Soldering tips
Picture this, you’ve arrived at M5 and are interested in getting started with soldering, but the question is how should you solder?
There are only a few things to note when soldering, and the majority is preparation rather than actual soldering. The steps are as follows:
Grab eye protection, turn on your fume extractor, and take a look at what is on your work desk
On your work desk, you should have:
Chip Quick Tip cleaner in a small circular metal container
A reel of solder
A solder pump if desoldering
A low-melt solder and flux kit if desoldering
SMT Tweezers and FLUX
Check the soldering Iron tip and follow the directions in the image above, cleaning it using the Chip Quick Cleaner and remove excess solder on the tip using either the gold shreds or wet sponge
Check the component size you are soldering and make sure the soldering iron tip is the correct size
There are two categories of components: The larger scale being called THT or Through Hole Technology and the smaller scale being called SMT or Surface Mount Technology
FOR METCALs: If the soldering iron tip is not the correct size, turn the Metcal soldering iron off and use the Metcal rubber cable attachments to remove and swap the soldering iron tip
FOR JBCs or PINECILs: Detach the Metcal rubber cable attachments, use it to swap the soldering iron tip and return to the Metcal station
IF ATTEMPTING SMT ASK STAFF FOR SMT LAB ACCESS AND EMAIL abnelson@umass.edu FOR ASSISTANCE IF DESIRED
When you begin to solder, avoid holding the iron against the component for an extended period
This can damage the component and also damage the surface or material you are soldering to
We want to have contact between the iron, solder, and the pad/hole
Lastly, you can always ask staff for guidance or opinions on how to complete your soldering project!
Soldering workshops will be held this Fall and Spring for academic year 2026
