As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
I'm relatively new to soldering, and I'm running into a frustrating problem. My joints keep failing – they look okay initially, but they're weak and prone to breaking even with minimal stress. I'm using leaded solder and a soldering iron with adjustable temperature, set around 700F. I'm also cleaning the tip regularly with a sponge.
Could the problem be with surface readiness? I usually just wipe the wires and pads with a dry cloth. Maybe I need to use something more aggressive to clean them? I've also wondered if my technique is off. I try to heat both the wire and the pad concurrently before applying solder,aiming for that smooth,shiny appearance.
Any advice for a newbie struggling with cold joints or other common soldering pitfalls? I'm working specifically on making connections for small electronics projects, such as adding wires to perfboards and soldering components to breadboards. Is there a better type of solder or flux I should consider for this kind of work?