Service manual

Sinclair Community College | ETD 110 Guitar Service Manual
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How to Solder Electronics:
Soldering is very simple and easy to learn, however it will take some
practice to fully grasp. I recommend that you gain some practice
before you dig into your guitar if this is your first time soldering. You
may realize it will be nice to have an extra set of hands in some
cases, if that’s not available just take your time and go steady. This is
a step by step, how-to on making a clean solder joint.
1. Strip the wire
As mentioned before, stripping the wire refers to removing the
protective rubber insulation from the actual wire underneath. Start
by taking your wire strippers and inserting the wire into the slot
marked for the size wire you’re using. Squeeze the handles to cut
through the insulation, and then slide strippers away from you to
remove the insulation. Usually it works best to remove about ¼ inch
of the insulation, just enough to solder the wire to the lug without
leaving any extra exposed.
2. Tin the tip of the soldering iron
Tinning the tip of the soldering iron means to coat it with a thin layer
of solder. Having the tip tinned helps to transfer heat to the
workpiece more efficiently. Start by plugging in your soldering iron
and letting it heat up for about 10 minutes. Once hot, wipe the tip
with a wet paper towel or sponge to clean off any old, oxidized
solder. Now take your solder spool, and melt a thin coat of solder on
the tip, not too much, just enough to cover the tip. Immediately wipe
the tip again with the wet towel before the solder and flux can
become solid. You’re now ready to start soldering the wire.
3. Tin the end of the wire
Tinning the wire helps to hold all the small wire strands together and
will make it easier to make the final solder joint. Simply heat the
exposed wire end with the iron, melt some solder on to the wire and
wipe off the excess.