Service manual

STP 11-25R13-SM-TG
A - 1
APPENDIX A – SOLDERING TIPS AND GUIDELINES
A-1. Introduction.
In the course of your military career, as required by your MOS, you will operate, inspect,
troubleshoot, and repair highly advanced electronic equipment. In many cases, faulty soldering
connections cause equipment malfunctions. These faulty connections may be traced to the improper use
of methods or tools in the manufacture or in the maintenance of the malfunctioning equipment.
A-2. Purpose.
This appendix is intended to help you maintain the basic skills for making high quality solder
connections. This appendix covers the fundamentals of soldering such as safety precautions, the use of
soldering stations, various tools and aids, and basic soldering terms.
A-3. Inspect the Soldering Iron Tip.
NOTE: Clean and tin the iron if it is dirty, pitted, or not well tinned.
a. Place the soldering iron in its holder and connect the power cord into an AC outlet. Let the iron
heat until its tip begins to change color.
CAUTION
Never use solder containing a corrosive-type (acid) flux when
working with electronic parts.
b. Tin the iron by applying rosin-core solder to its clean surface. The melted solder should
completely cover the surface. Wipe the excess solder from the tip with a very damp sponge, using quick
strokes so that the sponge does not burn. Figure A-1 shows a tip prepared for soldering.
Figure A-1. Tip Prepared for Soldering
A-4. Soldering Safety.