Electronics repairs and DIY soldering project - HELP NEEDED

[turokk]

Hi,

I'm doing a DIY project (building a Nixi clock) and I think I messed up and applied to much heat to one of the soldering pads. I need someone with experience to look at a picture (which I can email) and tell me if it's repairable.

I'm amateur at best with soldering, I bought a CDN Tire soldering kit with 2 heat settings, I bought special electronics solder which is very thick (not sure of the mm off hand, posting this from work) and then bought more solder from The Source which was silver solder which seemed more appropriate.

Anyways my clock project has come to a grinding halt due to this one soldering pad I over heated and now has lifted a little bit off the board. And I'm also having problems with the board/resistor leads and heating them up properly so the solder melts when I touch it to the lead and board and not melting it by touching it to the hot soldering iron, which is not the proper way to solder.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, I had high hopes of getting this project done by now.. I just got all the parts from Germany in early December and started soldering about a month ago.

Also if anyone is local to my area and willing to meet up for a coffee or see my project and give me some tips etc.. that would be even better..

I know this is a shot in the dark, but I'd rather finish this myself then pay someone to do it for me.

Cheers,
Adam

p.s: I didn't see any other section where this would be appropriate.

[kilarneyone]

if the pad has lifted you can use the long leg of the component to attach to the next good point on the board. Or use a very small diameter copper wire and use it to run to the next connection point. Hope you are using resin core solder only.

[turokk]

[kilarneyone]

use a solder iron with at least 30 watts power. The smaller the wattage the longer the warmup. After a good warmup use a wet sponge to wipe the tip and then apply fresh solder to the tip. If the solder wont melt onto the tip its not hot enough or contaminated. If the components are larger you may need a higher wattage iron. Coat the tip and if it melts onto the tip then apply to the board and as you see it smoke a bit touch more solder to the area being connected. All parts must be clean and corrosion free. You can pre coat the leg of the component you are trying to solder. If you cant get the solder to stick to the tip tho you probably have too low a heat or dirty tip. Have fun.

[Dominique9]

Where do you live(province)?

I have link to a paradis of DIY person.

http://m.instructables.com/

[kilarneyone]

still sounds like not enough heat or dirty surfaces. If the heat is too low it will melt the pad but not the solder. You should practice on a damaged or scrap circuit board like something from a junk computer or tv. Its not a good idea to try and do a project that you really want to work when you dont have any practice!!!!

[phillynn38@yahoo.ca]