Introduction
In this introduction to soldering we will be using a soldering iron, helping hands, and soldering flux all while ensuring proper ventilation.
Parts
No parts specified.
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Make sure you have the following tools:
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Soldering Iron with sponge
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Tweezers or wire cutters
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Brush and Paste Flux
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Helping Hands
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Soldering Wire
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(optional) Magnifying glass
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Always turn ventilation on before you solder!
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Turning on the Soldering Iron is important too :)
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Before we get started, ensure that the ventilation tube is as close to the helping hands as possible without being in the way
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Attach the RGB LED to one of the helping hands so the sockets you are going to solder are facing away from you
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Clamp the longer pins of the corresponding LED so the short pins are pointing up
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Once both parts are clamped move the helping hands close enough so that the short pins go all the way through the three holes on the LED
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If you are having trouble with keeping the helping hands still where you want them try "pre-tensioning" the hands so the parts are moving towards each other, and not away
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With a pair of tweezers or wire cutters cut some soldering wire from the spool. You should only need at most 2.5 in of wire.
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Keep the wire going through the guiding hole.
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Use a small brush and gently dab it in some water soluble paste flux.
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You only need enough flux to coat the pins and sockets which in this case is not that much.
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Do not stroke the brush as it makes it more likely to get flux in unnecessary places of the LED,
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Now it is time to solder! Grab a soldering iron, preferably with your dominant hand, and the previously cut soldering wire
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Begin by placing the soldering iron onto the pin AND the socket.
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While holding the soldering iron on the pin and socket being to push the soldering wire onto the pin.
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Move the wire all around each socket to ensure the pins are completely soldered onto the LED
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Move the wire all around each socket so there are no open holes in any of them. A magnifying glass can be helpful during this process.
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You're finished! Feel free to take your soldered part off of the helping hands.
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These steps are the same for soldering several types of electronics. As long as you have proper ventilation and the tools available you should be ready to solder!
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