Hand soldering involves joining two metallic components together using solder. It is done manually using a soldering iron to heat the joint while feeding solder to bond the components. Hand soldering is still important for applications like prototyping, repairs, and situations where automated soldering is not feasible. It requires basic tools like a soldering iron, solder, and flux as well as safety procedures to avoid hazards from the heat, fumes and electrical components.

1. Hand Soldering
©Monzur Kabir, Ph.D., P.Eng. 1
Beginning of Hand Soldering
HAND SOLDERING AND CIRCUIT BOARD REPAIR (EECE1100)
Spring 2009
Continuing Education Program, Conestoga College
Dr. Monzur Kabir, P. Eng.
Professor, Applied Degree Program of
Integrated Telecom and Computer Technology (ITCT), Conestoga College
Room: 2A409, Doon Campus, Conestoga College
Tel: (519) 748-5220, Ext. 3857; Email: mkabir@conestogac.on.ca

2. Hand Soldering
©Monzur Kabir, Ph.D., P.Eng. 2
What Is Electronics Hand Soldering
• Electronic soldering joins two metallic wires/connectors/pins of a circuit
• The soldering happens when a metallic alloy, called solder, melts down on the joint
due to soldering iron’s heat, and bonds the target conductors together when the
solder cools down and solidifies
• Machine soldering happens by driving component-populated printed circuit board
(PCB) through molten solder (drag and wave soldering), or by applying solder
paste to the contacts and melt the paste by heat (reflow soldering). A machine
soldering needs industrial process and it is for mass production
• Hand soldering, on the other hand, is done manually, usually one joint at a time. It
is a slow process but essential in many cases where machine soldering is not
feasible
Hand soldering and automated (machine) soldering
What is Electronic Soldering
What is hand soldering: play the following clip (Clip 4)
Nasa-Solder-4 and IPC Video (First Part Only)

3. Hand Soldering
©Monzur Kabir, Ph.D., P.Eng. 3
Importance of Hand Soldering
• Does touchless carwash eliminate the necessity of hand wash?
How important the hand soldering is nowadays when automated soldering is so
available?
NO
• Hand soldering is very much needed in many occasions:
 Prototyping
 Low volume production
 Urgent need
 Rework and touch up in automated soldering line
 Repair faulty board
 Special soldering needs where a machine soldering does not work

4. Hand Soldering
©Monzur Kabir, Ph.D., P.Eng. 4
Basic Tools, Materials and Procedure of Hand Soldering
• Soldering Iron with stand and sponge
• Solder Material
• Side Cutters
• Long Nose Pliers
• Wire cutters/Strippers
Basic Tools
Basic Elements of Hand Soldering Video: Nasa-Solder-1
• Flux
• Cleaning Material such as Alcohol
Basic Additional Materials
Video: Nasa-Solder-2
Video: IPC Video (flux portion)

5. Hand Soldering
©Monzur Kabir, Ph.D., P.Eng. 5
Printed Circuit Board

6. Hand Soldering
©Monzur Kabir, Ph.D., P.Eng. 6
Printed Circuit Board … continued

7. Hand Soldering
©Monzur Kabir, Ph.D., P.Eng. 7
Resistor

8. Hand Soldering
©Monzur Kabir, Ph.D., P.Eng. 8
Basic Tools, Materials and Procedure of Hand Soldering
• Put two target objects (to be soldered) together
Basic Procedure
• Pre-heat the joint area with soldering iron
• Apply solder at the joint and remove when sufficient solder has molten down to
the joint
• Remove solder wire and then soldering iron, and allow the joint to cool down
• See the video clip: Nasa-Solder-5
• Clean the surfaces to be soldered (dirt free, grease free and oxide-free)
• Wet the joint area with flux, if needed

9. Hand Soldering
©Monzur Kabir, Ph.D., P.Eng. 9
Cleaning, Wetting and Pre-heating, Solder Flow
Cleaning
 Iron tip cleaning
 Component lead cleaning
 Circuit board cleaning
Wetting (Tinning)
 Iron tip wetting with molten solder
 Contact wetting with molten solder
Preheating
 Pre-heat the contacts before soldering
Solder Flow
 Allowing molten solder to flow freely

10. Hand Soldering
©Monzur Kabir, Ph.D., P.Eng. 10
Hand Soldering Practices
• Pick a big resistor
• Cut its terminal to appropriate size
• Put it into two holes on the PCB
• Solder it
• Inspect if it looks like a good soldering
Practice 3
Practice 2
• Pick a small resistor and do the same as
above
Practice 4 • Cut a small piece of wire
• Strip two sides
• Put it into two holes of the PCB
• Solder it
• Inspect if it looks like a good soldering
Practice 1 • Follow the video and practice accordingly:
http://www.ashcombe.surrey.sch.uk/Curriculum/dt/videos/solderVid/solder_fset.htm , or
http://www.ashcombe.surrey.sch.uk/Curriculum/dt/index.htm , click on ‘Soldering’
Videos:
Component Prep.
http://www.solder.ne
t/technical/tip17.a
sp
Soldering:
Nasa-Solder-4
Nasa-Solder-5

11. Hand Soldering
©Monzur Kabir, Ph.D., P.Eng. 11
Contact Area Between Iron and Work
Wrong: Very Small contact Area
Right: Sufficient Contact Area

12. Hand Soldering
©Monzur Kabir, Ph.D., P.Eng. 12
Size of Solder Fillet
a) Minimum amount of solder
b) Optimal
c) Excessive solder
http://www.elexp.com/t_solder.htm

13. Hand Soldering
©Monzur Kabir, Ph.D., P.Eng. 13
Basic Safety Procedures and Practices
• Hot Iron (temperature as high as 430oC)
• Fume
• High Voltage
• Loose Clothing and Hair
• Lead of the solder
• Put the hot iron in its holder when not used
Basic Safety Procedures and Practice
Safety Hazards
• Avoid touching the metallic part of the iron while it is hot and/or
connected with the power-line
• Wear appropriate clothes and tie back long hair
• No food or drink in the lab while working
• Wear safety glasses
• Keep flammable materials away from the hot soldering iron
• Work in a ventilated place, or use fume extractor