CPCWiki forum

For some people soldering is a simple and easy task. They are familiar with it, and they can make modifications with confidence and be successful.

For others, they are either not able to solder or they are not confident about making changes.

Please vote.

After years of assembling audio amplifiers and some other things from scratch I would say that I can solder more or less decently. I am not a master, though... :)

I'd say I have decent soldering skills too.

I'd say i wouldn't even solder two wires together reliably...

I was repairing and soldered from time to time electronic stuff when I was younger (Hi-Fi, Remotes, small platines etc)  now I am a bit rusty and my solder equipment is don't-know-where but I guess I would still be able to do it - so yes!

I could try but the results would likely be somewhat of a failure. 

Guess what I voted :)

Bryce.

Edit: It's not really a can/can't question. Soldering a through-hole resistor isn't difficult, soldering a 148 pin SMD IC with a pitch less than 0.5mm is a whole different story.

Anything that involves soldering or DIY - I scan through the internet and hire a man to do it :laugh: !

Seriously - I could probably solder if I really needed too, but it's not something that I feel interested in trying.

Quote from: sigh on 15:40, 08 July 15
Anything that involves soldering or DIY - I scan through the internet and hire a man to do it :laugh: !

Seriously - I could probably solder if I really needed too, but it's not something that I feel interested in trying.

Same here.

I can do simple stuff.  ;)

I've done mod switches on megadrives for example.  :D

Quote from: arnoldemu on 13:05, 08 July 15
Please vote.

Can I vote for the correction of the typing errors of the poll?  :laugh:


Well, voted anyway.  :)

I can fuck up a bread board, so soldering is way out of my abilities.

Quote from: EgoTrip on 18:41, 08 July 15
I can fuck up a bread board, so soldering is way out of my abilities.

That sounds like PCB art! You are doing better than most for sure!  :) :) :)

I can, but I can't.  ;D

I soldered a Dragon disk controller. So, yeah, I can mostly solder.

I've never tried to solder anything in my life! :-[

Quote from: TotO on 19:44, 08 July 15
I can, but I can't.  ;D

I can but sometimes, I shouldn't! :)

Any kind cables, sockets, switches - no problemo. :)
But chips I prefer don't touch. Least damage will be smaller. :D

Voted Yes..... But will add that Mods on the Extreme end for me go to Bryce LOL


Adding an ABBA switch or reset button, no worries


Re-engineering the whole machine... Ahhhh, Not so much LOL

i've been soldering for 35+ years and was doing it 8 hours a day, 6 days a week, at one point... so that's a confident yes vote from me...

Up to now exactly 2/3 of all voters can solder! Good to know, next time I release my new game as do it yourself kit including a soldering iron.  :laugh:

Quote from: iddod on 21:23, 08 July 15
i've been soldering for 35+ years and was doing it 8 hours a day, 6 days a week, at one point... so that's a confident yes vote from me...

Rework? Or were you doing repairs?

Bryce.

I can (medium skills)
I started with cables and last years to repair some of my micros because there is no one near here to do this.
You should see the expression of their faces when they saw a ZX mobo in a TV repair store...

Anyway I fix them my self and if I can't Bryce can  ;D

If you want to learn to solder, or are unsure if you're doing it right, here's the "Soldering is easy!" comic book that's probably the best tutorial I've found. And there's a bazillion translated versions as well!


Announcing the "Soldering is Easy" Complete Comic Book! | MightyOhm (http://mightyohm.com/blog/2011/04/soldering-is-easy-comic-book/)

Hey, why do the Russians get a colour version and we don't!?  >:(

Very cute, but a bit dated.

Bryce.

Bryce has a point - I think I can solder (I recently recapped a Gamegear -successfully so!), but modding a CPC usually requires finer skills and also:I didn't care about the GG but I do care about my CPCs... So it's not an easy question to answer!

Quote from: Gryzor on 08:46, 09 July 15
Bryce has a point - I think I can solder (I recently recapped a Gamegear -successfully so!), but modding a CPC usually requires finer skills and also:I didn't care about the GG but I do care about my CPCs... So it's not an easy question to answer!

Exactly. I can solder minor things, like various cables.
But I'm not really willing to solder anything in any of my precious CPCs. Too big a chance that I'll mess it up.
I still voted "Can" though, but there ought have been a "Can but won't touch my CPC!" option.  :)

Quote from: TFM on 21:27, 08 July 15
Up to now exactly 2/3 of all voters can solder! Good to know, next time I release my new game as do it yourself kit including a soldering iron.  :laugh:

Your game could include a soldering minigame inside  ;)

.

Quote from: phi2x on 09:16, 09 July 15
The question was: "Do you have the ability to solder AND make modifications to your CPCs/GX4000/Plus". That's why I voted "Can't".

If that was the original question, then I missed it.
I thought it was just "Can you solder?"
I probably looked at the topic instead...

Quote from: phi2x on 09:16, 09 July 15
The question was: "Do you have the ability to solder AND make modifications to your CPCs/GX4000/Plus". That's why I voted "Can't".

I'm same as mr_lou, I can do minor soldering work like making cables. But there's no way I will touch my CPCs with my mediocre soldering skills.

Well Gryzors answer brings a new factor into it. Recapping a Gamegear is more difficult than most soldering you'd ever need to do on a CPC, sooo... He can solder and has the ABILITY to mod his CPC, but nerves about damaging his CPC changes the situation.

Another situation I have come across is the problem of "self assessment". People who have said "I tried to fix it myself... yes OF COURSE I can solder" and then send me something with soldering that looks like it was done with a cigarette lighter and a hammer.

Bryce.

(http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/amstrad-cpc-hardware/i-cancan't-solder/?action=dlattach;attach=15415)(http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/amstrad-cpc-hardware/i-cancan't-solder/?action=dlattach;attach=15417)(http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/amstrad-cpc-hardware/i-cancan't-solder/?action=dlattach;attach=15419)

Have been hand soldering for years. Happily tackle anything down to 0805 & 0.8mm pitch SMD parts, anything below this is right pain !! Still beats wire-wrapping though  :D 

I started soldering for home repairs at 12, but I learned myself. Until now I have managed to do it well, but just soldering iron, no soldering stations or hot air stuff. SMD is my limit, I have been lucky to replace a CXA at an A600, and some basic components (SMD resistors, condensers), and solder the full keyboard lines to a GX4000.

But that was before 2009, when I corrected by surgery my eyes from myopia and I lost my "super vision" I was able to focus my vision at circuits at 1 or 2 cm from my eyes, now is hard to me to do it at 10 cm (but hey! I can see perfect from 10cm to the horizont!!!) This was of great help for me to solder little points better than now.  :'(

For my job I do basic soldering with DIP components (always socketed) and cables, most of the times at the street, with wind and all that  :laugh: . I will consider myself between... basic and medium skills??

I have an XT EMS board with SMD components to solder, so I will test myself, will be the most complicated thing I will solder...

@KaosOverride (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=431): You should really invest in a soldering station where you can control the temperature. Irons with just a plug on the end could have any temp on them and although the circuit might work, you may have significantly reduced the life of the components if it was soldered at too high a temperature.

Bryce.

Quote from: Bryce on 09:36, 09 July 15
Well Gryzors answer brings a new factor into it. Recapping a Gamegear is more difficult than most soldering you'd ever need to do on a CPC, sooo... He can solder and has the ABILITY to mod his CPC, but nerves about damaging his CPC changes the situation.

Another situation I have come across is the problem of "self assessment". People who have said "I tried to fix it myself... yes OF COURSE I can solder" and then send me something with soldering that looks like it was done with a cigarette lighter and a hammer.

Bryce.

True. Then again, I didn't say the GG looked pretty afterwards :D

@KaosOverride (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=431) sme here with the vision.

In collage when I was learning electrical engineering (nothing came of it and I've only recently started to get back into it as a hobby) I could hold a pcb literally millimetres away from my eyes and perfect vision.
So clear.

I had laser surgery so I can forget that now.
In fairness not having to wear glasses was worth losing the ability have supermans microscopic vision.

Quote from: Gryzor on 08:46, 09 July 15
Bryce has a point - I think I can solder (I recently recapped a Gamegear -successfully so!), but modding a CPC usually requires finer skills and also:I didn't care about the GG but I do care about my CPCs... So it's not an easy question to answer!

I think this is a question similar to "can you drive".
We all can but 0.1% can run in Monago GP  ;D

[ot]Σήμερα άνοιξα το παγκάρι της εκκλησίας εδώ στη δουλειά γιατί ξέμεινα και είχε μέσα ένα 200άρικο, 2 κατοστάρικα, 1 πενηντάρικο και 1 δεκάρικο... δραχμές όλα.[/ot]

I've been soldering for longer than I can remember.  However, I'm limited to mostly through-hole components as I lack the tools required for surface mount.

I think this is where most people go wrong; tackling surface mount components with clumsy large-tipped non-temperature controlled irons.  I see so much hardware completely destroyed thanks to people without the correct skills or tools.  Best to your limits, both in terms of skill and tools available :)

I can solder. I've done bits and pieces when I was in my teens.

I have one a bit like this (but black):

Older Weller soldering iron won't heat? - Electrical Engineering Stack (http://electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/1929/older-weller-soldering-iron-wont-heat)

Same kind of stand, same sponge, different tips. I've no idea how old it is, perhaps older than me.

But, it's old and the heat can't be controlled. I also don't have a vice or place to grip the thing I need to solder so it's difficult.
When I was younger I used a wiring pen. in fact the cartridge reading device I made back in the 1990's was made using it.

Wiring Pencils or Wiring Pens | Roadrunner Products Ltd (http://www.roadrunnerelectronics.com/Wiring-Pencils)

I used to use a good angle poise magnifier with light to help:

http://www.sewandso.co.uk/Products/DN1020---5-Magnifying-Lamp__DAY-DN1020.aspx (http://www.sewandso.co.uk/Products/DN1020---5-Magnifying-Lamp__DAY-DN1020.aspx)

So now I don't have the appropiate bits or the patience. I voted yes, but in reality if somebody can make one for me I'd have that instead, and I'm reluctant to modify my cpcs. I would never be able to solder anything like the pins on the asic, it has to be older 74ls sized for me.

I opened this vote because I was interested.

There are lots of nice hardware and hardware ideas coming out for CPC some which could be done with some soldering.
I was interested to know what percentage of people would be confident to do it and which percentage would not, or could not.

I know the question is bad, both in the choice of answers and spelling, but it definitely answered my question.

So for some, simply soldering in a wire is easy, but for others it's either not possible or something they don't wish to do.


Thankyou for answering :)

It's very interesting for me too, as I intend releasing some real DIY projects later. These will be mini "fun" hardware projects to build yourself. All will need some basic soldering skills, but no SMD stuff and no internal mods.

Bryce.

Quote from: Bryce on 14:28, 09 July 15
It's very interesting for me too, as I intend releasing some real DIY projects later. These will be mini "fun" hardware projects to build yourself. All will need some basic soldering skills, but no SMD stuff and no internal mods.

Bryce.

Great news. My problem however had not been the soldering as such. But the costs of having one off PCBs made is extortionate. Are you planning on kits or just circuit diagrams and component lists?

May be some peoples answered "Yes I can... but better to not see the result"?!  ;D
I should sold my MX4 expansions as DIY parts too for peoples who want to build themselve to get fun and save time.

Quote from: Bryce on 14:28, 09 July 15
It's very interesting for me too, as I intend releasing some real DIY projects later. These will be mini "fun" hardware projects to build yourself. All will need some basic soldering skills, but no SMD stuff and no internal mods.

Bryce.

Great! Just oldschool pcbs!!!

Quote from: CraigsBar on 14:35, 09 July 15
But the costs of having one off PCBs made is extortionate.

The price of getting PCBs made has drastically dropped over the last few years, e.g. getting 10 2 layer 10cm x 10cm boards will cost you about $20 + shipping from one of the popular Chinese fab sites. You'll pay extra for frills like plating, non-green solder mask etc.. 

Quote from: CraigsBar on 14:35, 09 July 15
Great news. My problem however had not been the soldering as such. But the costs of having one off PCBs made is extortionate. Are you planning on kits or just circuit diagrams and component lists?

These will be reeeeally old school. All made on Veroboards :)

Bryce.

Someone should do up a MX4 mounted breadboard  ;D

Quote from: Bryce on 21:45, 08 July 15
Rework? Or were you doing repairs?

Bryce.

i was modifying game consoles in the back room of a shop selling removable media, pretty much stopped doing it when the 360 and ps3 were released and everything went to softmods...

Last mod on a new console was the original xbox.
After that I decided a standard soldering iron would be pushing my luck too much.

Even though a basic iron has worked fine for my old machines I think it's time to invest in a soldering station.

Is this thread like a job interview for the start of some mass retro Amstrad production assembly line?
I hope you're gonna pay minimum wage.  :D

And why on earth would we want to modify our CPCs?
Greetings! (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/amstrad-cpc-hardware/greetings!/15/)
ok I might have changed mine a bit!!!!!

So the story behind those Pictures I posted yesterday was I was pushed into doing an Electronics course, the Mine Tower was something everyone had to do initially, followed by some Electronic toy, as you can see from the image it's fallen to bits a bit (probably cause the iron was too hot or something), at the time I hadn't done any other soldering apart from the Soldering they did in the Metal Works class using the old soldering irons from under the fire. The Electronics course was kinda difficult for me because the room was always full of Distractions along with Bon Jovi and I think because I was new to that subject the teacher allowed me to pass on those 2 Projects, but wanted 3 from anyone who had previous experience.

I think learning to solder can be fun once you get the hang of it.
There is a certain sence of satisfaction when the task is complete and it works

Quote from: TotO on 14:38, 09 July 15
May be some peoples answered "Yes I can... but better to not see the result"?!  ;D
I should sold my MX4 expansions as DIY parts too for peoples who want to build themselve to get fun and save time.

That's a great Idea  :laugh: :laugh:
I voted yes, but only for electronics soldering skills, one day i tried to solder my wife's brocken earrings... errrrr had to buy another pair....
So i CAN solder electronic stuff (not beyond 0603) , but i CAN'T solder jewelery stuff !!!

Only certain metals can be soldered well. You'd need to know what the jewelery is made of before you decide how to bond it.

Bryce.

Quote from: Bryce on 10:21, 17 July 15
Only certain metals can be soldered well. You'd need to know what the jewelery is made of before you decide how to bond it.

Bryce.

Superglue ;)

Quote from: TotO on 14:38, 09 July 15
May be some peoples answered "Yes I can... but better to not see the result"?!  ;D
I should sold my MX4 expansions as DIY parts too for peoples who want to build themselve to get fun and save time.

Hmmmm. I wonder if you could send me a mother4x with no connector on the CPC side, just the open holes, but everything else in place?

Some people can say they can't solder, but they really like do it. :D

Quote from: TotO on 14:38, 09 July 15
May be some peoples answered "Yes I can... but better to not see the result"?!  ;D
I should sold my MX4 expansions as DIY parts too for peoples who want to build themselve to get fun and save time.

I would really love to buy the expansions as a kit, really  :)

Quote from: [[C|-|E]] on 12:09, 17 July 15
I would really love to buy the expansions as a kit, really  :)



In TotO's case this wouldn't change the price of the expansion. He's doing it all for us!  :)

Then you have to take him for dinner, or something  :o

I did send him a T101 chip (first Terminator series which actually did work!) for X-MAS. And what did he do? He made a X-MESS out of it!  :laugh:

Quote from: CraigsBar on 10:27, 17 July 15
Superglue ;)

Even if i can't solder, I'm quite good with adhesives  :laugh:

I can glue my fingers together very easily. ;D

Saying that I can't solder would be a lie. Saying that I'm consistently good at it however, is a different story. I never had formal soldering training, and I ignored even basic skills like e.g. keeping the soldering tip clean, using flux etc. until recently. Sometimes I can do a masterpiece, sometimes I can struggle for an hour with a dirty joint that just won't "catch" solder. Bah....

Quote from: steve on 11:39, 12 August 15
I can glue my fingers together very easily. ;D

Pah, we can all do that.
Come back when you have managed to glue you hand to your face and then you're part of an elite group

I can do basic repairs. Found it easier since I ditched the modern solder and got me some good old leaded solder. The modern stuff is rubbish!


Currently have a broken +2 on the bench which the guys at WOS are helping me fix.

As a hobbiest you should avoid lead-free solder at all costs, except for where you have no choice. Aswell as it being much worse for your health than the leaded stuff, it's also more difficult to solder.

Bryce.

Funnily enough, most "1 Euro" shops have those chinese noname solders which just don't give a damn about EU or EPA regulations or anything, and are lead all the way  :laugh:


Of course, not everything is peaches and cream....many come only in fairly large gauges (0.6-1 mm) and can be pretty rough to solder with, and despite their "2% rosin/flux core" content.

Quote from: Velktron on 09:56, 17 August 15
Funnily enough, most "1 Euro" shops have those chinese noname solders which just don't give a damn about EU or EPA regulations or anything, and are lead all the way  :laugh:

It's perfectly legal to buy and sell leaded solder for personal use. One of the UK's largest electronic components suppliers will happily sell you top quality leaded solder for personal use.

Yes, leaded solder is still (legally) widely available. If you want to do decent PCB soldering you should try to get solder of a diameter under 1mm. I usually use 0.75mm or 0.5mm, with multiple flux cores (I think most are about 5 core), with a 60/40 or 63/37 mix.

Bryce.

Yes, agreed. 0.8 mm works best for me (because I got a too big tip on my soldering iron already, haha).

Quote from: Bryce on 08:47, 17 August 15
As a hobbiest you should avoid lead-free solder at all costs, except for where you have no choice. Aswell as it being much worse for your health than the leaded stuff, it's also more difficult to solder.

Bryce.

Huh, learn something new every day... Of course everybody knows lead=bad, but we don't think about what's in the lead-free stuff we buy.


Throwing out my solder packs right away...

Quote from: Gryzor on 17:31, 17 August 15

Huh, learn something new every day... Of course everybody knows lead=bad, but we don't think about what's in the lead-free stuff we buy.


Throwing out my solder packs right away...

Same here.
Thankfully I still have some lead solder I didn't throw out years ago when I was told lead-free was better.