For a good solder joint on a through hole board, you need a reasonable soldering iron.

More important than the iron being temperature controlled is the thermal mass of the hot part of the iron (including the tip). The iron and tip must have enough of a heat reserve so that enough heat can flow from the iron into the joint (PCB pad or terminal and component leg/lead/pin/wire).

For through hole work, I prefer a ‘chisel’ tip that is appropriately 2.3mm wide for normal work. This is shaped like a round rod, but with the end cut off at an angle thus leaving a nice flat face. It is this face that you press into the joint.

If using flux cored solder (and there is no good reason not to), you don’t normally need extra flux. The exception is if you are using components that are not new and hence not completely clean.

Do however clean the PCB with IPA before soldering to remove any oils and dirt that may have got on it (the oil comes from humans skin when it is handled).

Have a good work area that is free from distractions and well lit. It is also good to have some ventilation.

The tip must be clean and ‘tinned’ in order for it to transfer heat effectively. Plated tips last longer than simple copper tips. But you must not file plated tips (unless the plating has a hole worn in it).

Before using the tip for the first time, before switching the iron on, clean the tip (only the tip) with IPA. Once the IPA is dry, switch on. As soon as it gets hot enough to melt solder, apply some solder to the tip so that it flows across the surface of the tip. This is called tinning.

During use, whenever the tip becomes dirty, clean the tip on a damp sponge. Then apply a little bit of solder to it to re-tin it.

To make a good solder joint, you need to practice first. So practice with a piece of matrix or strip board and tinned copper wire. You can use the wire from old scrap solid core telephone or fixed network cables. If this board has plain copper, use a PCB scrubbing block to clean the copper and make the copper shiny.

To solder a joint, assemble the items to be soldered. With a board, that means putting the component in the board. Start with the items that are the lowest height. Put the tip of the iron on to the PCB pad so that it is touching the pad and the leg/lead/pin of the component. Then apply the solder to where the iron is touching the pad and the leg/lead/pin of the component. It should flow in and around the joint. Keep feeding in solder until you have enough solder to form a nice joint. But don’t feed in too much. It is easier to add solder than it is to remove it. Then remove the iron. Try not to disturb the joint while the solder cools and solidifies. Look on a soldering guide (internet search) for photos of good and bad examples. Basically it should have sides that curve from the pad to the leg/lead/pin a little like the sides of a volcano.

Mark

It seems to come with alternate tips. Hmmm…

I'm soldering away, and, boy, it is fun!