I thought this might come in handy for some people http://www.theubercomputers.com/articles/g...lder/page1.html

Decent for beginners; but I personally find it quite elementary.

I also don't like his idea of putting a "blob" of solder on the tip of the iron for soldering things together. I much rather use file solder and apply is as necessary and IMO also gives better results.

When I first started I did a lot of work the way he does; but have since honed my skills.

Point is; this is good for people who have never soldered before, or done very little soldering.

Yeah good info for beginners. That tip on the iron is brutally huge. I like the Hakko 936, it has inter-changeable tips and variable heat.

I know it's for beginers, I just have seen a few threads asking about soldering and thought it might help some people. I was taught that both surfaces should be at the same temp before appling the solder to the points to be joined not on the tip of the iron.

I'm self taught in soldering and by experience have found this to be the best method: tin both surfaces, heat them both up simultaneously, then add more solder to get a good bond.

It really doesn't matter how you go about soldering, as long as you don't have cold solder joints, excess flux which can become conductive over time and excess solder on the joint. As long as you stick to that you should be ok.

Just keep in mind that hot solder joints are key; cold solder joints can easily break apart.

ya..use flux guys, flux helps, oh and its not donut jelly, so keep it outa ur mouth
i got 3 solderin irons
1 nexxtech 15watt
1 weller 40 watt
1 no name 25 watt

It can't be simpler...tin the tip, wipe on wet sponge, heat bottom of surface, apply solder to top of surface. If it melts, you're hot enough. Move the solder and iron at the same rate, get a nice shiney silvered surface without buildup. If it's dull, crystally, or blobby, melt it off and go again. And remember, melted metal follows heat, so the iron will determine the direction of flow.