Soldering Guide

Tinning

Tinning is the coating or the filling of wires or connector contacts with solder. Before you can solder two parts together, you must first tin both contacts. The purpose of tinning is not to form a mechanical linkage of the melted tinned solder coating, but to form a proper thermal linkage. This thermal linkage must be present in the contact between the soldering iron tip and the work piece. Heat is transferred through the small contact area between the soldering iron tip and the soldered component. By having a small amount of solder at the point of contact, the contact area is greatly increased. When you actually begin to solder, the iron tip will come in contact with both tinned components which improves the thermal linkage. This solder bridge that you form provides the proper thermal linkage required to assure the rapid transfer of heat into the work.

Wire Tinning

To tin a wire, apply the tip of your iron to the wire for a second or two, then apply the solder to the wire. The solder will quickly flow, and coat the tip of the wire, and if it's stranded wire, the solder will flow into it, and fill the wire. If you put too much solder on and formed a little ball of solder at the end of the wire, you should snip the end off afterwards. If you overheat the wire, you will melt the insulation off, or cause it to shrink back, and expose more copper core than planned.

Once you have tinned both parts, you are ready to solder them together.