This document provides instructions and information about plated through hole soldering. It discusses the main tools used which include a soldering iron to melt solder, solder which is a metal glue to join parts and contains flux, and tweezers, clippers, and pliers to handle components. It also discusses best practices for soldering such as cleaning the soldering iron tip before each joint, applying flux, and creating a perfect joint by heating both parts simultaneously before feeding solder in. Safety practices like wearing goggles are also emphasized.

1. Plated Through Hole Soldering
Materials by Lindsay Craig

2. Plated Through Hole Soldering

3. Soldering Iron
• The main soldering tool
• Used to melt solder

4. Solder
• Metal “glue” used
to join together
metal parts
• Contains flux
• Made of Tin and
Copper, sometimes Lead

5. Tweezers, Clippers, & Pliers
• Tools used to handle, bend or
cut components and PCBs

6. Sponge
• Used to clean off soldering iron tip
• Can be made of various materials
• Should be used every time before
soldering a joint

7. Flux
• Makes solder melt easier
• Always use extra flux for rework

8. Solder Wick
• Use to remove solder
• Careful, it gets really hot!

9. Pins and Via
• Male and female parts that you will
solder together

10. PCB
• Printed Circuit Board
• Comprised mainly of fiberglass
and copper foil

11. Safety Goggles
• Wear them, you only have 2 eyes and
solder is very, very hot! (Like this guy.)

12. What is oxidization?
•Oxidization is what happens when oxygen breaks
down matter
•It impedes heat and electricity transfer
•As a result you must clean your iron tip
constantly… really!

13. What is polarity?
• Some parts have to be
attached in a very particular
way due to polarity
• These parts will not work if
you put them in incorrectly,
pay attention
• Polarized parts are
highlighted in yellow in
your kit card Example of polarized LEDs

14. Cleaning your soldering iron
•Cleaning your soldering iron is one of the most
important aspects of soldering
•If you can’t get the oxidization off using a
sponge try tip tinner

15. Perfect solder joint, step 1 of 4
• Hold the iron touching both the pin and the
via for the count of one
• Make sure to touch the side of the tip of the
iron to the pin and via

16. Perfect solder joint, step 2 of 4
•Feed solder into the pin and via from the
opposite side of the pin as the soldering iron
•If you’re having trouble getting the solder to
flow, briefly touch the iron with the solder

17. Perfect solder joint, step 3 of 4
• Pull the solder away first and then the
soldering iron
• If your solder gets stuck to the via or pin you
can just melt it off with the iron

18. Perfect solder joint, step 3 of 4
•Don’t feed too much solder into the joint
•Solder covers entire via, but no more
•You can see solder from the other side of the
joint (if it isn’t blocked by a component)

19. Perfect solder joint, step 4 of 4
• Clip excess wire off using clippers

20. Perfect and not so perfect solder joint
•“Jumpers” will give electricity another path to
travel (one that you don’t want it to travel)
•“Cold joints” may look like they are connected,
but won’t conduct electricity

21. Questions?

22. www.sparkfun.com
6175 Longbow Drive, Suite 200
Boulder, Colorado 80301