Soldering Tutorial: tutorial, tips, and techniques

[Hyperion]

   Since we are on the eve of a new soldering project, I decided that we needed a new soldering tutorial for the members who need some help with soldering. Please feel free to respond and add any tutorials, tips or techniques that would be helpful to our members. Also if you have a question about soldering then this would be the place to ask it.

Soldering tutorials:
   http://www.solderinguide.com/
   http://curiousinventor.com/guides/How_To_Solder  given by Snow in a previous post
A bunch of surface mount soldering videos(this guy makes it look easy!):
        http://www.bebin.in/user/SolderingGeek.html


In case of mistakes, De-soldering guide and repair:
      http://www.epemag.wimborne.co.uk/desolderpix.htm
        http://xim3.com/community/index.php?topic=1117.0 help from ipn0tic

Note: Snows soldering tutorial link also has additional references and links to other good guides and resources

Tip:
   If you do not have much experience soldering/desoldering then it might be helpful if you were to practice on some old circuit boards first. Any old electronics would have a circuit board that you could practice on. An old clock radio, old printer, scanner,  old VCR, etc. would all have a circuit board that you could practice on. Just don't use anything that you need, only something that you are going to throw away.  Also I don't recommend using old monitors or TV's that have a CRT tube, they work with voltages that could kill. Definitely never work on something that is currently plugged into the wall outlet.

Tip:
Which solder to use thread started by animenows:http://xim3.com/community/index.php?topic=905.0
Update:
What solder should I get? thread started by locked88: http://xim3.com/community/index.php?topic=957.0

Tip:
Useful tips from Nickstudy and OMGsus: http://xim3.com/community/index.php?topic=919.msg9711#msg9711

Funny:
AngrySouls love affair with soldering: http://xim3.com/community/index.php?topic=926.msg9775#msg9775

Tip:
Wire size suggestions for XIM2: http://xim3.com/community/index.php?topic=924.0

XIM2 info:
XIM2 DIY Kit checklist by abs0lut: http://xim3.com/community/index.php?topic=932.0

Reference material:
Soldering standards from NASA for the hardcore, brought to you by Caliban10010: http://xim3.com/community/index.php?topic=949.0
     direct link:http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/codeq/doctree/NS87393.pdf

[AngrySoul]

Hyperion,

what type of Glue would you use to attach/paste the board to the inside of the Xbox 360 controller? or any other surface for the matter? what would you recommend?

thanks

regards,

Angry

[derektm]

There is no need for any glue to hold the board down. It will stay in place by itself, especially once all the wires are attached.

[AngrySoul]

Thanks Derek

[Hyperion]

Hyperion,

what type of Glue would you use to attach/paste the board to the inside of the Xbox 360 controller? or any other surface for the matter? what would you recommend?

thanks

regards,

Angry

Even though the XIM will not need to be glued into place in the controller, I have found that hot glue used appropriately works extremely well at holding circuit boards and wires in place.

PS thanks for the speedy answer Derek