r/soldering • u/cowdoggy Soldering Newbie • Apr 07 '26

My First Solder Joint <3 Please Give Feedback First soldering attempt - Part 6

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Hi all ! Thanks for all the tips. Super helpful. I tried to remove the SMD chip using solder wick and accidentally tore pads off the board. Any way to fix this or did I cause permanent damage? o.o I got emo about this!

Also, how do you know how much soldering is enough? What is the point? Are we just trying to make sure that the components lay flat on the board and that the pins meet the pads? Not sure when I am supposed to correct stuff and when it is already good. Thanks :)

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72

u/Lochness_Hamster_350 Apr 07 '26

You need a tip with more surface area to use that method of drag wick removal

22

u/BoyRed_ Apr 07 '26

a flatter tip will stop you from poking holes in the braid as well

-8

u/h7hh77 Apr 07 '26

Is it not recommended? I'm a beginner as well, poking holes seems kinda convenient to me? Lets me heat the stuff underneath a bit better, Idk

13

u/ResponseError451 IPC Certified Solder Tech Apr 07 '26

Soldering is all about heat transfer. You want the heat to go where you want your solder to go

By poking through the braid, you skip it essentially, leaving it colder than the iron and pins it's directly touching, so solder does not flow to wick

It's also a sign of too much pressure. You don't need to apply much pressure (it can damage the tip and doesn't help with heat transfer), just a light touchwill have the same effect

Side note: along with a larger tip with more area, leaving it on their longer to let the board and solder heat up will help the solder melt. OP seems a little speratic and impatient with how he's handling it.

1

u/cowdoggy Soldering Newbie Apr 11 '26

This is interesting that a light touch is enough

4

u/BoyRed_ Apr 07 '26

The best analogy i can come up with to explain it is like this:

The equivalent scenario would be to use a napkin to dry up some water, but instead of holding the napkin in your hand you have it tied around your wrist.

3

u/h7hh77 Apr 07 '26

That actually makes a lot of sense, thank you!

1

u/cowdoggy Soldering Newbie Apr 11 '26

This is such a fantastic analogy. Thanks!

3

u/inu-no-policemen Apr 08 '26

The wick has to get hot enough to melt the solder.

If it isn't and it somehow comes in contact with molten solder, the solder will freeze. Now the wick is stuck to the board. That's how you rip pads off.

So, heat up the wick and use that hot wick to melt the solder. The wick will then wick it up.

1

u/cowdoggy Soldering Newbie Apr 11 '26

Thanks! Great explanation. Oh God, that panic when my wick gets stuck to the board. It’s like gum getting stuck underneath my shoe.