it.
