my soldering quality has doubled......

[pcpete]

It is amazing how being liberal with flux makes a night and day difference with soldering. I am embarrassed(horrible dry solders) how over the years I have been doing dc jacks and other stuff without it.

I am using this style
http://www.amazon.com/MG-Chemicals-...id=1445908867&sr=8-16&keywords=soldering+flux

 

[Larry Sabo]

How true; that and a hot iron with lots of power in reserve. I feel like such a failure, though, if it loses it's shiny finish when it cool.

 

[Nossy Drelich]

I"m a total noob with soldering? how should I start learning?

 

[Larry Sabo]

Nossy, lots of posts on that question here at Technibble. Let us know which one you found most helpful after you've gone through them.

 

[garyorner]

Agree when I first started soldering I would fight so much.

 

[Krynn72]

MG Chemicals has good stuff, but I could never get into the liquid flux. You had to drown the area for it to work right I found. In my hands it was only good for BGA rework, which I never do anyways. I've been using this since May 2014 and am on my last drops, so I bought this which seems just as good but cleans up easier.

 

[phaZed]

Go for the flux pens.. much easier to use and this stuff is no-clean here

 

[Krynn72]

Go for the flux pens.. much easier to use and this stuff is no-clean here

I've use those too, they're just expensive liquid dispensers with less control :/ And everything is no-clean these days, but it still looks nasty so I still clean it.

 

[phaZed]

Lol, I hear ya Krynn

 

[Larry Sabo]

Speaking of nasty, I found the fumes from that ChipQuik you mentioned really horrible stuff!

 

[Krynn72]

Yeah, it's got a stink for sure, but you shouldn't be breathing any Flux's fumes, so I bought a hakko fume extractor.

 

[wavey]

Nossy, get yourself a good soldering station, watch lots of youtube clips and practice, practice, practice.

 

[NYJimbo]

I use pure bismuth (one seller is QuickAlloy/CyberDOCllc) and then add a flux like CircuitWorks CW3220