I hate soldering!!

[ALR8LUV]

So I'm well into my bass renovation.  It is the first bass I ever owned costing about £50.  I've installed the active pickups and preamp as well as a new jack but my god iI hate soldering.  Does anyone have any tips on how to make this easier/more fun? Even just a suggestion how to hold parts to stop them moving while soldering them?    🥴

[grandad]

+

Also a  pair of pliers + a rubber band around the handles can be used as a vice.

Edited December 15, 2020 by grandad

[ALR8LUV]

love the pliers and rubber band!! Genius

[KiOgon]

Get down to the second hand shop, see if you can get a third 😁

[kwmlondon]

Get a good soldering iron, one that can keep temperature - they only cost a tenner online. I had a crappy one for years and soldering was a 'mare. Now I've got a decent one I won't say it's my ideal evening's entertainment but I don't dread it quite as much.

[gary mac]

A decent iron makes all the difference, quicker, safer and much more efficient.

[paul_5]

If it’s just for a wire to a socket then you don’t really need a massively highly specced iron (but a temperature controlled iron is a joy to use), I use one of these:

 

more for the magnifying glass than the clips, as I’m old and my legs are bent, my ears are grizzled and my eyes are knackered etc...

the bonus of using the crocodile clips is that they are a useful heat sink, so it reduces the risk of burning stuff.

 

[ALR8LUV]

8 minutes ago, paul_5 said:

If it’s just for a wire to a socket then you don’t really need a massively highly specced iron (but a temperature controlled iron is a joy to use), I use one of these:

 

more for the magnifying glass than the clips, as I’m old and my legs are bent, my ears are grizzled and my eyes are knackered etc...

the bonus of using the crocodile clips is that they are a useful heat sink, so it reduces the risk of burning stuff.

 

This is a fantastic piece of gear

[Hellzero]

This is called a third hand, hence @KiOgon joke. 😉

 

[Paul S]

I have on of those third hands, it is great.  The problem I have is with the first two, shaky ones 😄

[paul_5]

My hands aren’t too bad, it’s my eyes that are going; these days it’s reading glasses and a magnifying glass, and I’m not even doing SMC!!

[bloke_zero]

I've got one of these: https://www.amazon.co.uk/yideng-Soldering-Helping-Flexible-Welding/dp/B08H543K43/ref=sr_1_16?dchild=1&keywords=3rd+hand+soldering&qid=1608111310&sr=8-16

Great for soldering cables together, holding PCBs etc

[hubrad]

Get a pair of those cheap reading glasses. 

Great for close up work, plus if you get a little bit of solder splatter..

[Jus Lukin]

-

Edited March 10, 2022 by Jus Lukin

[stevie]

I bought one of those third hand devices years ago but I hardly ever get it out. The trick is to make a mechanical connection first if you can. So, if you're soldering wire to a jack socket (for example), poke it through the hole and wrap it round once. That way, the connection will stay put while you use the soldering iron.

[DanOwens]

I would say that whilst 'third hands' can be useful, they can also be a right pain in the behind as they can be difficult to manipulate into the exact spot needed. One of the bendy ones like @bloke_zero posted above looks ideal; I'll definitely be getting one. 

[fleabag]

My station is temp adjustable, as i found that some jobs need higher or lower temps.  I've had this bad boy WEP 937D for years and still works a treat.  There's about  6  tips that come with it.

Also,  the most useful  sundry tool  i've found for soldering, apart from the crocodile clip holders, is a headset with LED's and a choice of snap in magnifiers.  I've had this marksman headset for may years too, and it also works flawlessly.  Not even changed the batteries since i bought it

Edited December 16, 2020 by fleabag

[fleabag]

Take this bit as you find it ... 

 

[Baloney Balderdash]

Welcome to the club, I always feel like I am missing an arm and a hand when soldering.

[Maude]

On 16/12/2020 at 18:25, fleabag said:

Take this bit as you find it ... 

 

I was about to say that looks great until you pointed out that it could be dismental. I'm in two minds now. 🤔

[Bobthedog]

On 16/12/2020 at 16:16, fleabag said:

My station is temp adjustable, as i found that some jobs need higher or lower temps.  I've had this bad boy WEP 937D for years and still works a treat.  There's about  6  tips that come with it.

Also,  the most useful  sundry tool  i've found for soldering, apart from the crocodile clip holders, is a headset with LED's and a choice of snap in magnifiers.  I've had this marksman headset for may years too, and it also works flawlessly.  Not even changed the batteries since i bought it

 

 

Whilst very rarely used, I do have a (cheap) variable temp soldering iron. I do not, however, know how to decide on what temp to use. I usually turn it up enough to make the solder melt as quickly as possible.  

 

I actually now mostly use an IRODA SolderPro 120K portable

Edited December 18, 2020 by Bobthedog

[Cuzzie]

On 16/12/2020 at 09:37, bloke_zero said:

I've got one of these: https://www.amazon.co.uk/yideng-Soldering-Helping-Flexible-Welding/dp/B08H543K43/ref=sr_1_16?dchild=1&keywords=3rd+hand+soldering&qid=1608111310&sr=8-16

Great for soldering cables together, holding PCBs etc

That’s what I have got amd its good - mine also has a magnifying light attachment bit as well

Edited December 21, 2020 by Cuzzie

[Cuzzie]

For a soldering iron, you don’t need a temperature controlled one - I always found I was inadvertently flicking the dial on the handle (better but more expensive if your base unit controls the temp of course).

I use the Antex 18w iron which does everything really rather well

[stewblack]

I actually enjoy soldering! I suspect because it reminds me of my dad. 

I am however really bad at it. If I want to make a mundane set at the local a truly exciting experience I just use my own homemade cables.