[vcf-midatlantic] Soldering tutorial/workshop recommendation

[Dave McGuire]

On 06/04/2018 10:01 PM, Thomas Fuchs via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
> While I’ve been collecting (and using!) old computers for a while, and can do some repairs, I never learned to solder. Obviously that would be a useful skill… :)
> 
> What are your recommendations? I’m thinking this is something that you can probably learn best directly with another person but if there’s a good online tutorial or course, I’d be happy to hear about that as well.
> 
> I do have the equipment, but I don’t really know where to start, and I don’t want to mess with old hardware until I have somewhat of a grip on it. What’s a good beginner project? Maybe an arduino or something like that?

  Good thinking.  I would suggest looking at http://www.banggood.com and
 search for simply the word "kit".  Banggood is a crazy Chinese company
that sells an amazingly huge variety of electronic kits (along with
everything else you can think of) that are very, very cheap.  Get some
starting at a basic skill level and build up from there.

  Their stuff is cheap Chinese crap, of course, but some of it really
isn't bad, and most all of it looks like great fun...and great soldering
practice.

> My main interests area is late 70s to early 90s, and I’d love to be able to identify and properly fix broken connections, weak solder points and (eventually) to recap boards; I’m located in Bucks county, PA.

  Hmm.  Maybe troubleshoot them first, and replace capacitors if they've
actually failed?

            -Dave

-- 
Dave McGuire, AK4HZ
New Kensington, PA